Your Guide to Mind Reading Magic

Right, let's talk about mentalism. You know what? It's probably the most powerful form of magic you can perform. When you correctly reveal someone's thought, predict their choice, or read something they've written down—that hits differently than making a coin disappear. That's the stuff that keeps people awake at night wondering "how the bloody hell did they do that?"

Here at Big Blind Media, we've got some of the finest mentalism books, eBooks, and resources available anywhere. Whether you're just starting out with mind reading or you're looking to add some serious firepower to your existing repertoire, we've got you covered.

Mark Elsdon: The Organic Mentalist

If there's one name you need to know in modern mentalism, it's Mark Elsdon. This UK-based mentalist and TV consultant has a slick, natural, organic approach to mental magic that's absolutely brilliant. His stuff doesn't feel like tricks—it feels real. And that's the whole point.

Conversation as Mentalism (5 Volume Bundle)

Conversation as Mentalism is hands-down one of the best mentalism resources we've ever produced. Five eBooks packed with killer mentalism effects that you can perform anytime, any place, without any props.

Let that sink in for a second. No gimmicks. No gadgets. No gizmos. Just you, your words, and something completely inexplicable happening during the course of a normal conversation.

Each volume contains tried and tested material that actually works. And here's the kicker—Mark doesn't use any "suggestion" techniques. These effects genuinely work, every single time.

What you'll learn across the five volumes:

• Impromptu predictions using borrowed objects
• Mind games using just your fingers
• Linguistic bar bets that never fail
• Traveling into the future (sort of)
• The invisible red envelope
• Borrowed key revelations
• Dream sequences where participants read YOUR mind
• How to hypnotize your shoe (yes, really)
• Over-the-phone impossibilities
• And dozens more propless miracles

The bundle is available at a massive discount—£39.33 instead of £94.94. That's ridiculous value for what is essentially a lifetime of impromptu mentalism material.

What the pros say:

"It is my firm belief that the title of these books should be changed to The Essential Handbooks of Impromptu Mentalism. The routines taught are all very simple, direct and deeply fooling. This material should be in the arsenal of every modern mentalist! I give it my highest recommendation." - Michael Murray

"These are Mark's other great releases up there with the Meridian Technique. As well as the clever effects, and probably more importantly, you're going to learn an attitude which can be used to approach performing in all real world situations." - Colin McLeod

Easy Elsdon Mentalism (Volumes 1 & 2)

The Easy Elsdon series is perfect if you want professional-level mentalism that you can learn in about five minutes. Each volume contains six killer effects that are:

1. Strong enough to use at a gig
2. Easy enough to learn over a coffee

Volume 1 features The Numismatist, Luck of the Draw, Cubicle, Word Games, The One-Second Design Dupe, and Insider.

Volume 2 features Control, The Final Countdown, A Book A Test A Bird, Brainwave2, Cheers, and Landline.

Mark created these specifically for people who don't have thousands of hours to practice but still want to perform killer mentalism. And trust us—laymen will be absolutely floored by this stuff.

Both volumes available as a bundle or individually.

A Head Full of Books

A Head Full of Books is Mark's impromptu book test that's replaced even the Hoy Book Test as many mentalists' go-to effect.

Here's what makes it brilliant:

• Works with ANY book, in ANY language
• Zero memory work
• Nothing written down
• No sleights, finger breaks, or moves
• No forcing—genuinely random book and page
• No maths, calculations, or apps

You're at someone's house, in a coffee shop, anywhere with books on shelves. They pick ANY book, open to ANY page, read a few lines silently while you look away. You immediately reveal what they just read. Done.

This is one of those effects that will make people question reality.

The Mark Elsdon Mega Mentalism Bundle

If you want the full Mark Elsdon experience, the Mega Mentalism Bundle gives you a massive collection of his best work at a huge discount (£59.99 instead of £90).

Other Mark Elsdon Gems

• Limelight - One of Mark's most prized routines. A multi-phase card routine designed for groups that builds to an impossible climax. £35
• The In3vitable - Playable as impossible magic or incredible mentalism. As close to a miracle as you can get. £14.99
• Tequila Hustler - The game changer for "which hand" effects. No electronics, no gimmicks, no prep. Any coins, any time. £19.99
• Decibel Vision - A brilliant phone-based psychic revelation effect
• Simplimental - Eight incredible mentalism routines that are all quickly learned and easy to do. £24.99

Simon Caine: Modern, Clever Mentalism

Simon Caine is a brilliant mentalist with a clever, modern style. His Mega Bundle features four of his best-selling eBooks plus a bonus routine at a massively reduced price (£29.99 instead of £64.99).

