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It's the clutter that puts me off. The worst thing is buying a magic book for thirty quid, opening it and realising you got to spend a shedload of cash to perform them. Hmmm.

The bulk of the material requires very little extra stuff...just things that most mentalists have in their toolkit: post it notes, pillboxes, Rhine cards, etc. There are some nice feints to Cassidy and workable routines...

I haven't read Mr. Swiss' review yet, but I have used a number of items from this book since I purchased it, and I still count it among my favorite book purchases.

Like any great book - it's the techniques and thinking that really makes this shine. Even if you don't use any of the effects as presented (and you really shouldn't do it verbatim), the book is packed with concepts that can be applied to anything you can come up with.

As for the Midas effect, I've worked in a method to keep the presentation similar, but without the hefty pricetag of the Midas. That effect is a perfect indication of the strength of Looch's thinking. He's taken an effect that has been done many times over, some using the same method, some not - and has made it stand apart as a fresh approach to the plot.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. No review will do it justice. I never posted a review of it on here because I covet the effects that much, and I was feeling a bit too greedy to really describe what's on the pages.

The Midas effect puts me off, buying a book and then finding you need to shell out £300 to do one of the effects seems a bit off, in my opinion.
I'm looking for some strong, practical stuff so it may be NM and Mitox for me. I just find that pulling out expensive looking props detracts from a mentalist performance as does producing envelopes in the way Cardini does cards.
I was going to buy this initially, but this has really put me off.

Lord Freddie wrote:The Midas effect puts me off, buying a book and then finding you need to shell out £300 to do one of the effects seems a bit off, in my opinion.

I agree that it is a bit annoying to read about so-and-so's handling of an effect, especially when it's either an expensive, or very rare bit of kit.

I just find that pulling out expensive looking props detracts from a mentalist performance as does producing envelopes in the way Cardini does cards.

While I don't own one, I don't think anyone is supposed to see the Midas.

That effect, plus the lack of proofing were the only two things I wasn't keen on. Interesting that looch has admitted he didn't get it proofread, as he assured me that it had been when I raised the subject.

The rest of the book is great (and, in fact, the Midas effect may very well be good, if you own one). I even loved 'The Glitch', a remarkable effect that is almost impossible to perform. The concept was that good.

Lord Freddie wrote:The Midas effect puts me off, buying a book and then finding you need to shell out £300 to do one of the effects seems a bit off, in my opinion.
I'm looking for some strong, practical stuff so it may be NM and Mitox for me. I just find that pulling out expensive looking props detracts from a mentalist performance as does producing envelopes in the way Cardini does cards.
I was going to buy this initially, but this has really put me off.

No where in the book is an effect in which you pull out expensive looking props...Im not a magician my friend. The props in the book are things like, billets, a deck of card, a spectators watch, a pen, a matchbox, some paperback books, ESP cards......ALL regular everyday items that 99% of mentalism is Based around. If you are against using these then by all means go for my buddy Tomos, naked mentalism.

The midas is only used for the superman routine, it can however be done utilising cheap props if you put your mind to it...ie a 2p and a wizard PK ring.

Thanks Looch, I'm teetering on the brink with this one.
It's just that I've bought a few things recently that sounded great but have been far too impractical to perform. If many of the effects use standard props then it may well be up my street. I'm just after workable, usable effects and these sound great in the description.

Go on Freddie I personaly recomend it. Like beyond Esp 2 and the Heirloom wallet.

Yer twisted my arm, it's on top of my next purchase list.
You do realise that if everything is "show the audience twelve envelopes" and "all you need for this effect is a rolex watch, a ferrari and a gorilla" I'd be awfully upset.
Your recommendations have always been wise ones in the past matey.

Yer twisted my arm, it's on top of my next purchase list.
You do realise that if everything is "show the audience twelve envelopes" and "all you need for this effect is a rolex watch, a ferrari and a gorilla" I'd be awfully upset.
Your recommendations have always been wise ones in the past matey.

You have a chimp Freddie old bean. He can be used instead of a gorilla so you are ok. Oh you can all so use a Nissan and A casio if needs be.

Jolly good, that's all sorted out then. Bloomin' British laws. You can have rabbit and doves on stage, but if you try to get permission to show the world the first mind-reading chimp, it's not allowed.

Political correctness gone mad!

Wow, I leave this topic for like two days and there are 2 pages worth of positive things about the book. Guess I have to buy it now.

Thanks!

.:Ham:.

I'd like to add my praise for this book. I agree it would have benefited from a proof-read, but even as someone who is generally impatient with badly-written stuff it wasn't enough to be off-putting to me. (The exception is that I felt one phase of 'Wake Up Dr Rhine' was not explained clearly, but Looch very swiftly and helpfully answered my email about this).

What impressed me most was that although I really don't like billet-type effects there are two in here that I'm definitely going to use, because they are cleverly put-together and remarkably easy.

Also, I both love and hate 'Wake Up Dr Rhine'. Well, I love it - I'm just ticked off that I was trying to come up with an ESP cards thing very much like this, and was also trying to come up with a good use for the move that is used in this effect, but I never put the two together as Looch has.

Markdini wrote:Freddie old bean. It is not a Naked methood book. (few are) Its very much gaffed or sleights but the good news is...That they are easy gaffs to come by or sleights to use. Nothing too taxing you may need a few extra bits and bobs like a Midas (havent got one its £300) but there are other strong routines in there.

Which effect from the book uses the 300 pound Midas?

.:Ham:.