Practical Mental Magic

by Theodore Annemann

Mind reading, thought transmission, prophecy, miracle slate routines, and other "psychic" effects are among the most impressive tricks in any magician's repertoire. Their power to amaze and dumbfound an audience is unparalleled in the domain of stage magic. In this volume, one of the greatest of all mental magicians reveals the secrets behind nearly 200 astonishing feats of mental magic.
The routines encompass 12 major categories: Effects with...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486244261
• ISBN13: 9780486244266
• Release Date: February 1983
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

One of the two mentalism Bibles

This, along with Corinda's "13 Steps to Mentalism" is an absolute essential for anybody that wants to get into the art of mindreading. It covers all of the main ruses, and Anneman's work with Billets is, in my opinion, unparalleled. Some effects are somewhat dated (i.e. some effects encorporate the "magician's force", which is now widly known by the layman), but considering it was first published in 1944 this is to be expected. Beautifully written and compiled, and very cheap for the amount that you have to work with. An absolute must.

Excellent Book!

Excellent book! This is the best book on magic I have read. It contains well over 100 routines (I started to write tricks, however most of these routines are too complete and well developed to be called tricks.) Each routine tells the effect, any preparation necessary, and the details of performing the routine. These details are were I feel this book shines. It gives suggestions on exact hand placement at all times, the type of patter to use and when to use it, as well as many other forms of misdirection. Being an older reprint some materials suggested are a little out dated, however I found it easy to find modern substitutes. If you like magic and particularly mental magic, this book is a must have.

Excellent

The book is literally packed with excellent routines and techniques, most of which require little or no sleight of hand skills. Though somewhat dated (you may have a litlle trouble finding some of the materials used) it is chock-full of "how'd he do that" stuff. The variety of material contained is wonderful also. From billets to cards to envelopes to codes to blind-folds to money routines. Just get it! You won't be sorry. I hear that Mark Striving has modernized some of it with a book "Annemann Updated" or something to that effect. I would be interested in that but can't find it

One of the classics, deservedly so.

If you want to do mentalism you need this and 13 STEPS TO MENTALISM by Corinda. These two texts can take you far.

Essential book on Mentalism

Although dated, this collection of mental effects was and remains one of the best ever written for this subject. (only surpassed by Corrinda's 13 Steps to Mentalism) Not to be taken lightly, there were performers whose entire acts are condensed on but a few pages contained within. Not for the young or for the beginner, this book is a requirement for any serious magician's bookshelf or one interested in psychic phenomena. I bought this book hardbound for many times this price and felt it was one of the best purchases I made in the field