talkmagic.co.uk

While this is not strictly a 'magic' book, it will be of interest, I feel, to those who are into mentalism.

The Effect

This book is an excellent look at the art of 'Cold Reading'; the skill of being able to read details about a strangers past, present and future by using special phrases and the persons reaction to them, popularised by Derren Brown. In fact, this book was recommended several times in 'Pure Effect' and 'Absolute Magic'.

Cost

£28 plus p+p from www.ianrowland.com

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Difficult to rate the skills involved, it is about learning a few techniques, plus a natural gift of the gab! So I'll give it a 2!

Review

This is a fantastic look at the whole issue of Cold Reading. It deals with it in both psychological and performance aspects. It dispells the common myths of Cold Reading, including the belief that it is just 'vague statements' or relies purely on body language, and shows there is so much more to it.
The book starts by going through each element of a performance in great deal, set out in 7 steps. Each of the 7 steps are then divided into 8 or so sub-sections. It covers 'the set up', 'the principle themes', 'the elements of the reading (character, facts, extracting information, future)', 'the win-win game', 'presentational points', 'putting it all together' and 'coping with sceptics'. This is only the first part of the book and already you can see how much detail it goes into!

There are also transcripts of performances by Ian Rowland, which he then analyses, to show what worked and what didn't. It also goes on to deal with 'blocking techniques' - the skill of stopping someone from being able to use cold reading on you!

There are additional sections on memory techniques, instant readings and the skill of 'hot-reading'. Ian also includes a couple of interesting essays, "How do you explain that?" and "On keeping an open mind". The book concludes with an interesting section on the non-psychic contexts of Cold Reading, even dealing with Cold Reading and criminal investigation.
(Plus there is a cheeky little bit on Cold Reading and romance!)

It is a brilliant and thorough look at the skill from an experienced and talented exponent of the art!

Overall

An excellent read, well worth the price tag. Will be of interest to those who are into Mentalism in a non-sleight of hand way, as well as those who are just curious about the subject and the techniques employed by those who claim to be blessed with psychic skills. A great book.

Agreed. Fantastic book.

Yup. It's a corker. Very eye-opening even if you use it for nothing other than finding out how it's done.

This looks great! Just ordered a copy. I got Tradecraft from http://www.trickshop.com, which is really good, but this looks the business. Life coaches and counsellors are also using these techniques, as well as neural-linguistic programming. It takes time to learn the techniques, but when they are combined with sleights and other effects, they can really add power to your performance.

If memory serves Derren Brown rates Ian Rowland's book highly - as much a recommendation as anyone could want!

TheMightyNubbin wrote:If memory serves Derren Brown rates Ian Rowland's book highly - as much a recommendation as anyone could want!

Mark Smith wrote:popularised by Derren Brown. In fact, this book was recommended several times in 'Pure Effect' and 'Absolute Magic'.

Certainly was!

While highly recommended it is NOT a first year study piece of material and akin to placing the proverbial cart before the horse.

I am both, amazed as well as disgusted by the fact that so many think they can just jump in at the top of the heap instead of climbing up the ladder. When it comes to the art of being a Reader there are certain preliminary steps one needs to take and it's just amazing how few "experts" out there stress that point.

I likewise endorse this book, less one particular section in it that encourages psychic baiting and bashing. Like Bob Cassidy, I am likewise aware of the many fallacies and weaknesses in this material... but that's what happens when you actually do this kind of stuff as part of your vocation.

Then again, I'm always amazed at the number of successful Mentalists out there who worked in the shut-eye market for years, suddenly come out with a tome of this kind and reverse their stand on the whole Psychic issue... it's almost as if they are blackmailed into it not that I'm aware of more than a half-dozen individuals that had this happen to them... some with rather recognizable names in fact (don't ask, I wont tell).

If you want to learn how to do actaul Reading work, do yourself a favor and study Richard Webster and Ron Martin first.

Craig Browning wrote:If you want to learn how to do actaul Reading work, do yourself a favor and study Richard Webster and Ron Martin first.

Can you give us some links to particular books you would recommend, as when I search I get tonnes

Yes, I think Richard is the only person that writes more than I do

Check out Martin Breeze, he has three audio tapes of Richard that are FANTASTIC when it comes to Cold Reading techniques. The other material I'll recommend are...

PSYCHOMETRY FROM A-Z
AURA READING FOR FUN & PROFIT

Once you've gone through those resources you might want to consider Herb Dewey's KING OF THE COLD READERS as well as my book EASY READING(http://www.mevproshop.com/easy-reading.html)

Once you've put this handful of material under your belt and actually started doing Readings (the best school of all), then you can start looking at some of the deeper analytical ideas such as are found in the Rowland and Henderson books.

