Cheers mike,
I really look forward to practising NLP and getting my practioner certification.

The way you described the knowledge you gained from direct learning answered my question. 'can you learn it with just books'. The learning isn't fully activated in your everyday life. So going to a training seminar, where you are personally trained in using techniques as client and as leader, can really activate the learning. Also giving you the experiental learning and a full sensory experience.

thanks again and good luck.