Sean Taylor – Mindstorms

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MindStorms marks the debut hardback book from Australian magician and mentalist Sean Taylor. This exceptional work compiles over 20 routines from Sean’s extensive repertoire and shares his insights on the art of mentalism performance and presentation. Each effect is described in depth, offering invaluable observations, advice, and handling tips drawn from years of live performances. Many of the routines have been part of Sean’s act for years, with at least three capable of standing alone as significant contributions to the field, justifying the book’s price.

Featured effects include:

• The Book Master: An innovative book test system requiring no memory work or forcing.
• The Throne Room: A unique take on the classic chair test, predicting audience seating positions accurately, twice.
• News Of The World: An audience-involved newspaper test where a chosen word matches a pre-revealed prediction, all while the performer remains seated among the audience.
• The Pro Envelope: A versatile gimmicked envelope that simplifies mentalism.
• Survivor: Predict the last contestant standing in a live version of a popular TV show.
• Anchors Ahoy: A compelling rendition of the David Hoy Tossed Out Deck.
• Colossal Card Memory: Memorize an entire deck of oversized cards effortlessly.
• Pineapple Surprise: A comedic cabaret effect tailored for mentalists.
• MindChange: A fresh handling of Max Maven’s Kurotsuke using borrowed coins.
• Persuasive Banknight: Sean’s signature opening effect that brings clarity to the classic Banknight routine.

Testimonials highlight the book’s strengths:

Joe Atmore praised the newspaper test, noting its unexpected depth and structure. Nicholas Johnson highlighted the tossed out deck and bank night routines, emphasizing their psychological nuances and crowd appeal. Richard Paddon commended the detailed explanations and the practical, professional nature of the routines, which are well-suited for working performers. Sean Mergard appreciated the practical insights into mentalism’s business side, asserting that every effect in MindStorms is worth the investment.

Magnus Mats remarked on the book’s comprehensive material and Sean’s sharing of his performance experiences, making it a rare find. Barry Seeley called it “GOLD!” while expressing a desire to keep some tricks under wraps. Greg Arce and Andy Kershaw also shared their enthusiasm, with Kershaw congratulating Sean on his writing.