Would you say...you're a beginner in mentalism if you have never read 13 Steps to Mentalism? What are people's thoughts?

Perhaps 13 Steps is a great place to start, but not THE ONLY way to start, in my most humble opinion... But who am I? I did start with 13 Steps...

Not really. There are plenty of other definitive mentalist works, and most of Corinda's work is covered, probably more modernized, in other manuscripts.

Who said Corinda is some sacred text?

I have browsed 13 Steps but never owned a copy nor read it cover to cover yet I do not consider myself a beginner in mentalism by any stretch of the imagination. I cut my teeth on Annemann, Cassidy and Fulves and I do think all of the principles are covered in other works. Corinda is just a convenient and tidy collation which is easily obtainable.

Here is what Lee Earle has to say about it. You might find this interesting.

Tom

Lee says it all in his own inimitable way...

All the magicians I know advised reading 13 Steps when I started in mentalism. After re-reading many parts of 13 Steps and Annamen's book over the past couple years I'm amazed at how many "new" effects on the market are taken from the concepts of those two books. I keep going back to 13 Steps.