When it comes to the question of "How" to do Readings however, you just can't beat the simplicity found in Ron Martin's TAROT READER'S NOTEBOOK. It's striaght forward and proves that you really don't need a bunch of "tricks" to do this stuff.

Now, let me whet your appetite a bit... Richard's Aura Reading technique is what I am currently using on days when the weather's nice. I sit out in the park downtown with an easel and draw people's Aura portrait along with a Reading... at $55.00 a pop and an average of three drawing an hour. Can you name one single effect that can make you that kind of money day in and out seven days a week?

My circumstances in life have placed me into this position, but it's nice to know that there are certain skills within this craft that really are beneficial.

I have to say I found Ian's book very accessible - very well and clearly written and it doesn't make lots of assumptions about your level of knowledge of the subject.

I'm no expert in this area so before I purchased I spoke to several people who had it - none of them said you needed special knowledge.

If you look at the comments from people that have read it on Ian's site - there are a wide variety of non-mentalist types who also recommend it which indicates it's accessibility as well as your Derren Brown's of this world.

I have no vested interest here, just thought it was a great book, well written and accessible.

Craig - did I notice you plugged your own competing book Declare your interest!

TheMightyNubbin wrote:Craig - did I notice you plugged your own competing book

Well if he didn't - then I would've.
In my opinion - the best possible way you can learn about reading is to find everything you can that Craig has written - this forum and others - and then follow his advice..

This advice looks sound, I just wish advocates would not be so 'disgusted' so quickly. The avenues into new ways of doing magic are many. I prefer encouragement over pontification.

Absolute Magic and Pure Effect all come with a health warning (Jerry Sadowitz was very candid with me when he sold me Pure Effect).

Perhaps we just need to offer a general health warning that cold reading takes a long time to develop, that it can be developed into stand alone performance, or that it may complement other magic that we do.

I have developed my own systems for reading audience cues, play on the pure luck that can come from coincidences, and use whatever is going on in the room to enhance the performance. For me cold reading provides a useful set of new ways of looking at my audience to enhance a performance.

I look forward to reading Ian Rowland's book and look forward to Craig's stuff as well.

TheMightyNubbin wrote:I have to say I found Ian's book very accessible - very well and clearly written and it doesn't make lots of assumptions about your level of knowledge of the subject.

Of course you did and didn't, he's out to get YOUR money not protect and preserve the secrets of a once more closeted sect within magic.

I'm no expert in this area so before I purchased I spoke to several people who had it - none of them said you needed special knowledge.

Of course the wouldn't... most of the people you spoke to were probably magicians who do not work as Readers -- people that specialize in this particular skill e.g. they wouldn't see such an obvious element.

If you look at the comments from people that have read it on Ian's site - there are a wide variety of non-mentalist types who also recommend it which indicates it's accessibility as well as your Derren Brown's of this world.

This is called "Politics" the greatest two-edged sword within any and all industries i.e. who you know, who knows of you and who will endorse you. All too frequently it is based on who's butt you've kissed or how many drinks you've bought for this or that personality. Truth is, if you have any hint of background in a given field, it is relatively easy to get endorsements. The catch is, you must have some level of name recognition as well as credibility.

I have no vested interest here, just thought it was a great book, well written and accessible.

No argument, it is a good book. What I said is that it's not something I'd recommend to a novice. There is too much misinformation in it, too much personal opinion that is potentially hurtful (not to mention, dangerous) and it negates the fact that one must actually KNOW how to work with genuine divination systems in order to use that material in a manner that is a bit more than show biz spiel.

Craig - did I notice you plugged your own competing book Declare your interest!

I do not consider my book something for the novice either. Possibly more so than Ian's book, but it can be a bit overwhelming for someone not familiar with the basics. On the other hand, my book deals more with the esoteric side of the issue and has one primary purpose; to lend to the student a mnemonic technique by which they are better prepared to move into and exploit various divination systems under a single definition i.e. the meaning behind the number 1, the color red, the Magician of the Tarot, etc. are all one in the same.

There are a few folks around here that promised me a review on it... hmmm

There are a few folks around here that promised me a review on it... hmmm

For anyone interested (and you should be), "Easy Reading" has been reviewed here

I'm confused here. This was on my wish list to start cold-reading but I see it's a little advanced for me. What's for starters??