Was browsing my sisters bookshelf. When I spotted two copies of this book, asked if I could have one. She said yes! Yay!

I had the wrong idea about Derren Brown. I'd never seen him on tv, just thought he was some silly magician who brought in to all that medium/hypnotist rubbish. My sister informed me this was not correct and gave me a copy of the book.

This is the kind of book that appeals to me, I don't believe in any of that rubbish and Brown does a wonderful job of informing us how the "experts" make people believe. It's all in the mind, something which I often tell people who swear blindly they've seen ghosts. I used to think I saw ghosts, I grew up and realised it was my imagination. As a book reader having a vivid and over active imagination comes easy to me. I can create a world inside my head instantly and clearly. Which is why I know that my mind will see things that are not there. It's bloody powerful. But maybe some people who are not used to this kind of imagination, you know, those people who think books are boring and they would just rather wait for the film to do all the work for them, find the thought of such an imagination unnatural and would rather see "ghosts". Someone one should look into that, see if there is any connection?

I really hate mediums, you can't talk to the dead. There is no one to talk to because they are dead. And the dead can't talk. They prey upon the grief stricken and the weak and it winds me up. My mum saw a medium, the medium said one of your children is surrounded by photos, so many photos. My mum assumed they were talking about me as I take lots of them, just like millions of other Facebook users. What a guess.....

I'm sounding a little outraged today and it's nothing to do with the book. It's Russell Brand who's wound me up today saying that a vote for Labour was a vote for democracy, conveniently forgetting that if Labour get in they don't want the people to be allowed their say on the EU...urrm is that not how democracy works? And while I was trying to read my mind kept drifting back to this and all the sheep who are following him. Argg!

Okay rant over back to the book.

I found the first half to be dull. I have no interest in learning any mind control tricks, and there are several times you are urged to put the book down and have a go. I wasn't really interested in having a go and skipped some parts. As noted above, the cynic in me was loving the discrediting parts and Brown is genuinely funny.

If you hold all these methods in high esteem then you are going to be just as outraged by this book as I am about Brand. I'm sure it will make for some pretty entertaining reviews. :)

Granting wishes and keeping them moving :)

Received this book as an RABCK this week - thank you so much redfox5! A very nice surprise just when I needed one! :-)

Looking forward to getting my teeth into this one!

Having finally had the chance to see Derren Brown on stage at the end of last year, it was a delight to get into this book. Ever since the first time I saw one of his programmes on TV, I have been fascinated about how I can't help "believing" some of his stunts whilst knowing without a doubt that there is trickery involved. Whilst seeing his show "Miracle", I thought on the next day that I might have an idea about how some of it was made. But the truth is, I don't really want to know. He is very open about the fact that there is no "real magic" and that all is done with various technics, and that is what I want to see: shows where I know that everything will be appearances or suggestions and yet "fall" for it whilst knowing I'm being deceived. I know what I am in for.

In Tricks of the Mind, Brown explains in more details some of the deceptions he already showed on his TV programmes, with more examples and more details about how they are achieved. Whilst I suspected / knew a lot of it, more understanding about these technics was certainly an eye-opener for sales methods and others. It also made "open-reading" clearer to me as I expected it to be much more generic. But "reading the reading" he had offered to some subjects made me realise how much more deeper open-reading can go.

The book also shows the value in using some of the technics for your own benefit. I was familiar with some of them but it was interesting to see a slightly different take on them.

I found it a very interesting book to read, in a very cheeky and funny tone, and a great reminder to question a few more things than I already do (and I thought I was a cynic!).

I will look for a new home for this book as it is too good not to share further!

Setting up a book-ray:

Bookworm-lady - Spain (Europe preferred)
CanticleLost - USA (Intl)


vedranaster - Croatia (Europe preferred - to remain at end of ray due to commitments)

Sent out to Bookworm-lady

And here it is!
I have never seen Mr. Brown on TV or stage; in fact, reading about this book was my first approach to him. And what I read tells me that I will enjoy reading it.
Thanks for making it available, redfox5 (by the way, I love your ranting!), and thanks for sharing it with us, Teuffi. :)

Currently reading it, sorry for the delay.
I will contact the next in line...
CanticleLost asked to be skipped; I will contact Vedranaster next,

I have mixed feelings about this book...
Just like redfox5 mentions (thanks for making it available!), I found the first chapters quite boring, as I don't intend to become a magician or surprise anyone with magic tricks (too clumsy for that!)
However, I enjoyed the final chapters, and I must confess I was laughing out loud at some of his stories (not easy to achieve when you are on your own).
The author himself explains that he was concerned abour mixing different topics for this book, I imagine that each of us will have a preferred part or chapter.
But overall, I enjoyed reading it, and it set me on a search for Mr Brown's performances on DVD in Amazon.uk... I am looking forward to watch some of his TV specials...
Thanks again, teuffi, for this bookray; the book will soon be on its way to Vedranaster, and I am sure it will make refreshing holiday reading...

Sent today to Vedranaster, who is next in line.
Enjoy!! :)

Received in sunny Croatia!
Looking forward to reading it. Thanks!