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The Dance by Brad Henderson (Revised and Expanded) (Softback)


One of the greatest books ever written on the art of cold reading has been reprinted! LIMITED EDITION. 20+ IN STOCK.
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The Dance
NEW AND EXPANDED EDITION

[i]“One of the most important books on Cold Reading ever written!!!”[/i] - George Daily, magic historian

The Dance is the most advanced work on the subject of Cold Reading to date. Where many of the manuals in the past have told you what to do, The Dance teaches you HOW TO DO IT! Topics include ethics, giving readings onstage, turning misses into hits, how to deal with skeptics, and two professional mind reading routines.

“The only other book on the subject that I ever recommend is called The Dance, by my friend Brad Henderson . . . [The Dance] is about the psychology and art of cold reading and how and why it can be such a ‘real’ experience for the client, if handled well. It explores what is going on between the ‘psychic’ reader and the client in the course of a reading, and offers a lot of very good advice based on lots of practical experience. . . The Dance is well worth getting, and contains an embarrassment of riches.” – Ian Rowland

Cold Reading is one of the most misunderstood and misused tools in the mystery worker’s arsenal. A skilled cold reader can easily convince his or her audience that he or she knows their innermost thoughts. A thoughtful cold reader can give their audience an experience that moves them to their core. A sensitive cold reader can literally empower someone to change their life for the better.

“The best description of the art (as opposed to craft) of cold reading written to date. This book will make you a better reader. – Doug Dyment, noted bibliographer of cold reading.

For the first time in print, cold reading is approached from a functional perspective, an approach that lays bare the truly fundamental dynamics that are the heart of “cold reading”. In The Dance you will learn that much of what you believe about cold reading is simply inaccurate. Cold reading is not a script one reads hoping it applies to everyone. It is a process, an exchange of information between the reader and the sitter; one that manifests in and through a relationship. In The Dance you will learn how and, more importantly, why that process works as it does, along with techniques to build the ideal relationship with your audience, depending on the nature of the experience you wish to convey.
“[The Dance] strikes from a different direction, focusing intensely on what cold reading is as a system and a process...and even more importantly, on the relationship that exists between the reader and the sitter. He also spends a good deal of time discussing the ethics of cold reading and the reasons WHY we do it. In other words, he discusses it as if it were a performance art.

“Because Brad is such a strong thinker, his work on this is exemplary. If there's to be any caveat, it's that whether you're reading one of his books or talking to him in person, he often exhibits a nearly dizzying intellect, and some may feel it easy to be left behind . . . [He] writes this book with a great deal of candor, which can be either refreshing or threatening, depending on whether or not you feel guilty of what he's discussing at the moment.” – Lance Pierce

Brad Henderson’s The Dance will change the way you think, not only about cold reading, but also about magic, and maybe even about life. Brad’s approach to cold reading, and consideration of the questions he raises, will help you become a better communicator regardless of your audience and goals. The section on ethics alone will force you to question many of your perhaps unconscious performance choices. The real world applications he offers stage performers will, if applied artistically, take your audience’s experience of your mentalism and magic to a much deeper, potentially meaningful, level.

"If you are like most mentalists, you have considerable unused capacity that you have not turned to your advantage. At times you have had serious doubts as to whether you have done the right thing by spending your time and money on books full of cold reading scripts and rehashed Forer Statements. If you think that cold reading is all about The Barnum Effect or population stereotypes, you desperately need to read Brad Henderson's book, The Dance. The 1st Edition of The Dance was a smart and important book and the Expanded 3rd Edition is better still. If you're an independent thinker who has become dissatisfied by the restrictions and limitations of traditional readings, you will appreciate the intelligence and variety that Henderson's book provides. Highly recommended." - Michael Weber

Now 20 % Dancier

This new edition contains approximately 20% more content than the previous editions. In the extensive afterward Brad revisits the problems endemic within the modern skeptical movement, explores a new technique for expanding the accuracy of your readings within an entertainment setting, shares a personal revelation resulting from a one-on-one encounter with the greatest psychic entertainer who has ever lived, and offers a new approach to incorporating cold reading techniques in a theatrical performance environment.

