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A card is selected from a deck of cards and kept at one side for future ‘verification’.
The performer displays a small book entitled A Collection of the World’s Greatest Philosophers, and proceeds to page through the book explaining the history, ideas, and importance of some of the philosophers listed on the different pages (e.g. Hegel, Aristotle, Marx, Confucius, etc.). The performer then flicks through the book and asks the spectator to say ‘stop’ at any page without the performer seeing the selected page.
The spectator concentrates on the information on the page while the performer begins to reveal details about the philosopher. While the spectator confirms that the performer is correct, a final detail is revealed. There is a playing card associated with the philosopher and it matches the one chosen at the beginning of the effect!
Is this easy to perform?
yes it is easy to do, so you can concentrate on the presentation and framing.
Is this just a simple word revealed like other booktests?
NO! That's one of he reasons Cogito is so strong! The whole content of the page is revealed, not just one word!
Whats the quality of the book like?
It looks like a Barnes and Noble/Borders/Waterstones book
Is this practical for working magicians?
YES! It can be used for table hopping and parlour/cabaret
Is this a booktest or a card effect?
The card selection/verification is an extra kicker!
'This is a very nice book test indeed from our own Dr Todd. It feels very good to perform, and yet has a very straightforward method. The random elements introduced by the spectator and having him handle the book while still being able to name the associated philosopher and card makes for a very strong effect.
It includes a specially printed, glossy 20.5x14.5cm book of philosophers, and an instruction booklet that includes the method and a full, three-phase presentation. There are no memorisation tasks for the performer and no difficult sleights either. You can have the card selected in any way you wish, for instance. This means that you’re free to concentrate on the performance side of the effect, which is, after all, the most important part. There are also notes about where to place this effect in your act and ideas for other situations, such as a bizarre magick presentation.
I tried this yesterday and, as I revealed increasing details about the philosopher the spectator was reading about, her expression changed from straight-faced to genuinely surprised to “no way!” when I revealed the card her friend was still holding. 10/10. Definitely one to take table-hopping.'-Tomo - Cheshire UK
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' have to say that already I think this will be one of the gems of 2007.
Many will dismiss it as just being another book test, but personally I feel it is much more than that, and not just because of the added card prediction. That is just the icing on the cake.
As book tests go, this one is different, because you are not just naming the first word on the page, you are not even just naming any word on the page that the spectator freely selected. You will in fact be able to show that you know all the information on that page from which you deduce the philosopher. Isn’t this how it would be if you really could do the mind reading thing?
Have no doubt (Hyperbolic or otherwise) that this is a very strong piece. I am sure that everyone will find their own style of performing this. I am still having fun experimenting with it at the moment but already I am finding what works for me. (I only received it other Christmas). The best thing is that it is so easy to do, that all the effort can go straight into the performance aspect of it.
It also fits nicely into a jacket pocket and is just about the right size to be a credible study book on the subject of philosophy.' Bananafish From Talkmagic forum
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'..it's a very strong piece this...
I had the pleasure of Dr. Todd (steady on there!) performing this one to me in a little pub in London last year...that sudden little jolt that goes up yer back when the info is revealed...
Dr. T's performance is very good too, as he's obviously extremely knowledgable about the subject matter...
..you could apply the thinking to a small book on the psychology of serial killers for instance, their modus operandi (a possible title in keeping with yer actual latin?) first few victims, how long they were around and so on... Abraxus from Talkmagic Forum
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'I recieved this a couple of weeks ago. It looks exactly like what you would find in a Barnes and Noble. The book itself is a "high end" glossy looking soft cover.
The amount of information revealed is significant, the method is simplicity defined.
'I really like that it's not another "novel". It is great for a one on one presentation, or to add variety to a "free" selection of books by a spectator. Well done Dr. Todd! -Rick From Outlaw Effects. Creator of Homicide UK'
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'The key part there is that it is a very easy routine to assimilate and there's oodles of scope to tailor it to 'your' way which is, for me, the hallmark of a good investment in magic. The presentation can be as varied as you like but it does need to be thought out carefully and performed professionally to give the full gobsmaking effect, I suspect most performers will instinctively know how they'll perform this right from the first few lines of the instructions. It's not a cut price effect so is it good value for money? Oh yes, very much so!' -Mandrake
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'I got this recently. It’s a great two punch stage book-test. It’s easy to do and Dr. Landman includes complete patter and presentation tips. Best of all, it will make you seem educated…just make sure to pronounce those names correctly
I am hardly an expert on book-tests, but will definitely use this next time I perform for a decent sized group.' - Elliott B NYC
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