Paul's lecture was one of my favorite lectures I've ever seen ( including non-Penguin lectures ).

I've read a bit about 'cold reading" but I thought it wasn't for me. Paul changed my mind about cold reading and how I perform magic. The interview at the end was filled with solid information.

If you want to learn a surefire system of cold reading with the same deck of cards you do card effects with, get this lecture!

Really and truly an inspiring lecture. It opened up for me entirely new approaches to cold reading and connecting to participants. I feel like someone knocked out a wall and built an entire new addition to my brain, with bay windows overlooking a lovely new view of humanity as a bonus.

Paul explains in a simple way how to give anyone a a quick reading with either a deck of cards, or with a question answer handout using stadard testing system.

I thouroughly enjoyed this product and recommend to anyone looking to start coldreading or have a new approach to your readings...

Story time. I was entertaining at a corporate holiday party a few weeks ago. I typically do a 45 to 60 minute stage show and then stick around after to show some close up mentalism. I had watched this lecture a few weeks prior and played around with the tarot reading. I have never done anything like it, but have been trying to incorporate more readings into my work. After my show, I had a group of about 20 people around me while I was doing my "post show" mind reading routines and handing out business cards. One lady came up to me and asked me to do a palm reading on her. I know nothing about palm reading, and she knew quite a bit, so I couldn't even fake a reading using her palm. So, I told her that I could give her a little tarot reading with some playing cards. I proceeded with what I had learned from Paul in this lecture. The first reading went so well that a line formed and I did 5 more after her. One of the ladies that I did a reading for was the CEOs wife. The CEO came up to me while I was packing up and expressed to me how amazing everything was and how much his employees enjoyed the show and the readings I gave. He gave me a "very generous" tip and asked me back the following year. I know a lot of people look at this type of material and shake their heads as if it is not really usable, or are not interested because there are no "magical" secrets, but they couldn't be farther from the truth. I know plenty of card tricks to keep an audience entertained for quite some time, but eventually you will have to repeat a trick. With Paul's tarot reading, every time will be different and your audience will eat it up! Great for one on one readings or in front of a small group. Highly recommended lecture.

I am not a mentalist. I do use a few mentalist effects in my repertoire. But I did enjoy this lecture all the way.

I strongly believe that this lecture can help us all not only on the magic field but over all dealings and communications with others.

I find myself more observant after the lecture. When ever I walk on the street I try to read peoples faces and stuff and I enjoy that.

It is really worth the money.

What i mostly enjoyed in this lecture was the tarot reading and the tip on soft focus.

Thank you Paul and Penguin. Keep it up.

A perfect lesson on how to start. The story to tell, how to perform and what to do.

How to size people up and what to say to make you a believable mentalist / medium.

A must see if you are thinking about doing something with cold (or hot) reading. You can use the knowledge to be part of your "normal" everyday routines, or build a whole cold reading act.

I watched the lecture after the fact, but I have to say it was great. There isn't a lot of "take this step, then this step" sort of instruction, but instead a lot of knowledge and wisdom gleaned over years of performing was shared. The type of knowledge that if you take it and really work with you'll be able to come up with your own techniques, effects, and character. So for anyone who is considering mentalism or just looking for a few tips to up their game, watch this lecture. You'll be glad you did.

As a young magician I have yet to really start to study cold reading and thought this lecture would provide a good insight. It did, but this is not simply a lecture on cold reading. Paul talks about magic and mentalism in general and provides great advice on how to research material and utilise all of your knowledge and skills beyond magic within your performances in order to provide the best entertainment you can. Great lecture.

I am just getting into cold reading and although there is a vast amount of excellent material its a case of where to start and what suits you. I personally found this fantastic as an eye opener. I learnt some very valuable techniques but more to the point Paul is teaching a mentality, an approach and an outlook in regards to cold reading. Cant praise him highly enough.
I will be going straight on line now to see if he has material expanding on the items mentioned. They are well covered but obv with time constaints Paul could not give a full run down detail on each item. The lecture would have been a week long. I highly recommend this. For the price its the best start you will get. Its given me direction and motivation.
Excellent

I wasn't familiar with Pauls work and I already read a lot about cold reading, from Rowland to Voodini. But I never put that knowledge into use.

So I bought this lecture for my collection, but after watching this brilliant performer, I felt pumped up and gave it a try. It was wonderful.

So even when you are not interested in personality checks and card based tarot readings, I would recommend this lecture anyway.
I've now watched it three times and I'm still picking up subtilities.