Hypnosis is a state of human consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness and an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion. Theories explaining what occurs during hypnosis fall into two groups. Altered state theories see hypnosis as an altered state of mind or trance, marked by a level of awareness different from the ordinary conscious state. In contrast, Non-state theories see hypnosis as a form of imaginative role-enactment.

The Miserable Mill is the fourth novel of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It was to be released in paperback under the name The Miserable Mill; or, Hypnotism!, but the release was canceled for unknown reasons. In this novel, the Baudelaire orphans live with the owner of Lucky Smells Lumbermill. The book was published on April 15, 2000, by HarperCollins and illustrated by Brett Helquist.