I watched this at a friends place and I'm glad I didn't waste my money on it. Why is there no list of effects and topics covered listed above by Penguin? I'll tell you why...

After less than 1 hour and 10 minutes Alain Nu says, "That will conclude my lecture". Seriously. A new Penguin record! Nu then sits down with Dan Harlan to chat.

Nu presents 2 effects in his "lecture". A Russian roulette effect with cards and a newspaper test. I didn't care for the Russian roulette and the newspaper test was unimpressive.

Newspaper test: Nu uses the front page of a newspaper. Random words are chosen from the page... by spectators you might ask? No. They're chosen by Nu. How is that random? Well, um... because Nu said so. The 8 (not) random words are written down. A spectator chooses one of the words. Nu eventually guesses the word by guessing letters that are in the word. Impressed? Neither was I. There is no way you're going to do this effect instead of any of the other similar routines you already know.


At the end of this "lecture" while sitting with Dan Harlan, Nu does a card warp effect. Dan asks, "are you going to show us how to do all that". Nu says yes. Nu goes over a switch that is involved in the effect, isn't going to teach how to make an origami card cube that is involved until Dan asks, and never teaches the card warp.

Easily one of the worst Penguin lectures. Please, don't waste your money.

I've done mentalism for a long time, performing for the corporate market.

I was excited when I I bought this but quickly became disappointed.

"This is not just entertainment, but something deeper." Don't take my word for it, none of the spectators in the video were overwhelmed either. Most of his work does leave a small sense of wonder, but no punch.

That being said, he does have a good, easy, ACAAN which, to me, is worth the price of the video. The rest just won't work for me - and I really don't think they work well for him.

I think in his quest to go "deep" he drowned.

Sorry Nu.

This lecture has about three or so concrete effects. But there is so much more in Alain's theory and ideas that is just invaluable to me as a magician and magic creator.

Not to mention- the tricks are dynamite. There's a russian roulette trick with 6 cards and a "bullet" Ace of Spades that is both thrilling and climactic, ending with you "saving" the spectator from placing the bullet card against their head.

Another is a book test with literally any book or newspaper- some very clever thinking going on here.

The tricks themselves are great- but it's the thinking behind them that gets me excited. I love that he's not afraid to talk about real supernatural events and the magic that happens in our everyday lives. Alain Nu knows how to ride the "gray area" and get people wondering if his magic is real. If you believe in your own magic, your spectators will too.

One thing that I look for in a lecture is good explanations and stuff I can do that is workable and fun. Alain Nu gave me everything one could ask for! Many things from the beginning of the lecture came from his book and Since I had already read the book I was following the way he presented the material making it all ten times better than just a first time watch or read. He is without doubt one of the top mentalists there are and his very entertaining way of presenting his effects makes them even better. He shows you how to really connect with an audience and to fool them badly all the while looking like the mist relaxed cat in the world! This is a lecture you don't want to miss, and thank God it's not all finger flinging.

I met Alain years ago at a Mystery School that was held at a college in rural New York. Sometime in the 90s. He was amazing back then and quite helpful. I was working on the Levine Huuricaine Color Change.
When I saw that he had a lecture for download, I was curious. I certainly was not disappointed. His memory technique was very useful. The newspaper prediction so adaptable and really a cooler. The Russian Roulette with cards used principles as is the newspaper effect that I have not seen before. That for me is unusual.
While not a lot of different effects. What he teaches is excellent and his commentary on performance first rate.

Disappointing.

A flat-out superb lecture by the always-intriguing Alain Nu.

I think the Penguin lecture series is one of the very best values in magic, and this lecture is a great example why.

Mr. Nu's been creating and publishing killer material for a long time now, but it's rare that one has an opportunity to see him present it live.

Highly recommended.