My absolute favourite mind reading gizmo is the Book Test. It's a nifty little prop that looks like an ordinary book but lets you peek into a spectator's mind. Now, with so many on the market, how on earth do you pick the right one? For me, it boils down to three key factors:
- Is it simple to use?
- Do I need to memorise anything?
- Does it offer multiple uses?
Let’s have a natter about the Progressive Book Test!
Is it simple to use?
Absolutely! I crafted these books so the methods are clear as day and intuitive. You’ll be able to divine any word from the book effortlessly—no fishing, no guessing, no forcing a specific page, and no endless questions. The book practically hands you the word your spectator is thinking of! Plus, it's user-friendly enough that your spectator won’t feel like they’re on the spot!
Do I need to memorise anything?
Not a chance! If, like me, your memory is about as reliable as a chocolate teapot, you’ll love this—there's absolutely ZERO memorisation involved. Just to reiterate, the book tells you exactly what word they’re thinking of!
Does it have multiple uses?
Oh, yes! Reading minds can get a bit stale if it’s too repetitive. That’s why I’ve packed in multiple routines and variations across several popular book titles to keep things fresh and exciting for you and your audience! You can perform the routines individually or string them together for a seamless performance that builds in impossibility and suspense!
What about the books themselves?
As mentioned, there are several titles to pick from. The methods are consistent across all 8 titles, so you won’t need to stress about which book goes with which method. The books are split into two categories based on size: Closeup and Standup.
The titles are designed to look like they belong on a shelf, boasting a variety of sizes, cover finishes, page colours, and styles. You can grab the individual titles you fancy, or bundle them together for a cheeky discount!
What are the "Closeup" titles?
The Closeup titles are pocket-sized treasures, perfect for the strolling mentalist. Measuring 5" x 8", they feature text in a 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 are a tad larger, making them ideal for more formal mentalism performances. At 6" x 9", they feature a 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 previously mentioned, the methods are the same across all 8 titles. They include:
- Flashback - Know the first word of any page without needing to force it or even know the page number.
- Flashforward - Know a word on the first line of the next page. Again, no page forcing or number knowledge required.
- Inception - Instead of fishing for a thought, you can plant the word you want in the spectator's mind! It’s foolproof! Simple! Clean!
- Any Word on Any Page - Let the spectator 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 the other 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 different parts of the book simultaneously! 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 baffling!
- Tossed Out Book - Toss out one or multiple books and read 6 spectators' minds all 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 gem is exclusive to the Phantom of The Opera book.)
I really hope you enjoy these books and find as much inspiration in them as I did! Huge shoutout to Josh Zandman and Kaleb Wade for their contributions and inspirations that led to this project.
Includes 8 titles to choose from. Use one or all of them as you fancy!
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!
