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I have a keen interest in mentalism and I would like to gain as much knowledge as possible. I dont really know where to start.

Ive searched all over the internet and there are lots of books and DVDs. The trouble is they all look really good. I was hoping some experienced mentalist's on this forum ( i know theres plenty of you! ) could point me in the right direction with regards to which books/dvds I should go for.

I have seen a book called GEIST. This looks really good and it has a few good reviews.

Hope you can help

Thanks

Paul

Check out this thread... http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic11429.php

The very first book you need in your collection as got to be 13 steps to mentalism by corinda which you can buy from :

http://www.nothingupmysleeve.co.uk/marketplace/index.php?cPath=50

for £18.50 if you have any trouble with this url just go to siege and click on the url in his signature.

If you want a review of it im sure you can find one in the search functions on the site. Also books on billets can be quite a good thing to get into if your interested in mentalism.

Also check this out:

[url]http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic2054.php&highlight=corinda

this is the review of 13 steps and this is something else which might be useful

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic11429.php&highlight=steps

This should sort you out for a while

sorry heres the review:

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic2054.php&highlight=corinda

Definitley start with 13 Steps. I have not read Geist, but Sleight of Mind by the same authors is excellent and for beginners mentalism, there are some easy to do effects in Mark LeMezma's books.

I have both Geist and Sleight of Mind and wouldn't recommend either to beginners. I'd wait until you understand the principles and ideas used in mentalism first.

The topics linked to above should be very helpful - 13 Steps to Mentalism, although being recommended almost to death, is a wonderful book and is probably the best place to start.

Thanks everyone! Have just ordered 13 steps.

Thanks for your help!

Paul

Happy reading

I seriously think it's a better idea to try to figure out what form of "mentalism" you'd like to pursue first and just study that, rather than be told to pursue a giant reading list for someone else's pride in the difficulty such a reading list presents to the poor sod who asks. There: I said it. I feel better now.

If you want methods that are 100% certain then 2Thirteen Steps to Mentalis" by Corinda is the way to go; its a classic but so to is "Practical Mental Magic" by Theo Annemann, which no one seems to recommend as much. I've never understood why becasue it's a lot more accessible. Maybe that's the point.

Frankly, there are as many approaches to surefire mentalism as there are writers on the subject - including the dreaded cold reading. If you want apparently method free mentalism in which you can just walk up to someone and tell them what they're thinking, you're going to have to rely on things that aren't 100% - and there's a lot less literature on the subject. Steve "Banachek" Shaw is a good starting point. His "Psychological Subtleties" is a great fountain of knowledge - even if it is just a starting point and not the be all and end all of the craft.

People over on the Café often recommend Annemann's material, with good reason. I usually always tend to forget to mention it to beginners as well, despite it being full of easy and practical techniques.

Tomo wrote:I seriously think it's a better idea to try to figure out what form of "mentalism" you'd like to pursue first and just study that, rather than be told to pursue a giant reading list for someone else's pride in the difficulty such a reading list presents to the poor sod who asks.

A very good point, although often overlooked. I couldn't have phrased it more eloquently myself

Work out what you want to do and how to do it before you go looking for the answers in Annemann or Corinda.

Yes i agree with the above posts where it was stated what type of mentalism you want to do but i dont think as a beginner you can start relying on chance methods. I think you need a stepping stone first and you should get to understand the art of mentalism before you start doing things like walking up to someone and telling them what there thinking with no props or sure fire methods and thats why 13 steps is an exellent starting point because it gives you 13 chapters of introductry material that is sure fire and after you have read this and understand what mentalism is about then you should decide which path or field of mentalism you should go in. Also Annemann is a great book to but for some reason 13 steps always seems to come out of my mouth first i dont know why maybe corinda put a psycholgical sublety in there to make you remember his book most

Annemann and Corinda will give the newcomer a great insight into what mentalism is. Reading the 13 steps or PMM let's you in on how mentalists (used to and still do) go about achieving their effects. Whatever effects you go on to attempt, this background reading can only help, even if you end up using none of the actual techniques.

I have had "13 Steps" by Corinda for a while but only just started reading it thoroughly. My reason for getting this book was to improve my understanding of this area and learn some insight into effects and techniques. My initial reaction is this book is EXACTLY what I hoped it would be!

Wizmo Magic now stock 13 steps to mentalism for ony £15.99 with free delivery!