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Just got back from a long stint in S.A. and find that there's been a veritable explosion of new products in the last 8 months!! I see in particular that Harling and Nyrup have got another book out called 'Geist' ; anyone read it yet? I really enjoyed 'Sleight of Mind', is this more of the same?

Also, I really like Osterlind, but he's got so much new stuff out I don't know what to go for or where to start. Anyone any ideas?

SGC

I think the new one's a toolkit for cold readers.

Hmmm... Tomo - I don´t think it is really. I´ve gotten the text below from Murphy´s. I could be wrong of course.
I´ve already ordered the book as I love Sleight of Mind. I will let you know what it´s all about when I am through it !

/FF

Geist
by Ian Harling and Martin Nyrup

Better the Devil they know…

From the authors of “Sleight of Mind” comes a book to inspire you to greater deception – “Geist”. Although containing a wealth of strong, real-world effects and their variations, “Geist” is also an exploration of how to give your routines more impact by changing them to suit the differing psychologies and beliefs of your Subjects – and how to revitalize and lengthen your existing material using simple strategies.

Although the information in Sleight of Mind can stand on its own, Geist is the companion volume. This book offers a continuation of Sleight of Mind. Geist offers many effects that illustrate the techniques taught in Sleight of Mind. These are effects that go beyond mere tricks; these are demonstrations that are supposed to be presented as real demonstrations of contact with spirits or paranormal abilities.

”Geist” also includes :

28 effects, many with extensive scripts and handling notes, including a solution to “Reversal”!!!
At last, a way back to the Subject’s original number!

“Concipio” – a clever gaff that will allow you to predict names, numbers, dates, etc, faultlessly every time.

“The Envelope” – an indispensable, ultra-clean gimmick with tons of uses.

An extensive glossary to help you create believable scripts for your effects.

200 pages and over 45 photo-illustrations.

Hi both, thanks for the quick replies. I have seen the adverts for it, but I'd really like to hear the opinion of somebody who has actually read it. I'd also be interested to see how on earth it can be possible to get back to your volunteer's original number in Reversal?!?! I'm no slouch when it comes to math's (I work on board ship doing quite complex calculations), but surely that isn't possible? Is it?
Sounds very interesting. If it lives up to half of what it says I'd be happy.

SGC

I must be mistaken, or maybe they've got two books out. I could have sworn it was in the last bulletin from Merlin's of Wakefield. I remember it was on a left hand page, but I can't find the brochure now.

SGChiles,

I found this review of Geist searching the net. Again I haven´t read the new book yet so I can´t really comment on this. Still you might find it useful ?

/FF

"Geist
The first thing you notice is that this book is 200 pages packed solid with ideas and routines, this isn't a read that anyone's going to be able to get through in an afternoon. No fillers or pages only half full of text or with just a picture of the Mentalist's mum on them, this is obviously a labour of love that has taken some considerable time to put together.

And what do you get for your money? More than I think I've gotten from any other Mentalist book for a long time. It's not just that there are a truckload of good (many very original) routines in the book, but above all it's given me pause for thought in ways that few mentalist writings have ever done.

Geist is clear, interesting and readable, but a different kind of book from Sleight of Mind entirely. Geist is both a 'trick book' and a look at a subject that's at the very core of Mentalism and magic, the 'Geist' itself. According to the authors, the term 'Geist', " Denotes the implied (rather than actual) driving mechanism behind any trick or effect - the method that a Subject or audience believes makes an effect work. By subtle use of the Geist, a card trick for example is made to seem to be a feat of mental/psychic skill rather than the sleight of hand it may really be. There are numerous uses for the Geist; it's an exceptionally influential means of misdirection - and a way of maximising the effect that your performance has on an audience by changing the Geist of each routine to meet their desires and beliefs."

Although I have given the idea of the Geist some thought, actually reading about it and thinking more about the way I use it and how I could use it I realise it's something that I've pretty much ignored for the last 20 years. 'Thought provoking' is an often over-used term in the book world, but for once, in Geist' case it's true.

