Look to Barnum for How to Be a Psychic

READ YOU LIKE A BOOK

A lot of the books on mentalism written in the past ten years are just some blow hard giving their take on age-old tricks. They usually read something like this:

THE HONEST ELEPHANT
This trick uses a very interesting powerful little technique that I make use of in almost all my effects. It is interesting for some very simple reasons. I really come out and say:
"Don't lie to make me look good... It's a lot like sex: If you don't feel anything, you don't feel anything. It sometimes takes a while, but just wait for it. It will happen - it is always different with each person, but it will happen."

This is useful for several reasons. A) It will add believability when the spectator does begin to describe what they are feeling. And 2) It suggests to them, that whatever you claim they will feel, will happen, no matter how long it takes.

So, make what I like to call my Honest Statement and then make an elephant disappear using your favorite disappearing elephant method (I use el Dutchco's �Phant Be Gone' available at their web site and finer magic shops everywhere, but any disappearing elephant method will work).

Don't discount this very powerful tool in your elephant disappearing arsenal! Try it today.

The author hasn't bothered to teach you anything, but has tricked you into buying his collection of claptrap and pseudo-psychology as applied to other trick you can learn for a price somewhere else.

There are a few guys, like England's Darren Brown, that will actually teach you a thing or two with their claptrap, but they are few and far between. Besides, Brown has become a big TV star now, and doesn't have time to write anymore.

READ YOU LIKE A BOOK is one of my favorites. I used to do it in the American Bar in Chungtu, PRC for mostly passing Brits and Australians in the mid-80's. It involves �cold reading', a technique that I will go into in depth later, but rather than leave you hanging, I will teach a quick Barnum Statement here as well.

The Effect
Three index cards are on the table. Each has a message written on it.
1) WORLD PEACE
2) ONE MILLION DOLLARS
3) IMMORTALITY