The perfect foundation text for utilization of hypnosis, and suggestion for pain relief. This text will take you through background studies in pain relief, as well as the laboratory results of the Hilgard's own research. Very informative, many graphs, and statistical data are provided for the scientifically inclined. This book is a cornerstone in any practitioner's library.

As a Precepts Upon Precepts leader, I usually purchase no less than three commentaries on each book I lead. Invarably, one of these commentaries always stands out above the rest. That is certainly the case with this excellent exposition on Philippians written by the great nineteenth century New Testament scholar, J.B. Lightfoot. It is written in an easy to understand verse by verse layout with an excellent emphasis given to the original Greek usage of the words. The detailed explaination of the use of the word "form" will certainly enlighten any believer to the true meaning of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. If you are studying Philippians and can afford only one commentary, this is the one to purchase.

The principles outlined in this book for psychological managment of pain, particularly hypnotherapy, have withstood a test of time. As I stated in the front flap of the book at the time of its publication, this book "..is a deeply intelligent and comprehensive treatment of the subject. It provides insights into the many possible ways acute and chronic pain can be reduced and managed, giving full attention to individual needs and psychological contexts of pain patients." On rereading this book, I would say the same thing today. It remains a masterpeice and one of the best of its kind.

This book covers all the important manuscripts of the early Church. This volume excells in its coverage of the earliest Church documents. The only draw back is the lack of Justin Martyr's Apologies. Other than that this book is an excellent source for reading about the Apostolic Fathers.

Being both a neophyte in the faith of Christianity and the history of the Church, my hunger for reading both the Bible and other early Christian manuscripts has flourished. How does one come to the truth in a faith that is so full of opinion in doctrine, and misunderstood tradition? I guess if I knew that answer, I wouldn't be so involved in searching these texts. Regardless, I do trust that the truth is there, and that the Spirit has both lead and will lead me to it.

This book has been one of those occasions in which I feel that the Spirit and God's timing were working in me. At a time when all of the negative parts of the Church were bringing me down, this text has helped me to focus on what is really important in my faith, my walk with Christ.

To begin, the works of such early martyrs such as Polycarp, help one to see just what was going on in the mind of a man of faith who knows that he will be honored to recieve the same persecutions as his Lord. In this day and age, the idea or desire of such a sacrifice is alien to the majority of Christians, and other than 2 Maccabees, is only hinted at in the Bible.

Also, to have a glimpse of what was happening in the church shortly after the demise of the apostles, is very enlightening. Although the scraps that make up quotations of the lost letters of Papias are less than adequate, one finds that early after the distribution of Revelation, the argument over a millenial kingdom raged. Since Papias was under the tutilage of John (the elder, or the apostle, I won't argue that one) in Ephesis, his point of veiw on this matter should not be ignored, though he was proclaimed a heretic later on.

Finally, the most important aspects of this text is the concern that these early Church leaders had in the direction that the Church was leading. Questions that popped up at these times were and still are very important to the understanding of how one walks in the faith after one has come to it. These texts are strong in explaining the importance of a life of good works and the importance of unity amongst the congregations.

Also, we get a glimpse of what was happening at that troublesome Church in Corinth after the apostles were no longer an influence. In a way, some of the most practical instruction has been written because of this Church, and they didn't stop in needing more after Paul's demise.

This book is a must-have for any Christian who wants to know the historical and theological roots of his/her faith. It shows that many "recent controversies" in the church were present from the very beginning--and answered effectively by men steeped in the Old Testament and the Gospel.

Overall there is some very useful information in here on the uses of hypnosis for pain control. It is written for clinicians, and so is free of some of the fluffier and more new age leanings of some other books on the subject. The potential buyer should be aware, however, that this is not a book with script ideas or lots of practical advice on how to phrase hypnotherapy sessions with pain patients. Rather, it provides an extensive overview of issues related to dealing with different kinds of pain patients and suggests how hypnosis is useful in these situations.

