On 2011-04-24 18:17, TonyB2009 wrote:
The Art of Mentalism was the first great book on mentalism I read. I still enjoy it - great stuff there and in his other works.

On 2011-04-24 21:50, Waters wrote:


It was not the first I read, but it was one of the first to affect me. After reading that, Pychological Subtleties and Pure Effect, I began to appreciate Annemann, Corinda, and Waters (The real one).

On 2011-04-25 15:42, merlin1979 wrote:
Bottles indeed. What's your preferred tipple - a pack of cards or a Rubik's cube?

On 2011-04-24 18:00, merlin1979 wrote:
OK, so I've been doing magic for 20 years, and mentalism for 8 or so. I've read over the years many posts exhorting the greatness of the good Dr. Bob's wares, but somehow had never got around to reading them. In retrospect I suspect it was because I was always looking for the 'new best thing' on the market, and as a beginner was put off by the more ballsy methodology favoured by Mr Cassidy and his predecessors, like Annemann et al. Obviously I never found the effort-free miracle I was looking for and my mindset was more magician than mentalist (although I do not wish to reopen THAT can of worms here).

Then, a year or so ago, partially inspired by Elliot's brilliant Switchcraft, I picked up a copy of The Art of Mentalism. The gutsy approach to methodology, with minimal props, and the balls to say "I'm a midreader", all things which had scared me in the past, finally started to chip away at the wood of my brain. Having tried some of the billet work and appreciated anew the genius of Bob's routining and consistency of approach, I feel like I have discovered the 'real' part of this art. The fact is, this stuff works, and if one can only muster the courage to overcome magician's guilt, it has so much more impact than some of the proppy mental magic I've read and performed in the past.

I am now a convert to the Cassidy way of thinking, and am gradually reading his other books, as bank account permits. So let me add my voice to the throng insisting that this stuff is one of the indispensible foundation stones of mentalism, as much for the effects as for the thinking and routining that has been honed to perfection over years of real performance. Thanks Dr Bob, and sorry for being so late to the party!

Merlin

On 2011-04-24 18:00, merlin1979 wrote:
OK, so I've been doing magic for 20 years, and mentalism for 8 or so. I've read over the years many posts exhorting the greatness of the good Dr. Bob's wares, but somehow had never got around to reading them. In retrospect I suspect it was because I was always looking for the 'new best thing' on the market, and as a beginner was put off by the more ballsy methodology favoured by Mr Cassidy and his predecessors, like Annemann et al. Obviously I never found the effort-free miracle I was looking for and my mindset was more magician than mentalist (although I do not wish to reopen THAT can of worms here).

Then, a year or so ago, partially inspired by Elliot's brilliant Switchcraft, I picked up a copy of The Art of Mentalism. The gutsy approach to methodology, with minimal props, and the balls to say "I'm a midreader", all things which had scared me in the past, finally started to chip away at the wood of my brain. Having tried some of the billet work and appreciated anew the genius of Bob's routining and consistency of approach, I feel like I have discovered the 'real' part of this art. The fact is, this stuff works, and if one can only muster the courage to overcome magician's guilt, it has so much more impact than some of the proppy mental magic I've read and performed in the past.

I am now a convert to the Cassidy way of thinking, and am gradually reading his other books, as bank account permits. So let me add my voice to the throng insisting that this stuff is one of the indispensible foundation stones of mentalism, as much for the effects as for the thinking and routining that has been honed to perfection over years of real performance. Thanks Dr Bob, and sorry for being so late to the party!

Merlin

On 2011-04-27 22:21, Reuben Dunn wrote:

Welcome to the party my friend!

Now if you can convert the rest of the Coventry Magic Circle, you'll have done a good days work!