How to Hypnotize People

I’ll admit, I approached *How to Hypnotize People* with skepticism—partly because the title screams ‘shady infomercial,’ and partly because I’ve heard enough hypnosis audiobooks to spot the usual New Age padding. But Brandon Smith’s approach is refreshingly clinical, almost *mechanical* in its breakdown of influence. The book’s strength lies in its specificity: instead of vague ‘power of suggestion’ platitudes, you get scripts for steering conversations, recognizing verbal ‘trance triggers,’ and even exploiting the ‘yes ladder’ in negotiations. It’s the kind of content that feels like it was written for salespeople, pick-up artists, or anyone who’s ever wanted to tilt a social interaction in their favor. Warren Sandwell’s narration is a double-edged sword. His delivery is crisp and engaging, with a hint of ‘conspiratorial mentor’ energy that fits the material—think a less smarmy Jordan Belfort. But at times, his pacing feels *too* polished, like he’s reciting a corporate training module rather than unpacking mind-bending techniques. The production itself is flawless (no distracting edits or volume spikes), but the audiobook’s biggest flaw is its ethical ambiguity. Smith occasionally tosses in disclaimers about ‘using these tools responsibly,’ but they feel like afterthoughts. And while the tactics are fascinating, some—like the section on ‘embedded commands’—border on manipulative. If you’re looking for a *purely* therapeutic or self-improvement angle, this isn’t it. But if you’ve ever wanted to understand how charismatic people *actually* pull strings? Buckle up.