I would recommend this ONLY to the newer student of mental effects. The actual book is half promo for a DVD and products you can purchase from the authors site. The liberal use of the old 'use your favorite method' to make an effect work is also used.

Hey Penguin staff....do you really feel that the ad for this item is as accurate as it should be? Yeah, only 10 bux...but, $$$ that could have been better spent on something else.
(I cant go into more detail of methodology - but, anyone more than a neophyte will already know how to perform the items that do not require purchase of additional items. )
If your new to this...learn from the more recognizable names.

Max has put together a lot of great routines here. To me, just the method of the envelopes you are taught to create for the chair test was worth the money. They are so versatile and can be used in a lot of different situations. I already use Max's Mind Bag so the Poker Face routine is something I've been using. "The Gift" is also a wonderful closer if you use it right during the course of your show. I think for the price you are getting some great material that you can use.

I recently picked up a copy of 'Brain Games' after previously seeing Max's lecture in Liverpool last year.
Just to clear things up yes in over 70 pages yes there are 6 adverts, anyone would think half of the book is adverts the way you guys talk..In any case the products advertised one of them (The Dictionary Test) I bought at the lecture last year and highly recommend it, The Mind Bag I've seen up close and plan to purchase in the future too as it is a quality item as are the 4 other items advertised. Also when you buy any other magic/mentalism book these days more often than not the authors other products (and often their friends or associates) other books and products are listed so considering the price of the overall book to criticise a few adverts is a little harsh.

Anyway onto the routines covered:

1) MENTAL MAX - I found this quite interesting as I've never really delved into the whole binary principle before, looking at it, it's a fairly simply idea and I can see this being a nice parlour routine to warm an audience up with, especially if your character is about reading people and perception etc At the same time I can't help thinking there may be better ways to achieve a similar effect so until I've really tested this one out I will reserve judgement.

2) SECURE DRAW DUPLICATION - The principle of this is something I have never been comfortable with, even though I am aware many established performers use it. To me there has always seemed to be something not quite right about setting a participant up to do something before the show. After reading Max's presentation and justification on this, I have to say this is now something I may consider in the future. Also if it were performed following the MIND POKER FACE routine as a justification for bringing the individual on stage (as Max later recommends) it would seem all that bit fairer. Definitely a winner here and something I will certainly try out.

3) MIND POKER FACE - I do a similar routine using an electronic device which recently failed me a couple of times. After reading this I believe this will now replace that routine. I actually believe this routine combined with the above SECURE DD routine is worth the price of the book alone and if you're a working mentalist I recommend you check it out on the basis of that.

4) FOUR CHAIR PREDICTION - After reading this one through, I have to be honest an say I'm not sure if this adds anything to what is already out there. Having said that it is a nice method that I haven't seen before in this concept. The downside of a book is that you don't get to see it performed as I'm sure it probably plays better than I envisage.

5) DRAW SUGGESTION - Another principle of Max's I really like. I think any creative performer will look at this and think of ways to add/increase to perhaps make it a bigger routine. Very nice, I really liked this.

6) KISS ROULETTE - When I first started learning magic, I had a few little card routines which would result in me receiving a kiss from a girl. Once I moved more solely into mentalism I never really continued with these effects. My presentation can be quite a cheeky character at times and I think this will fit right in with a lot of situations that I work in. The method is simple and this will definitely go right into my close-up repertoire.

7) EGG ROULETTE - Same method as above with obviously a different presentation set for stage/parlour with a different outcome. Gives a more fun variation to the often very serious Russian Roulette plot. To be honest initially I didn't think this would be my thing but having read it a few times now I can see myself at the very least giving this a go at a future show. Simple to perform and maybe even combined in a more comedy setting this could be taken a step further with the performer or maybe their sidekick/assistant etc being covered in egg! Just an idea.

8) THE GIFT - This is one of those effects I think is really difficult to describe how strong it can be. I recall a number of times over the years I've looked into buying something and the description sounded 'Okay' but it wasn't until I saw it presented did it make me think "I want that!" ...This I believe is the case here. It reads like a nice effect but I saw this performed at Max's lecture last year and saw the power of it! Very very strong.. A wonderful piece of mentalism that really pulls the show together in a Derren Brown type style. Again I believe if you learnt this one and used it, it would massively outweigh the small cost of this book.

Overall I have to say this was a great purchase, like stated above some routines I probably won't use long term, but some I know I definitely will. The several adverts to me were not an issue and simply provided ideas on how to potentially present some of the effects included. Considering some of the overpriced and overhyped mentalism books around right now this is great value for money. If people don't see that then I just see that as their loss.

Thank you for a great set of routines Max, I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future

Ho avuto il piacere di conoscere Max Vellucci di persona ed è una persona davvero fantastica. Questo libro è davvero utile per imparare degli effetti di mentalismo di grande impatto, spiegati nei minimi dettagli in modo che sia molto facile capirlo. Ho già provato qualche effetto su degli spettatori e i risultati sono stati sensazionali! Davvero stupendo.

P.s: ho voluto scrivere il commento in italiano per tutti gli italiani che finiscono sul sito e vogliono il parare anche da un connazionale ;)

The book is simple and useful for many aspects. There are ten advertisement pages related to other products, then nine effects are described: there's an excellent price/quality ratio, if you check those effects out... A couple of them, I think, are very clever.

I am a professionist performer and in my show I use a couple of effects taken from this book.
Mind poker face, combined with the secure draw duplication, is a powerful killer!

The book is simple and useful for many aspects. There are ten advertisement pages related to other products, then nine effects are described: there's an excellent price/quality ratio, if you check those effects out... A couple of them, I think, are very clever.