What's in the bundle:

I Know What You're Thinking (13 routines + 2021 updates + 26min video lecture) - Practical, straightforward mind reading covering personal questions, lie detection, PINs, cards, passwords, names, drawings, and more. This book delves into the full toolbox of mentalism techniques.

"Full of great work on almost every area of modern mentalism. This is mandatory reading." - Mark Elsdon

"I really love every one of these routines. IKWYT is something I haven't seen in a while; practical, straightforward mentalism that won't fail to impress." - Luke Turner

Razorsharp (8 routines) - Practical, powerful mentalism using the simplest, most direct methods. No center tears in sight. Effects designed to be easy to perform whenever, wherever, whatever the circumstance.

Includes: Multiplex (double drawing duplication with business cards), Principia (a reputation maker where you read two minds in the cleanest manner imaginable), Telegram (spectator thinks of a card, you find it with your eyes genuinely closed), and Meridian (ESP predictions on a single business card).

Eidetic (4 routines) - Pseudo-memory work including rapid memorization of a deck and a multiple-phase performance piece with a genuinely shuffled deck.

Winnebago - A spectator-as-mindreader routine where one audience member reads another's mind, even from a different room. Perfect for parlour or casual performances.

PLUS Chroma - A killer colour-changing deck routine as a bonus.

Self-Working Mentalism: Maximum Impact, Minimum Effort

Astro Signs by Mike Austin

Astro Signs is a 44-page book that comes with a gorgeous custom-printed astrology book prop. Mike Austin has refined this routine for over twenty years, and it shows.

Here's what happens: A spectator looks up their star sign in your book, reads four different readings, and you reveal all four readings plus their star sign. No fishing. No pre-show. No moves. No sleights. No reset required.

It's completely self-working, packs small, plays huge, and you can even perform it for multiple spectators at once. At £24.97 (normally £29.97), this is brilliant value for a complete professional mentalism routine.

The Painting by Dead Rebel

The Painting uses a mysterious painting and poem to demonstrate their influence over us. A participant freely chooses between several options, and everything impossibly matches your prediction. The presentation is engaging, the method is self-working, and the impact is huge. £29.99

Impromptu Book Tests

Springboard by Michael Murray

Springboard is Michael Murray's revolutionary system for allowing your SPECTATOR to read YOUR mind. Imagine you're thinking of a card. The spectator, without any prior knowledge or preparation, correctly names your thought-of card. This turns the traditional mentalism plot on its head in a brilliant way. £14.99

Dave Forrest: Spectator as Mindreader

Dave Forrest has carved out a niche for himself with "spectator as mindreader" effects—tricks where your audience member becomes the star of the show.

• Read Me - Ingenious solutions to an under-explored plot. £14.99

"What a terrific ebook! Ingenious solutions to an under-explored plot. Very clever stuff." - John Bannon

• Read Me 2 - Three more devious tricks that will fool the pants off your audiences. £2.99 (on sale!)

"Dave is fast becoming THE go-to guy for 'spectator as mindreader' effects."

John Carey: Mentalism Meets Method

While John Carey is primarily known for his card magic, several of his books contain killer mentalism material:

• Dice Telepathy - A killer mentalism routine with dice. £13.90
• Dice, Dice Baby - Ten super clean mysteries with dice. £19.46

His main books (Carey's Way, Reflections, and The Very Best of John Carey) all include sections on mentalism alongside card and coin magic.

Specialized Mentalism Tools

Darkwave ESP Kit by Adam Cooper

Darkwave ESP Kit is an incredibly powerful mentalism tool that's absolutely loaded with special features. £23.44

A beautiful custom-printed ESP deck where each card features a traditional ESP symbol (in red or black), a random word, and a baroque image. Hidden in plain sight on the back is a brilliantly camouflaged marking system that allows you to divine:

• The symbol
• Its colour
• The word
• The picture

All from one quick glance. And here's the genius part—you don't even need to memorize anything. Everything you need is printed on the card case and can be left in plain view.

Includes custom deck, gaff cards, eBook instructions, and a massive 90-minute video teaching you everything plus four killer routines.

