I just got my book on Friday last week, and I'm not even a quarter way through.

I bought it for 60 USD and I have to say its worth it, its 800 pages thick, good quality paper, hardcover with dustjacket.

OK now for the contents :-

1) the book is not for beginners. The writer assumes you already have the basics although its not too difficult to understand.
2) the book doesnt touch on patter and presentation. Just the effects themselves.
The reason given is while presentation is 70% of the effect and the technical know how is the remaining 30%, he wants the readers to come up with their own presentation. He doesnt want all his readers out there doing the effects the same way with the same presentation, thus he omits most of the detailed presentation, leaving only outlines for us to come up with our own .

I'm gonna enjoy reading this.

Wow...USD60 is a lot to pay for a book that doesn't even give you presentation ideas.

How many effects do you get?

he does give presentational idea, but doesnt spoonfeed you the patter to do it. He does give some suggestions.

I don't know how many effects are there. A lot?

OK..wait, this is the ad from Elmwood Magic.

Over 800 pages full of astounding and diabolic mentalism - all conceived by one man! T.A. Waters has for years been recognized as one of the most original and knowledgeable minds in Mentalism.
In the 80's he released 21 booklets of his mental secrets, which sold to a select clientele for more than 300. Mind, Myth & Magick gives you all this extraordinary Mentalism and additional material, revised, updated and extensively illustrated in a fine hardcover edition.

This monumental work contains over 200 effects of Mind Reading and Bizarre Magick, along with extensive re-examinations of psychometry, billet work, book and symbol tests, fortunetelling, Tarot and other classic topics.

This is a really fat book. Some people say this book is like the new testament of mentalism..with Corinda being the old testament

hmmm, when was this mentioned? just curious thats all cos to me, Corinda is more basic while this book requires u to already know the basics.

By the way, i have both books and I find them to be really different.

There isnt much presentations that is true, but Waters does give some reasons for his actions and variations. There is even an effect that has triple outs in case something fails.

Worth looking into if you have the spare cash :)

Cheers!

on the back dustjacket cover of the book itself.
its a quote by Gaetan Bloom

wow! thanks! :wacko: i never even noticed that it was there

I agree,also read world of super mentalism by Bob Cassidy.Jeff,wanna trade materials?I got loads of stuff I ahven`t touched yet due to studies.

I've barely covered 1/4 of the book yet.

Its hard to lug around and read due to the thickness.

It's worth to own the Mind Myth and Magick by TA Waters which I bought it some 12 years ago. Good reference to be in your library. Larry Becker has a couple of good books, and those crazy on mentalism, should try and get Stunner Plus, Mentalism for Magicians, World of Super Mentalism I & II. His Dvds, Standing Ovation and Masterpieces are worth watching.

I think World of Super Mentalism is not written by Bob Cassidy. Cassidy has 3 volumes on Art of Mentalism and 4 volumes of The Fundamentals.

My favourites are Cassidy's Name & Place, and Fourth Dimensional Telepathy. Check out his Dvd on Mental Miracles.

Try out Max Maven's Contimental. I use it once in a while on my show.

I believe the style of your presentation greatly depends on your character and it is not appropriate to have it written lest some mentalist may follow the author's style and patter word for word.

Bob

I've become a Banachek parrot (not that its a bad thing) by being too obsessed with his silverware DVD, and I'm trying to undo the imitating, but its hard.

:lol:

Bob Chua,

Thanks for your advise.
I'll definitely look these books up in the near future .

My mistake,World of Super Mentalism is by Larry Becker.I have two volumes.
Fundamentals and a Guide book to Mentalism is by Bob Cassidy.It is essential for the beggining mentalist to have this.I have Standing Ovation by Larry Becker.The material is ok.I really liked the Rousian Roulette though.Becker`s presentation is half funny/serious.

Yeah,for those of you who don`t know,you can`t find Maven`s books on the market.he uses the name Phil Golstein as the author.It`s like Banachek,Steve Shaw is his real name and Banachek as his stage name.

Thank you uncle Chua(can I call you that?),for the correction.

Regards,
David Lai

Yes David, you can call me Uncle Bob as I am often known among the magicians and events people in Singapore.

If you love mental effects, the person I know who does it very well is Pambudi and he will be in KL on June 3.

Check out Becker's "Bear and Grin It" , good effect and entertainment value. I also love Maven's "Mockingbird" and Lee Earle's Center Tear.

Bob

Thxs for the advice.Will be looking forward to see Pambudi on the 3rd.Great to have someone who knows so much insight on mentalism theories and principles on the forum(I`m reffering to you Uncle Bob).

Regards,
David Lai