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Easy Reading by Craig Browning
Mnemonic Methods and Techniques for the Frustrated Psychic

Available from Loren Tindall's MVPro shop, $65

Who am I to write a review of this?
With quotes from the likes of Larry Becker, Richard Webster and John Riggs, my first thought was to not bother reviewing this item on the grounds that I didn’t feel worthy to add to what these guys had already said. However, the more I read and re-read it, the more I feel that what I have to say is actually quite relevant for the precise reason that I AM coming at it from a different standpoint.

Perhaps it would help if I begin by telling you where I am at the moment with my own mentalism. I am at the stage where I am starting to get more and more paid work, both close up and stage/parlour gigs and as such I am always on the lookout to make what I do more credible, more interesting and of course more entertaining.

My personal style is to start off claiming to use lesser known psychological techniques to give the impression of mind reading, but as the show goes on to do more and more effects that can’t be explained by Body Language, Muscle Reading, Suggestion or in fact any of these so called LKT’s. I appreciate that this is itself quite a controversial subject at the moment and a lot of purists out there suggest that the only way to go is to claim psychic/paranormal ability from the outset, but what I do works for me, and at present I am happy with it.

So what was I looking for when I downloaded “Easy Reading”, and did it deliver?
Well for starters, I wasn’t looking to become a fulltime professional Cold Reader. Let’s get that out in the open right now. In fact because of this I did have my doubts as to whether or not this manuscript was going to be for me.

What I was looking for however was information that could easily be learnt and would give what I do an extra layer of credibility. One of my favourite manuscripts at the moment is a wonderful little volume by Peter Arcane called “The Elucidator”. In its simplest terms this booklet is a guide to Drawing Divinations. One of my favourite effects, for both Stage and Tables, is Andy Nyman’s “Magicians Graphology” and with the help of the Arcane book, I can carry off the first phase and give mini readings regarding the first two drawings that help me identify who drew which image. I can also apply the text of the Arcane book to the last phase where I miraculously duplicate the last drawing.

So in short, with “Easy Reading” I was looking for something similar, something that would help in areas other than Drawing Duplication/Divinations, and it has to be said that I truly believe that I have hit the Jackpot with this one. Craig Browning has done an amazing job. The “ER” booklet covers techniques such as Numerology, Astrology, Tarot, Aura Reading, Colours, Gemstones, Runes and playing Cards, all of which I know will be extremely useful to me.

There is still a certain amount of memory work required. I say memory work, but really I just mean there is simply such a lot of data to be absorbed. However, one of the real beauty’s of Craig’s system is the mnemonic aspect to it. This makes it that much easier to recall the information when it is needed and by just having the information there at my fingertip means that I can be that much more confident and that much more credible with the things I perform.

Bottom Line
Perhaps this manuscript is not for the casual hobbyist. It’s not particularly cheap and it isn’t brimming over with effects (although it has to be said that the ones included are pretty nice). However if you want to start taking your mentalism more seriously and make what you do that much more believable then “Easy Reading” is a great resource and undoubtedly money well spent.

Of course it also goes without saying that if what you are actually looking for is a good sound (and easy to learn) introduction into the realms of Reading Tarot, Astrology or Numerology readings then I doubt there is any better place to look than Craig’s work.

All in all, highly recommended.

Great review

I bought the book the day I found out it was available. I think I was expecting something more along the line of the kind of stuff I've seen Craig posting - but having said that - it's a really valuable tool and I'm glad I have it.

My problem is that I see the following by Craig Browning from here:
http://www.xmission.com/~zerowc/psychicperspectives/0302craig-1.html

Another interesting point that was shared with me by another professional Palmist is the fact that one's palm patterns seem to directly parallel Astrological influences in and around one's life e.g. if you know the Zodiac of a sitter, you have a fair idea what the hands are going to say. You merely modify the information in accordance to their personal chart and correlate the Reading between the two. Not only would such an action render a potent and believable Reading that's not only accurate, but easily confirmed and supported by an alternate esoteric science.

and completely write him off as peddling nonsense and pernicious superstitious nonsense at that. Palm patterns parallel astrological influences? What astrological influences??? If you know the Zodiac you have a fair idea what the hands are going to say??? And astrology is a science now is it?

Please tell me the book is better than that.

You can't say any of that 'stuff' is a science.

Science means proven, repeatable, testable. None of which applies here.

Ah, come on guys. This isn't the Bunny. It's fairly clear to me that it means esoteric "system" and not your or my definition of science.

Edit: He may, of course, be getting into the "spirit" of the thing, too. After all, if you seem to believe in what you're doing, the spec has an even harder time trying not to...

Not really wanting to get involved but wasn't a thread closed just yesterday due to this very same conversation.. If you want to go over old ground maybe you should read it again rather than start the argument afresh...

No offence...

Come back Kreskin, all is forgiven

Here we go again - what's the problem guys? How many more reasonable and potentially informative/interesting posts are going to veer headlong towards locking due to comments on a personal level such as those above?

Let's make the situation crystal clear right now - if there are issues from elsewhere or on levels beyond the remit of TM then they must be left outside when logging on. If there are members who, for whatever reason, aren't to your liking (and I can think of several without any effort at all right now!) then learn to live with it here or don't bother logging on.

By all means have differing views, that's the idea of TM, but we will not, repeat not, continue to tolerate destructive and discourteous posts of any kind. Respect is due in equal measures to all members and respect they shall have. There will be no exceptions to this. We shan't ask if that's clear to all, it's taken as read.

I am unaware of the other thread, whatever that may have been about, nor have I previously discussed anything with Mr Browning or had any problem with him. This is NOT personal.

On the contrary, I am GENUINELY interested in his book and own Ian Rowland's Cold Reading book as well as being familiar with Corinda's Step 11 dealing with the same subject.

Before buying this book (Easy Reading) I took the trouble to look around the internet to see what kind of stuff I might be getting from Mr Browning. If the assumption that astrology, palmistry etc are "scientific" (or indeed based on anything more than the sitter's gullibility) permeates his book then I shan't bother for the reasons I gave in my post above.

If his book is on the other hand a sensible guide (however subjective my view may be, they are still my funds paying for it) then I will certainly look forward to buying it. As Tomo suggests, my hope is that he is just "getting into the spirit of it". Indeed elsewhere in his internet writings Mr Browning suggests studying how the sitters (and their community) talk and view the world, as a sceptical rationalist doing the CR will just be talking a different language and be unlikely to achieve much rapport. I think that is good advice.

As I said in my original post:

Please tell me the book is better than that.

Ignore the rest of it if you like, and someone please just answer that bit.



(PS Was the other thread about the FFCR book? If so, this has nothing to do with that, beyond the fact that I came across the link to Mr Browning's book there.)

ian69 wrote:As I said in my original post:

Please tell me the book is better than that.

You're responding to a review. A review is an opinion. Are you willing to take a look at the damned review and judge it against the pedigree of the reviewer? That's what a review is.