My absolute favourite mind-reading gadget is the Book Test. This isn’t just any old prop disguised as a book; it’s a crafty little number that lets you read your spectator’s mind. With a sea of options out there, how on earth do you pick the right one? Simple! It all boils down to three questions:
- Is it easy to use?
- Do I need to memorise anything?
- Does it have multiple uses?
So, let’s have a natter about the Progressive Book Test!
Is it easy to use?
Absolutely! I’ve crafted these books so the methods are crystal clear and intuitive. You’ll be able to divine any word from the book without fishing for answers, guessing, forcing a page, or bombarding your spectator with a barrage of questions. The book practically hands you the word your spectator is thinking of! Plus, your spectator will sail through it without breaking a sweat on stage!
Do I need to memorise anything?
Not a chance! If your memory is as dodgy as mine, the thought of memorising a load of words, codes, or patterns while trying to keep your act together is enough to give anyone the heebie-jeebies. With the O'Brien Book Test, there’s absolutely ZERO memorisation required. Seriously, the book tells you exactly what words they’re thinking of!
Does it have multiple uses?
Of course! Mind reading can turn stale faster than last week’s bread if it’s too repetitive. That’s why I made sure to include a variety of routines and variations across multiple popular book titles to keep both you and your audience on your toes. You can perform the routines independently or weave them into a seamless act that builds in excitement and impossibility!
What about the books themselves?
As I mentioned, there are several titles to choose from. The methods are identical across all eight titles, so no need to fret about which book has which method. The books are sorted into two categories based on size: Closeup and Standup.
The titles are designed to look perfectly "off the shelf," with a delightful mix of sizes, cover finishes, page colours, and styles. You can either select individual titles you fancy or grab a bundle for a cheeky discount!
What are the "Closeup" titles?
The Closeup titles are the petite ones, perfect for the strolling mentalist to pop in their pocket. These books measure 5" x 8" and feature text at a comfy 12pt font size.
- 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, on the other hand, are a tad larger for those more formal settings. Measuring 6" x 9" with a generous 15pt font size, these books are designed for showtime! The following titles are part of 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 consistent across all eight titles. Here’s what you can expect:
- Flashback - Know the first word of any page without forcing the page or needing to know the page number.
- Flashforward - Know a word on the first line of the next page, again without forcing the page or knowing the page number.
- Inception - Rather than fishing for a thought or word, you can implant the word you want in your spectator's mind instead! Simple! Clean!
- Any Word on Any Page - Let your spectator choose a word from anywhere in the book. You don’t even need to hold the book! This can be done completely hands-off! No peeking, forcing, or guessing—seriously, you could be in another room when they choose the word! It’s that clean!
- The Progressive Book Test - Use one book to divine three thoughts of words from three different parts at once! No fishing, forcing, or guessing! You instantly know all three words as soon as the 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 six 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 around!
- Bonus Phantom Method - Use the Flashback and Flashforward methods to divine a thought of image on the page as well! (This is only available in The Phantom of The Opera Book.)
I truly hope you find as much joy and inspiration from these books as I have! Huge shoutout to Josh Zandman and Kaleb Wade for their contributions and inspirations that shaped this project!
Want to take your book test on the go? Add KDP to your phone and perform Michael's book test on the fly! Easy to set up and works on any electronic device that supports PDFs such as a phone, tablet, computer, Kindle, Nook, etc! Read one or multiple spectators' minds at once. Works alongside or in place of Michael's Progressive Book Test.
Includes eight titles to choose from. Use one or all of them at your leisure!
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!
