I read Marie Mongan's Hypnobirthing. I think the book is fantastic. I didn't need a partner or to take the classes to use it. I was in an amazing state of self-hypnosis by delivery time. It wasn't pain-free, but it was fear-free and worry-free. The visualization techniques kept me from fighting the "surges" as they are called in the book, which made everything 100% bearable. Totally recommend the book. Some, who hire a doula trained in hypnobirthing techniques, actually find the birth and labor completely pain-free. I did not experience this, but, then again, I didn't have a trained professional helping me either.
I think the fact that I was not afraid, not even for a second, was what made it so incredibly easy. I can give you a breakdown of what I "felt," but it will vary from person to person, of course. For the first two hours of labor (progressing to 5cm) I felt barely anything. I was worried that nothing was happening. My midwife broke a second water bag and went from 5cm to 7cm before I even got off the birthing stool. Still barely anything. I remember talking about my contractions from 7-9 or so as being "neat" because I could, literally, feel him moving down and turning. Then, as I entered transition, my state of self-hypnosis went really deep. I was all myself and my awareness did not go anywhere beyond me. I had no idea what was going on around me. I just slipped into the tub. I could still feel him moving down. I felt him "pop" into the birth canal and crown. At that point, I had to call for my midwives, because they were in the adjacent room to give me privacy (I was at home for the birth). It was difficult to bring myself out of they state...almost as if I'd forgotten how to talk. I could only muster a gasped, "Baby!" The next contraction was the hardest, because my state was broken a little, but it still didn't hurt like you'd see screaming women on A Baby Story or something.
So, hopefully that helps, a little.
I've never tried Bradley, though.