Text mentalism recs?

Lithrael · 15th November 2007, 10:59 AM

Hello! This one's a bit simple...

I'm fascinated by the sort of trick - I assume it is mentalism - where you read a story or do a set of maths and at the end of it all, the text asks a question and 'knows' what you are going to answer.

Can anyone recommend a book or a web site featuring this sort of thing? And, what is it usually called?

Thanks very much

greymatters · 16th November 2007, 12:22 AM

It sounds like you're talking about Algebra tricks. These are the sort where you choose a number, double it, add 8, divide this number by 2, and subtract your original number (You got 4!)

These are simple enough to make up yourself. Just work out the Algebra. The trick above works out to:

choose a number: X
double it: 2X
add 8: 2X+8
divide it by 2: X+4
subtract your original number: 4

If you're interested in math magic in general, check out these books and this video series.

Lithrael · 16th November 2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

It sounds like you're talking about Algebra tricks.

Thanks, but no, I mean the sort where the story (or math) leads you to choose 'the first thing X you think of' and then on the next page, that answer is already written. So, I assume math ones are just there to get your mind settled so that you will probably think of the most commonly chosen answer, removing the influence of whatever you were thinking about that day - that sort of thing.

Brown · 16th November 2007, 10:55 AM

Are you looking for something like this??

Lithrael · 16th November 2007, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by Brown

Are you looking for something like this??

Oh, that's a great one! Yes, this is more the sort of thing I mean. Specifically I was thinking of ones where the 'known' answers are words ("quick, think of a vehicle and a fruit! ...Did you think truck grape? YOU DID DIDN'T YOU!"), but if anything, this is cooler. Would this be defined as mentalism?

I would absolutely love to know what this kind of mind reading is called, so I can find more of it. Does anyone have any favorite books or sites?

DMG · 16th November 2007, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Brown

Are you looking for something like this??

haha - this is pretty cool.
It took me a few minutes to figure it out. Most folks won't bother though which is what makes it so awesome. I am toying with an idea to make a portable one of these on my engraver - what fun at parties!

sthomson · 16th November 2007, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Brown

Are you looking for something like this??

That's part algebra trick, part something-that-I-won't-spoil.

I think, if I'm not mistaken, Lithrael is asking about the more sophisticated versions of Gellar's Star Trick (for example).

Like "Think of a vegetable that starts with C, a country that starts with the letter D, and an animal that starts with a letter E. Are you thinking of an Elephant eating a carrot in Denmark? Oooh, Magic!"

greymatters · 16th November 2007, 04:12 PM

A good source for routines along this line would be Banachek's books Psychological Subtleties (out of print, but findable on ebay and some magic stores) and Psychological Subtleties 2.

Lithrael · 16th November 2007, 08:27 PM

Fantastic! Thanks for the good leads. It's much appreciated.

15th November 2007, 10:59 AM	#1
Lithrael Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 427	Text mentalism recs? Hello! This one's a bit simple... I'm fascinated by the sort of trick - I assume it is mentalism - where you read a story or do a set of maths and at the end of it all, the text asks a question and 'knows' what you are going to answer. Can anyone recommend a book or a web site featuring this sort of thing? And, what is it usually called? Thanks very much
Lithrael Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 427

16th November 2007, 12:22 AM	#2
greymatters Muse Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 751	It sounds like you're talking about Algebra tricks. These are the sort where you choose a number, double it, add 8, divide this number by 2, and subtract your original number (You got 4!) These are simple enough to make up yourself. Just work out the Algebra. The trick above works out to: choose a number: X double it: 2X add 8: 2X+8 divide it by 2: X+4 subtract your original number: 4 If you're interested in math magic in general, check out these books and this video series.
	__________________ Grey Matters: Blog \| Videos \| Mental Gym \| Presentation \| Original Products \| Recommended Products Train and Strain Your Brain to Entertain!

16th November 2007, 09:37 AM	#3
Lithrael Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 427	Quote: It sounds like you're talking about Algebra tricks. Thanks, but no, I mean the sort where the story (or math) leads you to choose 'the first thing X you think of' and then on the next page, that answer is already written. So, I assume math ones are just there to get your mind settled so that you will probably think of the most commonly chosen answer, removing the influence of whatever you were thinking about that day - that sort of thing.
Lithrael Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 427	Last edited by Lithrael; 16th November 2007 at 10:18 AM.

16th November 2007, 10:55 AM	#4
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,117	Are you looking for something like this??
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

16th November 2007, 01:20 PM	#5
Lithrael Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 427	Originally Posted by Brown Are you looking for something like this?? Oh, that's a great one! Yes, this is more the sort of thing I mean. Specifically I was thinking of ones where the 'known' answers are words ("quick, think of a vehicle and a fruit! ...Did you think truck grape? YOU DID DIDN'T YOU!"), but if anything, this is cooler. Would this be defined as mentalism? I would absolutely love to know what this kind of mind reading is called, so I can find more of it. Does anyone have any favorite books or sites?
Lithrael Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 427

16th November 2007, 01:58 PM	#6
DMG New Blood Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18	Originally Posted by Brown Are you looking for something like this?? haha - this is pretty cool. It took me a few minutes to figure it out. Most folks won't bother though which is what makes it so awesome. I am toying with an idea to make a portable one of these on my engraver - what fun at parties!
DMG New Blood Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18

16th November 2007, 03:13 PM	#7
sthomson Muse Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 706	Originally Posted by Brown Are you looking for something like this?? That's part algebra trick, part something-that-I-won't-spoil. I think, if I'm not mistaken, Lithrael is asking about the more sophisticated versions of Gellar's Star Trick (for example). Like "Think of a vegetable that starts with C, a country that starts with the letter D, and an animal that starts with a letter E. Are you thinking of an Elephant eating a carrot in Denmark? Oooh, Magic!"
sthomson Muse Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 706

16th November 2007, 04:12 PM	#8
greymatters Muse Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 751	A good source for routines along this line would be Banachek's books Psychological Subtleties (out of print, but findable on ebay and some magic stores) and Psychological Subtleties 2.
	__________________ Grey Matters: Blog \| Videos \| Mental Gym \| Presentation \| Original Products \| Recommended Products Train and Strain Your Brain to Entertain!

16th November 2007, 08:27 PM	#9
Lithrael Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 427	Fantastic! Thanks for the good leads. It's much appreciated.
Lithrael Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 427