Persuasion Engineering by Bandler & LaValle
I'm currently reading this book for the fifth time. It's that good. And so far, it's got better everytime. But there are some essential ideas missing from the book, like how important persuasion is to everyone. Most people have a bad response to even the word "persuasion" as if somebody's trying to force them into something they don't want to do. But that's coercion. That's something else.
No, the type of persuasion we're talking about is where you have something wonderful, be it an idea, a product or a possible relationship, and you want to share it with someone in a such a way that they will most appreciate it. In fact, persuasion could be thought of as one of our highest art-forms.
Now, this book is the most recent that Richard has authored. And as such, it contains the most recent advances in NLP you are going to find in print. Most of the material was put together by John La Valle, from the Persuasion Engineering trainings that he and Richard have been doing together and is therefore hypnotic in nature.
These trainings were aimed at people who had some previous knowledge of NLP. If you haven't, don't expect to understand it all. I know I didn't! It's not essential for beginners, but the improved frame that Richard and John put on NLP will be worth the investment.
The real juice comes for those who are Practioner level upwards. This book offers you a powerful NLP attitude (kick-ass rather than kiss-ass), how to lead people into great states of mind and some very advanced calibrations skills.
On top of that, it will make you laugh a lot. Enough said.