A close look at human behaviour reveals that behind all the politeness and niceness that typifies our civilised life there is an ugly truth: Without being generally aware of it, we manipulate. Like an invisible force, our actions aim at something that is good for us.  Even the gift to a charity or maybe helping an elderly person across the street aims at satisfying something inside us. Perhaps it is to relieve some hidden guilt that lingers in the unconscious regions of our minds. Or it may reinforce our belief that we are a kind person after all. In many cases it is not us expecting a material reward, it may be simply ‘in the mind’.

While this is a topic of no interest to most, for the seeker who wishes to be informed about such matters, there is - to my mind - no better material than the book MIND CONTROL 101. HOW TO
INFLUENCE THE THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS OF OTHERS WITHOUT THEM KNOWING OR CARING. by JK Ellis.

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From the very beginning, in the introduction the author explains in an engaging, convincing manner the principles of this aspect of human functioning. It urges us to continue reading the chapters that follow. Here we find a wealth of methods, ideas, suggestions that enlighten us as to how we can become proficient in dealings with those around us in an evermore effective manner.

The material is by far too much to be digested simply by reading. I feel that this book is a study project. It takes time and dedication to learn the methods and then try them out in practice. The reward is certain. We become more effective people.

Ellis has the gift to write in such a way that it contains knowledge that is of value for a whole range of readers from the academic to the interested, while not highly educated, person. The language is uncompromisingly clear and easy to follow.

Certain issues in the book have been dealt with in other publications. So, for instance, NLP has now become so widespread, I had my doubts if it was necessary to include it here. Consequently, as a certified NLP Practitioner I first decided to skip that part. When I read it after all, however, I found the author’s approach a refreshing update on those principles that I had studied many years before.

One point I find annoying applies ever so often to other books as well. The numbering of the pages is not continuous. It stops from the end of chapters to the second page of the next. As some of the chapters are rather short, it can be confusing to find a certain page quickly.

This book opens up a whole new world of insight into many processes of human behaviours that normally are kept well hidden under the proverbial carpet. In this context it could be described as a psychological mirror. At the beginning I mentioned that we all manipulate. The book implies that this does not make us into ‘bad people’. Rather it makes us aware how to deal with less desirable individuals positively.

Highly recommended for anyone who wishes to know what, really, makes us humans tick and how we can become masters in many life situations.

Peter H. Schmedding