The Penguin Tarbell lectures taught by Dan Harlan are some of the best values in magic today. This one essentially gives you some routines that use mentalism utility moves. You are not just getting eight routines. You are also getting tools for your toolbox that you will use all the time. And, as predictable as the sun's rising in the East, Dan beautifully updates and teaches everything.

For experienced practitioners of the art, a lot of this will be familiar. (If you haven't seen it before, though, the c*** used in Bergson's Thought Association is a killer, just great.) But I hadn't seen the unusual and useful Royal Message Reading or Wrapped Card Message Reading before, and they are excellent. Also, Dan gives a justification for tearing up a billet in anticipation of the CT that is creative and cool. Super work as always by one of the best teachers of magic in the business...

If you do or want to do mentalism, here's my advice to you: Get any the Harlan/Tarbell mentalism lecture. You won't spend a lot of money, but if you pay attention to Dan and practice what he teaches, you'll not only learn mentalism, but you'll become an exceptional mentalist.

Mind reading Mysteries Part 1 buries excellent methods beneath ponderous, profanity-laced performances. Buy this lesson for the principles and pitch the presentations. Presenter Dan Harlan’s teaching is excellent - the performances - not so much.

Profanity is inappropriate in a video aimed at a worldwide audience of all ages. It’s unnecessary here since the outbursts (2:41 and 1:06:06) are not germane and the audience includes children. Mr Harlan also “jokes” about misusing medication (2:28), disconcerting given the current epidemic of prescription abuse. He later mockingly insults a spectator by telling him to “shut up” after baiting the crowd to participate, sad because Dan always makes a big deal about respecting his audience.

As for the principles, most seem more suited as “quick tricks” or as elements of larger presentations, rather than as standalone performances.

Parrish's Telepathic Drawings is a modernized slate trick. It’s a great principle bogged down by a needlessly complicated presentation. This could be done almost impromptu with great impact but is dragged out for 7 minutes. The helper is asked to draw a picture based on a book of 3,000 corporate logos! Mr Harlan drones on about these boring designs and the participant twice looks at the voluminous volume before choosing one that Dan will duplicate. Listening to Mr Harlan discuss tiny logos and then watching someone leaf through a book is hardly entertaining.

The Sterling-Tarbell Astrological Mindreading Act runs 19:30 (including Dan’s booty shake). It features an awesome switching envelope with a clear front. The trick is designed for a big audience. It involves handing out two sets of cards – one for information to be predicted and another assigning a number to each person. The two-card method is confusing with only four people involved (though this is tied to the method). It probably works better if you randomly draw a dozen predictions out of a jar and need the numbers to keep track of who hasn’t been called. The envelope is an outstanding tool.

Sydney Bergson's Thought Anticipation is an updated telephone book test. It employs a devious method and has widespread applications if you need an index.

Royal Message Reading is a 10-minute three-digit prediction set against a poker routine. The presentation is poor since the outcome of the poker games are unrelated to the actual revelation. The prediction is the same no matter how many hands the participant wins or loses. What’s the point of spending almost 10 minutes on something that does not influence the ending? The actual peek is very useful and can be used in card routines.

Sid Lorraine's Dictionary Message Reading is a dictionary test that uses a clever method to reveal a chosen word inscribed on a card.

Tarbell "Wrapped Card" Message Reading shows you how to get an easy peek from a folded piece of paper.

Long Strip Billet Reading is a 7-minute centre tear variant. Mr Harlan plays a crotchety customer service agent and insults an audience member (2:14:38). He muddles the presentation and diminishes the climax by constantly drifting in and out of character. It’s hard to “get into the moment” when Dan constantly drops character.

Gerald Kosky's Prediction is an add-a-number routine using four randomly created 4-digit numbers. The method is daring and can be better utilised for something beyond predicting a meaningless number.

Most every Tarbell lecture is worth five stars, but here are eight (8) sure fire mentalist techniques, all different, that will demonstrate your ability to read minds. If you're studying mentalism watch this video. It is that good. Ten thousand stars.

This has lots of ideas, including some great modern updates. Dan Harlan's performances are a treat as well. Most of these are winners. The highlight for me was Thought Anticipation, a book test with an ordinary book, updated with a method I didn't know about.

Negatives: As a spectator I found the 'astrological' mindreading act complicated, but it got a great response from the audience so what do I know. The post-it note pad trick is not a fooler -- I think the audience had a good idea of the method.

Nice collection of mental effects, drawing replications, mind reading, predictions, billet work. I wouldn't do all of these effects but the methods you find here can be used in a number of different ways. Another great job by Dan.

I absolutely loved this video! So many things I can put right into my show! I love the stuff Dan does in this series, giving me so much fodder for creativity! If you haven't subscribed yet, what are you waiting for? It'seems much better than what's on TV these days!

Dan nicely updates some Tabell tricks, demos them, and give great explanations.
If you find two that you like this download will be well worth it. But I suspect you will find more than that. There are some very nice, subtle, mental effects in this lesson.

Love all the material in this series

Love all the material in this series

Good starting points!