Subliminal Communication: Emperor's Clothes or Panacea?

This is strong, succinct support for the effectiveness of the various methods of subliminal communication. However, lob-sided in that the author believes in legislation controlling its use. In todays world (19 years after the writing of this book), we can see that laws against its use are effective against only those companies that don't have deep pockets to protect themselves. Fortunately, Eldon Taylor confirms how we can develop our own subliminal audio recordings and his new book Mind Programming gives us great tools to counter today's programming.

From book's Introduction: "The purpose of this book is to make available to every interested person the technlogy commonly referred to as self-help and self-improvement audio programming, at an affordable price and in a practical and understandable way. Self-help product represent a several billion-dollar annual business. High-tech aids are almost always accompanied with some form of autosuggestion format. Thoughts are thing and definitely predispose, if not create, the realities in our individual lives. The problem, or opportunity, depending upon one's perspective, is that many of these thoughts are rooted deeply in the subconsciousness mind. We may consciously conclude to change this or that, and yet the change just takes on another disguise for not changing. Sometimes this in itself gives positive feedback to an undefined subconscious reality, such as failure. That is to say, if the subconscious expects to fali, the failure is certain. It is also the intent of this work to focus specifically on subliminal technology. Does it work? If so, what is the evidence? Are there preferred modalities? Can it create basic changes in personality structure? These and many other questions, implictons and ramifications are treated within the pages that follow. My efforts are not intended to represent the final authority, To the contrary, I view myself as an interested investigator and not a "hard scientist." The evidence, however, suggests the need and opportunity for a variety of interesting research projects. Subliminal technology works! The questions now should treat the variety of modalities, subject matter, length of exposure, "best-time-use" approaches, follow-up studies, etc. In beginning this work, a decision had to be made regarding the technical level of communication desired. It was decided to choose a middle path; consequently, if the interest of the reader is either the "see Spot run" level or toward technical orientation to, say, the frequency form of electromagnetic smog perceived at a subliminal or physiological level which may give rise to mutations of the DNA molecule, then the material that follows will be disappointing. In our society we are exposed daily to some form of subliminal communication, and our only defense is an informed level of understanding. To aid this understanding is the principle objective of what follows."

This is a really interesting text for those interested in the power of the subconscious mind and in subliminal communication in general. Note that Supraliminal means consciously unnoticed whilst Subliminal means consciously not perceivable. The book focuses on subliminal communication as a means to make the subconscious work for the individual & as a warning to protect one's mind against unwanted influences. We are constantly bombarded by subliminal messages through the electronic & print media. The controversial book The Hidden Persuaders by Vance Packard is discussed, an early warning against psychological manipulation. Taylor explains how subliminal self-help recordings work, the evidence, implications & the question of whether it is able to effect basic changes in personality structure. Chapter one deals with the history which goes back to 1863. In 1894, W R Dunham wrote a seminal treatise The Science of Vital Force of which an interesting excerpt is provided. In his book The Clam Plate Orgy, Wilson Bryan Key illustrates disguised content in art and advertising. In the chapter Mechanics, the author refers to the aforementioned Wilson B Key's Subliminal Seduction with reference to our perceptual defense mechanisms of denial, fantasy formation, introjection, isolation, projection, regression, repression & sublimation. Some parts get a bit too technical perhaps, but then again, professionals will find that valuable. The chapter on Clinical Data explores those areas of activity that are demonstrably affected by subliminal communication: conscious perception,dreams, drives, emotions, memory, perceptual defenses, value norm anchor points and verbal behavior. Taylor also discusses further fields of activity affected by subliminals as suggested by the clinical data. In the chapter Subliminal Technology, the author provides definitions of the terms Supraliminal, Subception & Subliminal and explains the methods of audio- & videosubliminal projection, including the use of masked messages on popular music recordings. The next chapter, Scientific Findings, presents data drawn from contemporary studies, including those of doctors Lloyd Silverman and Norman Dixon as well as his own research. The section on how wave patterns created by sound can be displayed visually is most fascinating. Powders, liquids & metal fillings scattered on a disc formed geometric patterns as the disc resonated to music, even taking on organic shapes. This text includes visual configurations of the mantra OM and the concluding chord of Händel's Messiah by means of a tonophone. A work of related interest is Cymatics: A Study of Wave Phenomena & Vibration by Hans Jenny. There are chapters on the law, testimonies, unanswered questions & how to create one's own subliminal program. The book has certainly made me aware of the disturbing aspects of advertising and the media, as well as to the great promise of self-improvement & healing via subliminal communicat

This book gives a very good explanation of the actual subliminal technology and system used to make subliminal tapes. However, after learning of the hidden affirmations Dr. Taylor uses in all of his subliminal materials I have decided to keep the book for my own reference, but toss out my collection of Dr. Taylor's tapes. FYI, The visual subliminal on the cover is the word SEX all around the man's face. Pretty strange to me!

A lot of good information in a small, easy to read book