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I have been studying this recently and it really is an excellent book.
Some of the methods sound so simple, yet in performance are so effective.
I have seen on some websites a supplement to the 13 Steps. Is this worthwhile? What subjects does it cover?

From the price, I am assuming it's a small pamphlet.

The supplement is a small booklet which you will read in half an hour. It is not written by Corinda but by someone else unless Tony is using a pseudonym. It purports to be a history of the author and the book but this is really a disguise for the real purpose of the book.

Which of course is me causing trouble on the magic cafe.

The book is written so that Corinda can wax irritable about David Berglas and Jon Tremaine who both told me that THEY wrote the book. Naturally I decided to mention this on the Cafe for the fun of it.

I think I got Corinda mad so he decided to have the book written so he could moan about Tremaine and Berglas. I am quoted in the book a few times.

Tony says via his writer that Tremaine and Berglas are both talking nonsense and that they had nothing to do with the book. I believe him but I heard what I heard.

He also takes the opportunity to complain about Jon Tremaine's mentalism videotape (or is it one of those awful DVD things?). He claims that the stuff in it is all Corinda and not Tremaine. This time I had nothing to do with the matter.

I am innocence personified as usual.

mark lewis wrote:I am innocence personified as usual.

Thats a matter of opinion

This should be arriving on my doorstep tomorrow along with Art of Astonishment, I will post what I think about it later this week.

Which should I read first? Art of Astonishment or 13 Steps to Mentalism?

Depends whether you want to get started in mentalism or carry on with magic. They are both entirely different kettles of fish .

Art of Astonishment is very easy to dip in and out of. It has many different types of tricks, some needing considerable practice, while some are simple to master quickly.

I'm lost... what the hell is an Art of Astonishment?

I'm assuming they're referring to Paul Harris' Art of Astonishment series. If not, I have no idea.

Warning: Long post, just sort-of hacked away at the keyboard here.

ankh wrote:I'm assuming they're referring to Paul Harris' Art of Astonishment series. If not, I have no idea.

Yep . Sadly though, they did not arrive today as anticipated, nor will it come tomorrow (which stinks even more because I have the day off and would be able to read all day). Apparently E had a HUGE backup because of the release of Indecent; anyway, they did not even ship my order until today (I placed the order Thursday, and just assumed that for some reason I did not recieve a shipping conformation since I could not get in contact with customer service until today. I had my order on priority mail, and when I called a second time (I was debating whether or not to bump myself up to next day so I could read all day tomorrow for an extra $18...about 10-12 pounds if I'm not mistaken ?) it had already been shipped and I could not bump myself up without it being taken off of the truck and only being shipped tomorrow which wouldn't help me a bit .

So I'm in a bit of a pickle here, went from spending the weekend practicing and coming in to school Monday with a few new menalism and card tricks, to hoping I could spend Tuesday (first day off in a long while) practicing to get at least one new mentalism trick under my arsenal to now spending Wednesday (if I am lucky and the weight of the package does not affect my normal shipping time using priority which is 2 days...but because I have Psychonetic Time, Art of Astonishment..all three, and 13 Steps to Mentalism in one package, you never know) and Thursday practicing if I get the books on Wednesday to perform on Thursday. Otherwise, if I recieve the books after/on Thursday, there will be little chance that I will be able to practice enough (maybe an easy card trick or two from 13 Steps and Art of Astonishment) but nothing good to be performed till Monday...

But hey, who cares about my problems . I just have nothing better to do, and felt like putting this down "on paper".

I am definately jumping right into Art of Astonishment to figure out this trick right here...

From_Ellusionist wrote:Cros-Twist
You sandwhich a face down joker between two aces. You wave your hand and the joker turns face up. The audience is amazed, but you state it "didn't work." You try again. Instead of turning over the joker turns red.

Which I saw Wayne Houchin performing on his video "Unreal" and I have been stumped by it ever since. Honestly, that is the ONLY reason I bought this set; this trick stumped me so much that I only read the reviews on Ellusionist and based on those I bought it...for me that one effect was worth the $110...which is saying something. Good thing though that this was rated a classic by you guys.

Also learning this won't hurt.

From_Ellusionist wrote:Anything Deck:
The effect is basically you do a crappy effect.... and then you blow away your specators by spelling out ANY word they can think of. Deep Astonishment is cleaner, but the Anything Deck will still ASTONISH spectators.

Which is just one more of the effects that will make me want to jump right into Art of Astonishment. After I get a few things off of my chest I will probably check out the stuff in 13 Steps. Anyone know any good effects in 13 Steps, or anymore good effects in Art of Astonishment (even though from what I have been reading everything is pretty good in both of the books.

Also, I don't really know the limits to some of these rules on the board so please mods and admins, if this is "true" exposure, please let me know and I will delete this part of the post ASAP. For the trick with the Ace and 2 Jokers....I am really killing myself over not knowing how to do this, and if my word can be taken as true (which I do not hold against anyone for not taking my word as I have only been on here for a few days) when it comes to the fact that Art of Astonishment is indeed in fact in the mail coming to me; could someone please PM me how it is done? If not though, I will understand and just wait 2-3 more days .

I seriously wouldn't recommend spending a few days learning ANY effect and then going off and performing it, let alone something from 13 Steps to Mentalism, which really does require you to study each chapter and its principles before applying them and using them in relation to the effects in the book.

Cardza wrote:I seriously wouldn't recommend spending a few days learning ANY effect and then going off and performing it, let alone something from 13 Steps to Mentalism, which really does require you to study each chapter and its principles before applying them and using them in relation to the effects in the book.

And how long have you had this need to talk to walls, Cardza?"

EAGER NEW MAGIC BUFF + NEW EFFECT INFORMTION = TOM FOOLERY

Exceptionally few aspiring mage have the discipline (experience of falling flat on their face enough) to NOT run right out and show off what they just "learned" the mechanics to. They've yet to gain that state of maturation of mind that would compell them to refine something, keep it secret and let it simmer for a while and thus evolve into something more than being A TRICK.

Notice how I said something easy like a card trick or two. But then again, you might be right about your comment about the fact that it is impossible to do anything from 13 Steps to Mentalism with just a few days of practice; I can't really comment on that as I have not gotten it yet. And when I said two days of practice that meant that I would spend about 7 hours in those 2 days practicing. It also does not mean that if I do not feel comfortable with the trick that I will perform it anyway. I only perform tricks if I DO feel comfortable with them. Sorry if this post seems a bit defensive but it hits a nerve of mine when people say something without getting a bit of backround information first .

I spend at least 2 hours a day doing magic related activities, my time in front of the tv isn't even spent watching it, I am either reading magic forums and magic related books, or practicing flourishes. When I recieve a new trick or book, even more time is spent every day learning the ins and outs of every trick that I find useful to put under my belt.

Once again sorry about how defensive this post might have been, and I understand that you were just offering advice (which I am always greatful for, and hope you will offer some more to me) but please do not "accuse" me of being someone who just goes out and performs a trick as soon as they get it right once. I am a big fan of a quote in a signature of a member on another forum.

Amateurs work until they get it right, professionals work until they can't get it wrong.

~David

That's cool David. You have to remember your (good) attitude seems to be the exception to the rule, hence our comments.

Metalsism isn't my cup of tea so I find it difficult to get too enthusiastic about this book.

I'll bow down to the knowledge of others who are more experienced in this field.

To be honest dat, I ran headfirst into 13 Steps hoping to become a great mentalist... but I've put it on hold for a while whilst I learn more of other forms of magic. Sponge, coin etc.

Still a thoroughly fascinating book to read through though