And despite the significant quantity of theory and performance philosophy contained therein, there is also a kind of real-world pragmatism, borne of life in the trenches of magic-for-money, that is simultaneously refreshing and lends weight and conviction to the author's theorizing. Pure Effect is good if you want to learn some good card tricks and various other effects however Absolute Magic is much more about Derren's opinions on the presentation and philosophy behind magic. I NEVER expect to be reading the actual truth about this or any other "career" decision made by an entertainer. I have described this trick, in more fitting detail than the deliberately terse description offered here, to a number of colleagues, who have been captured by its elegance and mystery—as well as by its methodology.

I just find it extremely sad that he should feel the need to actively go out of the way to make people think he is straight. As the author suggests, "I believe I earn [the audience's] respect by denouncing 'psychic power' as wooly guff and I challenge those lobotomized flower-fairies that believe in such non-sense, appealing to their intelligence and belief in themselves as skeptical creatures. Brown frankly appears to attach little importance—but is in fact a theatrical question, and that the traditional effects and approaches of mentalism, by their very nature, have too long lived their meager lives out somewhere between the desert towns of Dullsville and Endoftheline. I was sat in the spacious, Byzantine lounge area where attractive staff and a belly dancer pampered the guests.ej16 wrote:I have got both Pure Effect and Absolute magic and would like to ask what one you think is better as no one i know has either. I know it confused the hell out of me when I first read it, and it's only after I've read a whole bunch of books on theory that I'm beginning to appreciate the points he makes. That’s how he met the guy that gave him the birthday party gig that gave him the chance to go to Europe .

He doesn't realize at the time that the material is in fact some of the most powerful material EVER to make it into print for mentalists. If I believed in spirits, I could almost hear the gleeful cackling of the late and foresighted Tony Andruzzi.I'd guess that the pic is of a second Brit edition (probably an early one, going by what Looch says). Brown offers not only wonderful insight into the world of magic but also great effects magicians of our ilk can perform. There is always the possibility that there was one or two at a 1p that sold to shove the ranking up. Brown takes an extremely close look at the problems inherent in this effect's striking violation of the Too Perfect Theory.

The effect becomes spectacular when he invites a member of the audience to take over the power of the 'Lift' by havning the spectator raise or lower their hand BEHIND the hypnotised subject and the subject responding in the same way as the volunteer by raising or lowering her hand in unison.This was the first book that got me really thinking about the ‘whys’ rather then the ‘hows’ of magic. Once again the effect reaches another level when he invites another spectator to the stage and the volunteer miraculasly reads the mind of the hypnotised subject accuratley. Paul McKenna is going to be busy then with over 250 current listings, looks like he's missed a few as there have been 700 sold in completed listings! Entertainers primary interest is in themselves (nothing wrong with that) and everything they do and say is designed to further their public image.

Derren Brown, the most radical and original new thinker in the world of mentalism, will take you from excellent close-up magic to the most powerful mind-reading you have ever seen. I purchased this book from Denny and Lee about 4 years ago, not really knowing anything about the book. I've just borrowed Pure Effect, Absolute Magic and related volume, The Mental Mysteries of Hector Chadwick (numbered 1st ed), from a friend. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Both are equally good, I would say they are both a must read however what I found was although both were great reads, I though Absolute Magic was a must read to learn, where as Pure Effect was not only a must read, but a realy enjoyable one too.

Barclays will shut at least another 77 bank branches throughout 2024 and 2025 after announcing 20 more closures. Absolute Magic is Derren's take on performance (and contains no effects), and Pure Effect is about effects.