Comment (Jim Fletcher): A spectator is asked to participate
in an experiment of stop-smoking hypnosis. He pretends to smoke an
imaginary cigarette, and feels as if a real one was being used: he
then brings this invisible cigarette closer to his hand, causing a
warming sensation; and when he finally decides to stub it out on his
hand, he feels a sharp burn. A Online-Visions review
states, "this a doctoral thesis on performing." Basically it is
close-up magic with an hypnotism presentation. The book is divided
into 5 main sections. It is expensive for a book less than 200
pages, but the amount of crammed information you get is absolutely
unbelievable. I don’t perform the effect because I don’t care about
hypnotism, but I have applied many of the subtleties and
tools/methods described to the magic tricks already in my
repertoire, and they really make a difference in terms of audience
impact. I think this book is much more than the effect described, it
is a treasure trove on presentation, physical and psychological
subtleties, linguistics tools, use of gimmicks etc.
In my opinion, this is an underground book that is worth its weight
in gold, and I hope this review will somewhat help in promoting it,
so that the publisher continues with further volumes. On the other
hand, I understand that people who actually perform the effect would
certainly prefer to keep quiet about it, so all apologies!
Contents: (page numbers for main chapters only, updated Aug
2024):
1 Acknowledgments
5 Preface
7 Introduction: In Effect
9 I General Principles
I.1 Mentalism And Hypnosis
I.2 Seemingly Impromptu
I.3 Propless
I.4 Close-Up Compliance
I.5 Real Audience
I.6 One-Man Show
I.7 No Dress Code
I.8 Technical Accessibility
I.9 Tested And True
I.10 The Lightweight Factor
19 II Methodological Tools
II.1 Assumptions
II.2 Audience-Centered Approach
II.3 Vak
II.4 Devil In The Details
II.5 Economy Of Language, Economy Of Motion
II.6 For A Loop
II.7 Interpretations And Misremembering
II.8 Effects As Outs
II.9 Risks
II.10 Final Redirections: A Disturbance In The Force,
29 III The Magician’s Standpoint - Gimmicks
III.1 Original Version
III.2 Updated Version
III.3 Progressive Variation
III.4 Marketed Props
41 IV Performance
IV.1 Optional Preparation
Iv.1 Opening - A Gift In Season
IV.3 Selection Of Spectator
IV.4 How Names Hold The Key
IV.5 Rapport
IV.6 Yes Set
IV.7 All In Her Hands
IV.8 Framing
IV.9 On Her Side
IV.10 Body Positioning
IV.11 Arm/Hand Positioning
IV.12 Spectator Conditioning
IV.13 Seeding In Her Shoes
IV.14 Pre-Trance Fact
IV.15 Induction
IV.16 Acting
IV.17 Police And Thieves
IV.18 Trust And Responsiveness
IV.19 The Almost Sixth Sense
IV.20 Cough
IV.21 Slow Center
IV.22 Vibrations
IV.23 Warming-Up
IV.24 Cause And Effect - Cosi e se vi pare
IV.25 Breakpoint
IV.26 The Old Cowboy’s Last Trick
IV.27 Additional Misdirection
IV.28 Alternative Handling
IV.29 Burning Now
IV.30 Multiple Outs And Nominalizations
IV.31 Climax And Anchoring
IV.32 Decisions
IV.33 Final Out - Reorientation
IV.34 Better Now
IV.35 Post-Hypnotic Suggestions
IV.36 Thirteen Steps To Misremembering
1 Memory Breakdown
2 Aural Assumptions
3 Omissions
4 Time Alterations
5 Exaggerations
6 Devil In The Details - Reprise
7 True Lies
8 Repetita Iuvant
9 Self-Referencing
10 Presuppositions
11 Choices
12 Symbolisms And Metaphors
13 Forever
IV.37 Conclusion And Covert Applause
IV.38 Clean Up
113 V. A Note On Scripts
115 VI Variations
VI.1 Non-Smoking Audience
VI.2 The Cowboy Is Dead
VI.3 Nostalgic Variation
1 Terminology
2 Fire And Forget
3 Moves
4 Applied Misremembering
5 Conclusion
129 VII After Mint - Audience Assumptions
VII.1 Aversion Techniques
VII.2 Other Psychological Methods
VII.3 NRT Or NLP?
VII.4 The New Age Approach