"Adam Cooper has succeeded where so many others have failed: he has created a practical and fooling extension to the standard ESP deck. The new elements that DARKWAVE adds are innovative, logical and yet totally mysterious. And the methods are a worker's delight. Highly recommended." - Mark Elsdon

The Koran Deck Project with Liam Montier

The Koran Deck turns you into a mentalist instantly. Special Bicycle deck plus 30-minute video download—everything you need to perform mind-blowing mentalism. £15.99

Pocket Voodoo by Liam Montier

Pocket Voodoo is a perfect piece of gothic, pocket-sized mind-melting magic. 14 custom-printed Voodoo cards with special hidden features that allow for utterly impossible revelations. £19.46

Advanced Mentalism Theory

Deep Breath by Mat Parrott & The 1914

Deep Breath demystifies the Gilbreath Principle—an esoteric mathematical principle that allows you to know, with 100% accuracy, information about a deck mixed by a spectator. No gimmicks, no sleight of hand.

Mat teaches the principle without any algebra in sight, then gives you four killer routines including "Out of Breath" (divine the colour of every card in a shuffled stack), "Poker in the Rear" (spectator deals winning poker hands from their shuffled deck), and more. £13.90

Weapons of Mass Deception by Dee Christopher

Weapons of Mass Deception is Dee Christopher's comprehensive book covering some of his most powerful mentalism effects.

"HOLY S&! DUDE! I Have NO idea how you did that!"* - Shin Lim (on Death-O-Scope)

"That's absolutely GENIUS. The BEST pulse stop I've ever seen!"

£19.99

Bias Beware by Steve Cantwell

Bias Beware is something completely different—a fantastic book on cognitive biases and how they affect magic and mentalism. Understanding these psychological principles will make you a better performer across the board. £4.99

John Bannon's Mentalism

Yes, John Bannon does mentalism too!

• ESP by the Numbers - Bannon's simplified variation of a classic ESP routine. £19.46

His book Mentalissimo (currently sold out but worth hunting for) is entirely devoted to mentalism with cards.

Video Downloads & Courses

Conscious Magic Episode 1

Conscious Magic is mentalism at its finest. If you enjoy performing and creating the illusion of reading your spectator's mind, this video download is packed with professional material. £19.99

Rogue by Steven Palmer

Rogue features easy-to-do mentalism with cards. £23.44

"Should make any person on the fence about using cards in mentalism come over to the right side!" - Ben Cardall

Props & Packets

The Man Who Knows by Liam Montier

The Man Who Knows is a double prediction trick with compelling presentation, gorgeous props, and a self-working method that instantly resets. £19.99

The Deck of Fortune by Liam Montier

The Deck of Fortune is the perfect deck for a perfect prediction trick. £23.44

The Birthday Deck by Liam Montier

The Birthday Deck is a self-working miracle that allows you to impossibly reveal someone's birthday. Comes with special Bicycle deck and video instructions. £19.46

Why Mentalism?

Here's the thing about mentalism: it's personal. When you reveal someone's thought, you're creating a moment they'll never forget. Unlike card tricks or coin vanishes (which are great, don't get me wrong), mentalism hits on a deeper psychological level.

People can rationalize sleight of hand. They can't rationalize you knowing what they're thinking.

The books and resources we've curated here cover every aspect of mentalism:

• Impromptu propless mentalism for casual situations
• Self-working effects that require no skill but deliver massive impact
• Book tests that seem genuinely impossible
• ESP and card-based mentalism for structured performances
• Spectator-as-mindreader effects that make your audience the star
• Advanced principles for those who want to understand the deeper theory

Where to Start

If you're brand new to mentalism: Grab Easy Elsdon Mentalism or Astro Signs. Learn a few effects quickly, perform them, and see how people react.

If you want impromptu mentalism: Conversation as Mentalism is essential. Five volumes of propless material for £39.33 is genuinely the bargain of the century.

If you want a complete mentalism toolkit: The Simon Caine Mega Bundle or Mark Elsdon Mega Bundle will set you up with everything you need.

If you want something visual and prop-based: Check out Darkwave ESP Kit, The Koran Deck, or any of Liam Montier's prediction effects.

The Bottom Line

Mentalism is magic's most powerful weapon. It's intimate, personal, and genuinely baffling in a way that other forms of magic sometimes struggle to achieve. The resources we've gathered here represent some of the finest mentalism thinking available anywhere.

Whether you're looking to add a few mentalism pieces to your existing magic act or you want to become a full-time mentalist, these books will give you the tools, the techniques, and the confidence to blow people's minds.

So pick a book, start learning, and prepare to experience the most gratifying reactions you've ever had as a performer. When someone looks at you with genuine wonder and asks "How did you know that?"—that's when you know you've got them.

Now get out there and start reading some minds.