As a high school student many decades ago I read every library book I could find on hypnosis. The most compelling book did not believe hypnosis was a distinct state of consciousness, but rather a strong form of social persuasion. It detailed the factors one brings into play. My interest was self-hypnosis, which I explored for a while using techniques from the other books.

At summer camp, confined to cabins on stormy evenings, there was a great interest in the occult, in seances and such. I was encouraged to try hypnotizing someone in a dark room, with a dozen people watching. Right where (I'm thinking "Young Frankenstein" here) their arms should have started floating up, our concentration was shattered by a spectator falling over.

I now remembered the lessons from the skeptical book. You can't buy publicity like that. As word got out, I possessed a great power.

Back in high school I taught a few friends, discovering the "high", "low" susceptibility scale described in this article. A "low" made the best hypnotist, at least deploying the principles I taught.

At a party, a friend had hypnotized a classmate prone to drama, off in another room. She presented a psychotic break and wouldn't "wake up". Meanwhile there was a Freshman-Home-From-College who had taken intro psych, and was intoning for anyone who would listen how dangerous our activities were. Again, according to the principles of my favored book, you can't buy publicity like that.

I sensed that our drama queen needed a theatrical rescue, and made as big a show as I could of saving my apprentice, taking over the hypnosis. All was again well.

A "Rashomon" look back at this sees no contradiction in the idea that hypnosis could be real, and yet the principles are best learned from a skeptical book. They've also helped me in public speaking. Watch any motivational speaker; it's the same game.