“There have been many books and essays about Cold Reading, and I have slogged through most of them. One of the very few that I’ve liked is Brad Henderson’s The Dance. As with Brad himself, this book is articulate, opinionated, stubborn, and highly engaging.” — Max Maven

Here is your chance to obtain a copy of one of the most sought after books in the history of mentalism. Copies of the first edition exchanged hands for over $600 at the major magic auction sites when it first went out of print. Only a limited number of copies of the 3rd Expanded Edition are available. The information in The Dance is timeless. If you are interested in cold reading, this book must be in your library. Order today.

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Customer Reviews (showing 1 - 10 of 13)
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Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on June 3rd, 2018
Here is my uncensored, unstructured stream of consciousness. I always wanted to learn more about cold reading, mainly in terms of methodology (Yes, I know the ad explains otherwise). This book does not do this. That's fine, it explains additional info of theory and opinions about cold reading. All Good info, yet I felt a little underwhelmed as I felt as though I had seen similar information other places.

The book claims it is NOT for the beginner in cold reading, but instead as an additional tool. However, I felt like some of the info was elementary (which is not a problem in theory, but still I was for some reason disappointed). An example is the section on the importance of an o*** en*ed question, and making readings relevant, even if they are misses at first. However, I assume I just didn't understand the more abstract/difficult ideas, when they reference it as being an advanced book on cold reading.

The book could be helpful for people who want to things in the field of psychic, but as I personally do not agree with this on a professional, spiritual, or general ethical level, I felt like a considerable sum of info did not apply to me.

Overall, someone may like this book a lot, according to past reviews. Shoot, I may even like it more a second read a year or so down the line, But for this exact moment, I felt like I was wanting more, especially for the price tag of 60 dollars. Take this information from the context of the words of a magician, trying to learn more on reading skills to add more emotional affect in mentalism.
8 of 8 magicians found this helpful.
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so basic Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on November 9th, 2022
Let me sum up the entire book in one sentence-
Blame everything on the oracle you are using.
This book is highly over-rated and the author is rather full of himself. Learned absolutely nothing from reading this.
7 of 9 magicians found this helpful.
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This will help you make stronger magic. Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on May 15th, 2018
This is a book on cold reading yes. But what Brad teaches helps you understand your audience better. I bought the first version, the second version and now this one. It is that good. And they just keep getting better.

You need this book even if you do not do cold readings.
5 of 6 magicians found this helpful.
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Great book Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on May 15th, 2018
Was pleased that this was re-released, and in an expanded form! It's a classic for a reason. Well written little book on the how's and why's of cold readings. (I only wish it was available in a hardback version, too.) If you plan on doing cold readings, this will help you considerably. Highest recommendation.
3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
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An Insightful and Practical Guide Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on May 15th, 2018
Brad Henderson's The Dance provides immensely practical instruction in one of the most difficult to learn disciplines of mentalism. It comes out of a clear understanding of what is actually happening between a sitter and a reader, an understanding of the process that I have never before seen articulated.

Highest recommendation.

Nathan Coe Marsh | Orlando, Florida
3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
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Great Research Source Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on June 6th, 2018
Excellent source for performing mentalism. An educational aide to improve your mentalism performance. Highly recommended for your magic and/or mentalism library.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Definitive book on Cold Reading Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on May 18th, 2018
Most literature on cold reading simply provides instruction by which to tailor general ideas or alter blanket statements, though simply exhibiting the expected characteristics is a masquerade. The Dance allows you to understand the DNA and anatomy of cold reading from the inside out. In doing so, you will go beyond merely giving the impression that you are cold reading, instead you will be the reference point others base their impression on.
When performing, I self-monitor vulnerabilities a skeptic would look for. What helped me the most in The Dance, are the techniques and methods which afford you the ability to maintain and enhance credibility throughout the performance.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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A must have for professionals!!! Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on May 15th, 2018
I got this book from brad personally a few month ago and i read it
three times and like years ago in school, its‘s good to do it like this. Just a few pages but a bunch of information anybody can use. It really isnt a beginners book but a perfect addition a psychic entertainer needs to put all the stuff, learned before, together. So...

Buy it, learn it and give readings like never before.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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You Need This Book! Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on May 16th, 2018
I am a proud owner of the first edition of this book. I cannot wait to read the revised edition to see what new thoughts Brad Henderson has on this fascinating subject. If you have any interest in mentalism, you need to read this book. It contains some of the most cogent thinking and practical applications of these most useful tools.
3 of 5 magicians found this helpful.
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Highly Recommended! Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on June 6th, 2019
Very valuable work... If you're interested in 'Cold Reading', get this.
2 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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