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The Book

Tricks of The Mind - Derren Brown

The Cost

Hardback £18.99 retail or a tenner on t'Internet

The Blurb

In Tricks of the Mind, Derren Brown explores the arcane mysteries of magic, challenges the basis of religious belief and shines a light on the darkest recesses of the human brain as well as pssing on the secrets of his craft. Fascinating, contravertial and always entertaining, it's a book that could change the way you think forever.

The Review

This book is not a magic book.

This book does not reveal a load of Derren Brown's techniques. It does, however reveal Derren Brown's big secret.

It has chapters on magic, hypnosis, NLP, memory, religion, psychics and many topics about the mind and how it can be used and abused. Each chapter is interesting and well written and the book covers a huge amount in a very accesible and humerous way.

It's a real page turner. I learnt loads about loads, most of which won't be used by a magician, but it was fascinating anyway. It does change the way you think about people and their minds.

The Summary

It's not a "must read", but it's a brilliant read.

9/10

This has already been reviewed mate.[/url]

lindz wrote:This has already been reviewed mate.

Just the one opinion aloud per book then?

When I posted this, there was no review of it in the Books Review section. It might have been moved in subsequently.

When I used the search doofer, I couldn't find one (well, there were pages upon pages of results), so I thought I write one anyway.

Marvell wrote:

lindz wrote:This has already been reviewed mate.

Just the one opinion allowed per book then?

God knows! Maybe we should use this thread to actually review the book rather than just argue about the hidden message and who's thoughts are right or wrong ?

Anyway, I like the book and agree with you that it is a brilliant read. I am a big Derren fan so it was probably of more interest to me than to the casual reader, but either way it's well worth a look if you want to learn or begin to learn some of Derren's (simpler) techniques.
In no way is he telling you how he does most of his tricks/stunts but he gives background information and his own opinions on the techniques surrounding his work.

I imagine this book has come primarily from being asked a zillion times on every tour and every time he leaves his house 'Where can I learn what you do?' but all the same it's still a very good read.
I'd give it 9/10 too.

No theres not only one opinion per book allowed but i was just mentioning that you would probally get more responses if you added to the previous thread rather than start a new one but if you couldnt find the previous review then its all good and well.

Fair point. All's well then!

Yeah, it is good.

I got the book afew days ago, I've been using the memory techniques and they are cool, the only problem is that now I'm just in danger of getting another obsession .

It gets from me a : 9/10 (haven't finished reading it yet tho).

The only people who don't find it interesting are either smelly or stupid, am I allowed to say that?

supermagictom wrote:The only people who don't find it interesting are either smelly or stupid, am I allowed to say that?

Because it's Derren, yes.

I lent my copy to my girlfriend and have yet to see it back

If only I'd used all the memory techniques to memorise the entire content of the book before lending it on

Fantastic book though. Well worth a read if only to get an idea of what Mr Brown (doubtlessly a fantastic magician and mentalist) thinks of cerain tricks and needs for confederates etc

Is there anything revolutionary on the memory front i.e. new approaches? I'll buy the book just for that if there is.

Hmmm, good question. I wouldnt say revolutionary exactly but he does have some interesting approaches and they are very well taught. He also discusses ways to apply the skills and uses combinations of certain techniques together to have a desired effect. Does that answer your question?
PM me for more details if it doesn't.

EDIT: [has been PMed]

got my copy yesterday (thanks, sis!) its a great read so far, his veiw on techniques are very honest, and the insights to his history and experiences are really entertaining. i cant wait to put some of DB's meatods into action! 10/10 for me!

Ive read the first chapter today it was a very interesting read, our mister brown has a very warped sense of humour i must say but thats cool because im pretty messed up with my sense of humour myself. The first chapter is very interesting and it certainly makes you think. The only thing i couldnt get my head round was some of the long words he used (thats because im a bit simple). Also i read part of the second chapter the coin trick, he explains this very well indeed, its not just the trick he explains but also how to plant the seeds to make the magic belivable, so far im enjoying it i cant give it a rating yet as ive still got a long way to go but when i finish it i will certainly add my final thoughts.

I've finished it now and I would give it 10/10 too, but to be fair, that's probably just because I am actually Derren's biggest fan and love everything he does. (hence my sig.)
I love how he is obsesed with plurals(casini, not casinos) and his sense of humour is also great.

The part I found most useful throughout the whole book was actually the bit on false memory in the part entitled 'A coin trick'. He has such a good idea of what makes a trick 'good' and how to get the best reactions possible from what is essentially a very simple sleight (If you've read it, you'll know what I mean). That's something I have tried to transfer to my magic but with a slightly more mentalism edge. God I love Derren!!

How old do you have to be to have a civil ceremony?

i just feel sorry for sir robert kilroy silk lol, cmon Derren Punch him!!!!!