One aspect of the book that bothered me was that it seems suggest that pain without an obvious cause--which is often the case with chronic pain--is more likely to be psychosomatic in nature. In one passage it advises the hypnotherapist "to expect significant psychological factors in the maintenance of the patient's pain" if that patient "uses unusually colorful terms" to describe the pain, such as saying that it feels like "fish hooks" or "a red hot poker." One should be careful in making such sweeping generalizations. Intense burning sensations that patients might indeed describe as hot pokers that comes without an obvious physical cause, or that lasts long after an initial injury, is a classic description of reflexive sympathetic dystrophy pain. There are also many instances of inflammatory or nerve pain that is not easily diagnosed and that can feel like torture for the sufferer. It is extremely difficult, also, to describe different pain sensations. "Colorful language" or even odd descriptions that might not make a lot of anatomical sense is not necessarily a clue that the pain is largely psychological in nature. More recent developments in the study of chronic pain confirms this. I am both a trained hypnotherapist and a chronic pain patient for the past three years, so I speak with experience.

This book goes beyond simple suggestion for pain. It encompasses the psychology of pain, which includes somatic, neuropathic and procedural pain. This book is an absolute must for anyone interested in pain management.

As a lay person, I found that this book is not only a tool for clinicians, but also provides a valuable explanation of hypnosis for anyone with an interest in psychology. In his introductory chapter, Joseph Barber succinctly defines hypnosis and explains the phenomenon clearly and accurately. He makes the necessary distinctions to dispel myths about hypnosis and separate the hypnotic state from mere suggestion. Barber demonstrates a combination of sensitivity to human needs along with rigorous scientific grounding. It's fascinating reading, and one of the very few books that a novice would need to understand the true nature of hypnosis.

I enjoyed reading Dr. Horowitz's other book EMERGING VIRUSES: AIDS AND EBOLA so I was anxious to purchase this book, which I did at one of his personal appearances, which I also attended with other family members. However, as a Catholic (and a well-read one, I might add, where it comes down to masonic conspiracy theories) I was dismayed to see that this book is nothing more than a rehash of the old, tired evangelical Protestant accusations calling the Catholic Church ALWAYS masonic, etc. One would like to point out to Horowitz and others' who hold this sort of bunk as the TRUTH that the Church held auto excommunications for ANY Catholic (clergy, laity, etc.) who joined the lodge - that is, until the Second Vatican Council. The Apostolic Pre V2 Catholic Church always UNEQUIVOCALLY condemned masonry; and its not for nothing that the masons themselves have always called the Catholic Church their primary enemy. It is TRUE, however, that there has always been a movement in the lodges to overtake the Church(The ALTA VENDITA document, etc.) Many Catholics (including myself) believe they did succeed in that with Vatican II. But that does not excuse any misrepresentations of the Church prior to that infamous Council. Stick with his first book and save your money on this one.

The book reads like a novel and story. There are several themes in the book which lead one to believe that either the authors are delusional or have a message of great importance. You are challenged to believe that the authors are prophets chosen by God to bring out the message to save the world. As some of the ideas are so far out, this reviewer has a hard time at present to accept the whole work as completely true. Yet the book is well researched. Conspiracy theory and saving the world all in the same book. Facts mixed with fiction are interspersed in a new age revelation of the use of sound, light, and number codes for healing, creating, destorying and saving the world. The second author, Joseph B. supposedly has talks with Jesus, angels, etc. who have revealed to him important tools necessary for our planetary survival. The messianic ideas challenge the imagination. Perhaps other readers will have the time and energy to devote to validating the ideas proposed in this work. The book is certainly interesting and has many fascinating ideas.

The important topic of Bible codes has been treated from the perspectives of the various researchers. What is one to make of the situation when there is no consensus? Attune to ones own inner wisdom! Has the reader asked to be overshadowed by divine hierarchy when reading these books that wisdom should pour forth into his conscious mind? Such a practice would transform the whole experience of evaluating the material presented and preserve his own integrity.

This reader arrived at the most meaningful clarification of Bible codes in Dr. Leonard Horowitz's book Healing Codes for the Biological Apocalypse. Enlightening!