"The Rainbow Machine - Tales From A Neurolinguist's Journal" by Andrew T. Austin

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“Most books about therapy could just as well be prescribed as sleeping pills. And they often sit unread by the side of therapists’ beds, after they have plowed through the first jargon-laden chapter or two. Not this book!  Andy Austin’s Rainbow Machine will have you laughing, gasping in horror and awe, and wishing like hell that you lived close enough to him to get an appointment. He is the British Milton Erickson.”
- Bill O’Hanlon, author of Change 101 and many other books about brief therapy.

"With hindsight, maybe dressing up as Satan was a step too far, but sometimes I just cannot resist. When a consultant psychiatrist called me to book an appointment to "confront her Catholic guilt", then something inside my head just started shouting "Go on!! She's a psychiatrist! Do it!! Do the session dressed as Satan!!"' If you like that extract, then you'll love this book. It's a series of bite-sized articles, case studies and "Tales from a neurolinguist's journal" drawn from Austin's practice as a hypnotherapist and former career as a psychiatric nurse. The book comes with heavyweight endorsement from the likes of Steve Andreas and Bill O'Hanlon, who describes Austin as 'the British Milton Erickson' - although given the degree of irreverence for the psychiatric establishment and the willingness to satirise some elements of the NLP community, "the British Richard Bandler" might be a little bit closer to conveying the flavour of the book.

Published by Real People Press, the Mark Andreas hippy-art cover makes it look like classic NLP works such as 'Frogs Into Princes' and 'Trance-Formations', and it's good enough to stand in that company. There really is an insight on nearly every page. The psych nursing background gives Austin an unusual depth of knowledge of the oft-neglected 'neuro' part of NLP, which provides useful perspectives on disorders like OCD.

Many people will be familiar with the "That's so obvious - why didn't I notice that before?" moments that come thick and fast when you first encounter NLP. I'm pleased to say that after 10 years as an NLP trainer, this book could still give me plenty of those. Of course a decision-making process that uses movies is going to get better results than one restricted to stills! Damn!

One tiny quibble is that despite being Austin being English, the book sometimes lapses into American. Does he really use "gotten" in everyday conversation? Maybe he's been over there a lot and it's rubbed off. But you'd have to be a Kingsley Amis character to take that as anything more than a minor irritation. Did I mention that the book is often laugh-out-loud funny? He got away with that "Satan" thing too - in fact the client was so pleased with the results that she paid about six times what he asked. One thing I'm taking away from it is to be braver in my changework sessions. For my money this is the most significant NLP book of the last five years. Luckily it's also one of the most readable. More please! Andy Smith, NLP Trainer

"The Rainbow Machine is a portal into the mind and methods of an outstanding practitioner of NLP. These journal entries transcend case studies and become teaching tales that convey Andrew Austin's fearless and imaginative attitude toward healing and change. Each tale is at once illustrative example, mind-expanding metaphor, and damn fine storytelling. Highly recommended for NLP Practitioners and anyone else involved in healing arts."
- Philip H. Farber, author and NLP Trainer

"Whatever your level or level of interest in NLP this book's a must - as it is for anyone who enjoys Robert Anton Wilson. Not a pure training manual as such, but a collection of essays and tales of Austin's own experience. Never one to follow the 'rules' his approach is certainly different to that of the establishment. However, as effectiveness is the measure of truth, Austin's methods are well worth looking into. And, if nothing else, you'll thoroughly enjoy the read. Amazon.co.uk review.

"In his book, subtitled ‘Tales from a Neurolinguist’s Journal’, Andy takes us on a number of wonderful, scenic, sometimes hallucinogenic and occasionally dystopic walks through his world... and he brings together two important things in all these little passages in his life. The story is in and of themselves are worth telling and Andy's skill as a storyteller is powerful. He's a good writer telling stories that are worth the telling.

Here Andrew manages several things that would unhorse a lesser writer. He manages to be touching without being sappy or melodramatic. He manages to be funny and sarcastic without being artificial or slapstick. He manages to convey both skill and fallibility without coming across as either elitist or condescending. This is really well-written stuff, I think.

To that important mixture, which would really be enough to make the book worthwhile, Andrew adds an important third thing. He uses each of these stories to bring out insights into NLP that come from a place of both deep learning and study as well as a place of real experience... And if you work as a therapist, counsellor, coach or change worker, this book is a must-have! You're going to see situations that you've been in, I hallucinate, and if you've not been in them yet, this book will be good practice for you, because this is the stuff that does happen sooner or later! By his own admission, Andrew didn't always handle things optimally (who does?), and the fact that he's willing to talk about those experiences as well and what he's learned from them make the book just that much more valuable..."
- Michael Perez, Moderator of NLPConnections and NLP Trainer

"The Rainbow Machine: tales from a neurolinguist’s journal, by Andrew T. Austin, offers fascinating glimpses into the personal change work of a top NLP practitioner and registered nurse, in settings from mental hospitals, emergency rooms, and neurosurgery departments, to individual hypnosis and psychotherapy.  Rollicking, creative, lively, funny, outrageous, touching, profound.  A “must read” romp for anyone interested in therapy or personal change."
- Julian Russell, Author and Trainer, PPD Consulting

A rich, fascinating and very amusing collection of stories from his work in hospitals, psychiatric units and with therapy clients. Andy's unique, insightful, pragmatic and value-based approach to life and work is refreshing. His 'outside the box' creative thinking coupled with NLP makes for a provocative combination.
Includes useful information and great ideas for anyone working with NLP in or out of the therapeutic field.
A rare gem which leaves you asking yourself questions . . . how on earth do Qabalah and NLP fit together . . . and where do rats come in . . .? Joe Isaac.

"'The Rainbow Machine' is like a trip back through time to a place where therapists actually get results and patients really can get better.  Or is that a trip forward in time?  No matter - Andrew Austin's book is filled with some of the best stories I've read in years about how to use NLP effectively with some of the people who need it the most!" Michael Neill

 

"The Rainbow Machine - Tales From a Neurolinguist's Journal" is available from Real People Press for $16.50(USA and worldwide) and The Fresh Brain Company (UK), Anglo-American Books and Amazon for £13.49.

Available now!