As for the tricks themselves, the book is no let down. Each of the efects and its variations is well though out and very useable; in places the scripting and attention to detail are tremendous. I have a real problem learning anything physical from books, but this was all very well explained, with a lot of photos to help illustrate everything that was happening. Most tricks also seem designed to be performed in impromptu situations with a minimum of set-up. Best of the bunch for me:

1) 'Concipio' (a very simple gaff that I really wish I'd thought up) for its ease of use and number of applications. A great force mechanism for just about any word, number, etc. Their routine 'Beast' is excellent dark work and plays like a dream.
2) 'Killer' - Ridiculous, verging on the impossible, but a somehow very believable banknote serial number revelation.
3) 'Birth Year'. Discover the Subject's birth year in a very entertaining routine that plays to audiences big and small.
4) 'Reversal - the Harling & Nyrup Solution' - as others hae asked about this, why hasn't there been a method of discovering a way back to the Subject's original number before? A mathematical gem.

The more I write I realise that it doesn't do Geist justice to single out individual routines and to try to be critical of them, every one is more than competent and well-presented. The mathematical work they've done on the Fabonnaci Series effects and Reversal for example, the depth of background and clarity of scripting throughout, it's all of a very high standard. A nice touch was to leave one clever effect mechanism undeveloped to allow the reader to use it as a means to come up with his own routines! Even the Glossary, a resource in itself, is crammed full of useful information.

If I have to be critical then I can only base that criticism on pure greed. I would liked the book to be 400 pages, not 200. I felt that the routines could all have been developed ad infinitum and, should that have been the case I personally think that Geist would be hailed as one of the classics. As it is, a wonderful resource that I know will have something in it for everybody.

MelT "

I see where I went wrong now. They do have two new books out. The other's called Tradecraft.

I'll try and post a bare-bones review of Geist on Monday (should get it tommorrow)...though the one already posted above has covered it really...

Tomo wrote:I see where I went wrong now. They do have two new books out. The other's called Tradecraft.

...Not quite with you?

SGC

You don't mean that Tradecraft cold reading stuff do you? Geist and Sleight of Mind aren't that kind of thing. Understanding how people are thinking in parts yes, but not with any view to give anybody a 'reading' with it.

SGC

Here's a review of Tradecraft from Magic Week:

http://www.magicweek.co.uk/magic_review ... eading.htm

Hi Tomo,

The Tradecraft PDF has nothing to do with Ian Harling & Martin Nyrup. If you are interested in cold reading etc. I´d personally recommend Ian Rowland´s "Full facts..." book over the Tradecraft PDF any day.

I´ve just finished Geist and it´s an excellent and thought provoking read spiced up with some really rather excellent mentalism routines. I´ll try and get a review up shortly.

/FF

i've read Geist now a couple of times, not enough for a decent review though - all i'll say is - fan-bleedin'-tastic...

a very nice stacked tarot deck that they describe is worth the price alone in my opinion...and thats just the tip of the iceberg...

abraxus wrote:i've read Geist now a couple of times, not enough for a decent review though - all i'll say is - fan-bleedin'-tastic...

a very nice stacked tarot deck that they describe is worth the price alone in my opinion...and thats just the tip of the iceberg...

Don't keep us in suspense Ab'!!:) Any comments you can make would be gratefully received, I sail again in 3 weeks and really would like to get this one if it's any good? Are the effects of a decent standard? It sounds like there are plenty of them, but quantity doesn't mean quality unfortunately - as I've learned to my cost in the past.

Has anybody got anything new out of Osterlind or Spelman that's worth having too?

SGC

aaah, i'd say get the one Tomo reviewed first, if you liked it - you'll love this one...

it still needs a couple of more reads for me to review it properly though...but basically it gives you more ideas as how to frame your presentations, and then gives you different works in different styles for each effect...

and it covers a very powerful pulse stop too...