So...I have been communicating with Magicians, Hypnotists and Mentalists for quite awhile now (I own one of the top entertainment directories online, Ill leave it nameless because this is Penguins forum, not mine) and it has generated a new interest and hobby (and I needed one) I have a few questions. I have been studying hypnosis for quite awhile, started out with "The Hypnotist Handbook" by Cooke and Van Vogt...and have been very successful with it. It has helped me and several other people far more than I ever expected and has been quite the entertainment. I have just started dabbling with "magic"...very simple things right now...here is my question. What is the best book for a "wanna be" magician. I am looking for pretty simple things so my dexterity doesnt frustrate me Also I am just facsinated with Mentalism...I was looking into buying "13 Steps to Mentalism" by Corinda...I client of mine indicated it was the best starter book for the subject. I have noticed there is a video that is MUCH more expensive than the book...it is worth it? Or should I just start with the book? I thank you all in advance for the advice!

There was an interesting topic about this in the mentalism section from about a week ago or something. In my opinion, it is great to buy 13 steps if you're wanting to start off in mentalism. Additionally, I believe that if you were to buy mentalism books, then they are much more worth their money in the end. You get more effects out of them, and they do not get you to present your effects in the same manner as the author. Dvds on the other hand have the tendency for more people to copy the presentation style of the mentalist explaining the effects.
Blizt, in the other topic, had noted that the dvds seem to be a great supplement to the book, as they have a tendency to explain the effects better than the book can. Visual instruction can be better than simple explanation sometimes.
Regardless, my advice to start off in mentalism would be to buy the 13 steps book, read it twice, then move on to books like PRISM by Max Maven, Theatre of the Mind and Mind Myth And Magick (all of which I believe can be found here). Additionally, if you want to see someone who has a cool way of presenting hypnosis style effects mixed with mentalism (not that I'm saying he does both but...) look up Derren Brown on youtube. His stuff is awesome in my opinion.