Amazing Mind Reading

by Eddie Green
(Palm Coast, FL)

THE EFFECT: You introduce a book that has over 700 pages and 20,000 words to your spectator. You say you want as much "randomness" as possible, so you bring out a deck of cards and a regular die.


You ask the spectator to cut ANYWHERE they choose. They do so and you mark that spot for just a minute. You then bring out one regular die. You have the spectator roll it and then you ask them to add the top and bottom numbers together. That total number will represent a word on a page.


You then go back to where they FREELY cut. You turn over the first three cards they cut to and say that will be the page number. They go to that page and look for the word that represents the total die number. In this example 7 words across. They focus on it and you reveal the exact word they are thinking of!


PREPARATION: Find a pretty large book (like a Harry Potter book) and flip to any page you want (Try to go for a high number page like 700 and something). Look at the seventh word (you'll see why) from the top and memorize it. Try to get a good word not "the" or "as". Then find the cards that represent the page number and put those on top of the deck. For example 734 you could have the 7 of Clubs, the 3 of Diamonds and the 4 of Spades. That's it!


THE SECRET: Bring out the book the deck and the die. Have the spectator cut "anywhere" they want to. Now you need to perform what is called The Criss Cross Force. Put the bottom half sideways on top of the original top portion and say "We'll mark the exact location where you cut". What you actually did was mark the top half of the deck where your prearranged cards are! You should have what looks like a cross or addition sign.


Now... people don't realize this! They forget up from down and down from up. This is a VERY effective force! Bring their attention over to the die now. Tell them to roll it and to add the top and bottom numbers of the die together. Not every one knows this but if you add up the top and bottom they ALWAYS equal seven. Now tell the spectator that number will represent the word on the page.


Bring their attention back over to the cards (they will have already forgotten top from bottom) and remove the "marker" and turn over the cards you preset, but which they think they cut to. Now tell them to turn to that page number and to look at the seventh word from the top of the book. It will be the word you have memorized!


Now the rest is all showmanship and presentation. Don't automatically reveal their word. Take your time. Say "Ok... I'm getting an A somewhere in the word". Build it up... THEN reveal the word.


TIP: If your spectator says "Do it again!" say "It takes too much energy and I'm exhausted! NEVER do this trick twice for the same people. ENJOY!