Here, clearly written in layman's language, is the fascinating story of hypnosis--its origins, its underlying theory, and its many practical uses in everyday life. Here too are safe and helpful instructions for self-hypnosis to boost self-confidence or rid oneself of un-wanted habits, such as smoking or overeating. The author presents a history of hypnosis, describing Franz Mesmer, the nineteenth-century Austrian doctor and the father of mod-ern hypnosis techniques. He goes on to explain Sigmund Freud's use of hypnosis as an aid to psychoanalysis, then describes the part that hypnosis plays in some modern health therapies. No book on this fascinating subject would be complete without stories about hypnosis as stage entertainment. The author describes its popularity among theater audi-ences over the past 150 years with brief profiles of several famous stage hypnotists. This intensely readable book is enhanced with more than 250 color photos and illustrations.