This book is a bit loaded with linguistic jargon, but its contribution to NLP is so big that it HAS to merit full marks. Today, the concepts behind Erickson's language have been adopted in life coaching, as well as in NLP and hypnosis, and some brilliant guys, among them Paul McKenna and Anthony Robbins owe much of their success to Erickson's work.
I feel that the jargon and detail are essential in order to cover the subject properly. There is much cross-over with the study of English language, and a study of grammar and syntax in particular will enable you to get more out of this book. We are looking at the field of skilled linguistic communication, so we will naturally need to learn some terminology - if I was advised by a doctor who didn't know the names of various internal organs I would be rather worried!
Awareness of the use of language in terms of Bandler and Grinder's Milton Model leads to a greater understanding of how people receive our words - and because of this, it is little wonder that Ross Jeffries jumped on these ideas for his speed seduction concept. The Milton Model concepts can also be used in order to word our propositions in the most amenable manner, this is why I use it when teaching, simply because I want students to feel that they are learning because they WANT to learn, rather than because they HAVE to. The NLP presupposition that choice is better than no choice encapsulates the philosophy behind this. Erickson took this philosophy to a higher level.
The analysis of presuppositions will raise our communication skill, offering a number of personal benefits. One such benefit being a better understanding of the manipulator and his/her tactics.
It's a tough book to study, but it will give you a much better understanding of how syntax affects response.