John Grinder American author, linguist and co-author Date of Birth: 10.01.1940 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Career
2. Birth of NLP
3. Academic Pursuits
4. Global Outreach

John Grinder: Pioneer in Linguistics and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

Born in 1940, John Grinder is an American author, linguist, and co-creator of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

Early Life and Career

In his early years, Grinder dabbled in various fields, including serving as a (self-professed) CIA agent in Germany, Italy, and Yugoslavia. His background in linguistics led him to the field of generative-transformational grammar, where he collaborated with Noam Chomsky.

Birth of NLP

In the 1970s, Grinder joined forces with Richard Bandler and Frank Pucelik to develop NLP. Their book, "The Structure of Magic," became a seminal work in the field.

Academic Pursuits

Grinder pursued academic studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he worked as a research assistant to Gregory Bateson. He later held a position as assistant professor of linguistics at Cabrillo College.

Global Outreach

Grinder's influence extended beyond the United States. He visited the Soviet Union in 1990 and returned to Moscow in 2004 to conduct NLP trainings. His work has left a lasting impact on the study of communication and personal development worldwide.