My absolute favourite mind-reading gadget? The Book Test, hands down. It’s a clever little prop masquerading as a regular book, letting you peek into your spectator’s thoughts. But with so many options out there, how do you pick the right one? For me, it boils down to three straightforward questions:
- Is it easy to use?
- Do I need to memorise anything?
- Does it have multiple uses?
Let’s dive into the
Progressive Book Test!
Is it easy to use?
Absolutely! I’ve designed these books so the methods are crystal clear and intuitive. You’ll be able to read your spectator’s mind without any fishing about, guesswork, or forcing a specific page. The book practically shouts out the word they’re thinking of! Plus, it’s so user-friendly that your spectator won't feel the pressure on stage - no sweat required!
Do I need to memorise anything?
Not a chance! If you’re anything like me (and let’s be honest, you probably are), the mere thought of memorising a bunch of words or codes while trying to keep your act smooth is terrifying. With the O'Brien Book Test, there’s absolutely ZERO memorisation. Seriously, the book will tell you exactly what word they’re thinking of!
Does it have multiple uses?
Yes, indeed! Mind reading can get a bit stale if it’s too samey, right? That’s why I’ve packed in multiple routines and variations across various popular book titles to keep things fresh for both you and your audience! You can perform the routines individually or string them together for a coherent act that builds in suspense and thrills!
What about the books themselves?
As I mentioned, there are several titles to choose from. The methods are identical across all 8 titles, so you won’t be tearing your hair out trying to remember which book has which method. The books are categorised by size: Closeup and Standup.
The book titles look like they’ve just jumped off a bookstore shelf, featuring a variety of sizes, cover finishes, page colours, and styles. Pick your individual favourites or grab a bundle for a cheeky discount!
What are the "Closeup" titles?
The Closeup titles are smaller and perfect for the roving mentalist who likes to travel light. These books measure 5" x 8" with text in a comfortable 12pt font size.
The following titles are included in the "Closeup" series:
- The Gentlemen (Soft Cover)
- 1984 (Soft Cover)
- A Tale of Two Cities (Soft Cover)
- Lord of the Flies (Soft Cover)
- Animal Farm (Soft Cover)
What are the "Standup" titles?The Standup titles are a bit larger and designed for those more formal mentalism gigs. These books measure 6" x 9" with a larger 15pt font size. The following titles are included in the "Standup" series:
- The Phantom of the Opera (Hard Cover)
- Fahrenheit 451 (Soft Cover)
- The Handmaid's Tale (Soft Cover)
What methods are included?As mentioned, the methods are the same across all 8 titles. These methods include:
- Flashback - Know the first word of any page without needing to force the page or even know the page number.
- Flashforward - Know a word on the first line of the next page. Again, without needing to force the page or even know the page number.
- Inception - Rather than fish for a thought of a word, you can plant the word you want in the spectator's mind instead! Surefire! Simple! Clean!
- Any Word on Any Page - Allow the spectator to choose a word from anywhere in the book. You don't even need to be holding the book. It can be done completely hands-off! No peeking, forcing, or guessing! You could be in another room when the word is chosen! It’s that clean!
- The Progressive Book Test - Use a single book to divine 3 thought-of words from three different parts of the book at once! Again, no fishing, forcing, or guessing! You know all three words the instant your spectator picks a page. Each word gets progressively bigger and more impossible to know!
- Tossed Out Book - Toss out one or multiple books and read 6 spectators’ minds at once! Again, nothing to memorise and the words can be chosen from anywhere on the page making this one of the cleanest Tossed Out Book routines out there!
- Bonus Phantom Method - Use the Flashback and Flashforward methods to divine a thought of an image on the page as well! (This is only available in the Phantom of The Opera Book.)
I genuinely hope you find as much joy and inspiration from these books as I did! Massive shoutout to Josh Zandman and Kaleb Wade for their contributions and inspirations for what has become this fantastic project.
Includes 8 titles to choose from. Use one or all of them at your pleasure!
Killer!
Direct!
Powerful!
Never leave home without your book test again!
If you already own the Progressive Book Test, you can access this tutorial for FREE on the PBT Tutorials Page!
