About the Book Derren Brown’s television and stage performances have entranced and dumbfounded millions. His baffling illusions and stunning set pieces – such as The Séance, Russian Roulette and The Heist – have set new standards of what’s possible, as well as causing more than their fair share of controversy. Now, for the first time, he reveals the secrets behind his craft, what makes him tick and just why he grew that beard. Tricks of the Mind takes you on a journey into the structure and psychology of magic. Derren also takes a long hard look at the paranormal industry, and looks at why some of us feel the need to believe in it in the first place. Alternately hilarious, controversial and challenging, Tricks of the Mind is essential reading for Derren’s legions of fans, and pretty bloody irresistible even for those who don’t like him that much ... ‘Reveals a surprising amount about his art ... there is much to enlighten, entertain and put into use!’ Psychologies ‘Will delight anyone with an interest in the weirder things people think and why they think them.’ Independent on Sunday About the Author Derren was born in 1971 in Croydon. It was a difficult birth – his mother was in Devon at the time. A precocious and puzzling only child, he liked to paint, foster obsessive habits and once set fire to a neighbour’s boat by accident. Derren went on to study law and German at Bristol University and fell in love with the city. This was a time where marriage between man and city was still frowned upon, so rather than face public derision, Derren decided just to live there forever instead. During this time he began to perform magic in bars and restaurants, and gave occasional hypnosis shows. Then in 1999 he was asked by Channel 4 to put a mind-reading programme together for television, which became Derren Brown: Mind Control. It was an immediate success and gained Derren a cool underground kudos which he described as ‘not enough’. Mind Controls 2 and 3 followed and then, in October 2003, Derren caused an international furore by playing Russian Roulette live on television. This secured notoriety with the public and a big apartment in London. ‘Bristol can shove itself,’ he said. Further specials have followed including Derren Brown: The Séance which was the most complained about show in the history of television. He still receives several letters of complaint a week from psychics and Christians. He is sensitive to everyone’s objections but knows at least the latter group will forgive him. Derren’s workload keeps him exhausted and irritable fifty-two weeks a year and he continues to live in London with a large collection of taxidermy and a fatalistic parrot. He spends any free weekends painting and likes to receive gifts. www.rbooks.co.uk TRICKS OF THE MIND Derren Brown This ebook is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form (including any digital form) other than this in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Epub ISBN: 9781409082569 Version 1.0 www.randomhouse.co.uk TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS 61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA A Random House Group Company www.rbooks.co.uk First published in Great Britain in 2006 by Channel 4 Books This edition published in 2007 by Channel 4 Books an imprint of Transworld Publishers Copyright © Objective 2007 Derren Brown has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 9781905026357 Addresses for Random House Group Ltd companies outside the UK can be found at: www.randomhouse.co.uk The Random House Group Ltd Reg. No. 954009 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1 To Mum, Dad and Bro. CONTENTS Cover About the Book About the Author Tricks of the Mind Copyright Dedication PREFACE TO THE PAPERBACK EDITION PREFACE PART ONE: DISILLUSIONMENT PART TWO: MAGIC A Coin Trick A Card Trick Perception is Everything Tricks with Suggestion The Pendulum Muscle-reading PART THREE: MEMORY Starting Points The Linking System Uses of the Linking System The Loci System Memory Palaces The Peg System Remembering Long Numbers Memorizing a Deck of Cards Memorizing Football Scores Remembering Names The Importance of Reviewing PART FOUR: HYPNOSIS AND SUGGESTIBILITY A Brief History What is Hypnosis? Seemingly Unique Hypnotic Phenomena Painless Surgery Hallucinations How to Hypnotize The Dangers Language Structure Prepare Your Subject Trying a Post-hypnotic Suggestion Neuro-Linguistic Programming The Eyes Have It (some of the time) Tools for Personal Change Targeted Rapport Playing with Pictures Phobia Cure Self-confidence and the Image We Project Confusion and Self-defence PART FIVE: UNCONSCIOUS COMMUNICATION Learning to Read People Spotting Lies and Giveaway Tells Establishing a Baseline Key Areas of Unconscious Communication Test Your Acuity Signs of Truthfulness PART SIX: ANTI-SCIENCE, PSEUDO-SCIENCE AND BAD THINKING Thinking Traps Science and Relativism Worry About Science Belief in the Supernatural and Pseudo-Science Confirmation Bias: Looking for What We Know Extraordinary Coincidences and Psychic Phone Calls Anecdotes and Fact Superstitious Thinking Alternative Medicine The Placebo Effect The Appeal of the Imaginary Mediums, Psychics and Charlatans Cold-reading More Examples of Cold-reading Trickery ‘Honest’ Psychics FINAL THOUGHTS CORRESPONDENCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SUGGESTED FURTHER READING AND QUOTED PAPERS PICTURE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Plate Section.