There are so many books about mentalism.
And one of these books is Mind, Myth, and Magick, written by Thomas Alan Waters, who is more famously called T.A. Waters.
Known as the “bible” for mentalism, Mind, Myth, and Magick is an 800-page book all about mentalism.
It has chapters on the foundations of mind reading, magic and tricks, effects, psychometry, fortunetelling, and probability.
The book was published in 1993 and is now considered a collector’s item — so don’t be surprised by its expensive asking price.
Now, this begs a question…
Should you read this book?
Is it worth it?
Let’s help you answer that by giving you a Mind, Myth, and Magick review.
Here, we’ll show you what we like and didn’t like about the book. This way, you can determine if it will be a good read for YOU.
So let’s get reviewing!
Mind, Myth, and Magick Review – What We Like and Didn’t Like About the Book
For this book review, we’ll first go through what we didn’t like about it.
What We Didn’t Like
Here are some of the reasons why we didn’t like Mind, Myth, and Magick.
It’s important to note that what we didn’t like about it might be totally okay for YOU.
This is just our review to give you an idea.
It’s Not for Beginners
While some people recommend this book as a bible for all mentalism enthusiasts, its contents might overwhelm some readers.
800 pages of tricks, effects, and history are too much to remember and apply.
Many have commented that T.A. Waters was more a writer than a performer. This means that doing his trick suggestions might be difficult, especially for beginners.
In principle, the tricks may be correct, but executing them requires a lot of endurance and even tweaking.
Principles and Techniques Are Outdated
If you read the book, you’ll have a strong sense that it was written before the turn of the century.
It’s evident in the language, the technique, and the listed performances.
If you are just starting as a mentalist and refer to this book as your only guide, you might be on the more outdated side.
You’ll have to check newer books for better ways to pull off ticks with fewer chances of failing.
There’s a Lot of Fluff
Yes, the book has 800 pages.
But not every page is packed with new information.
The book has tons of unnecessary details that make you want to skip several pages.
That said, you must be mindful of the parts you decide to skip. You can build on some of the ideas shared within the many sentences of this book.
So it’s best to go through the entire book — even if it is repetitive.
Tricks Are Repetitive
If you look at the table of contents, you’ll be amazed at the number of tricks written in this book.
Unfortunately, there are more than a handful that are just variations of the same thing.
The usual differences are the props used or the sequence of some gestures. So they’re not all NEW tricks.
Some readers even noted that this was a reflection of T.A. Waters’ lack of stage performances. If he were on stage more, he would’ve come up with more tricks to pull out of his sleeve.
What We Liked
Of course, it’s not all negative.
Let’s move on now to what WE LIKED about this book.
It Helps Condition Your Brain Before Undertaking Any Activity
Let me explain.
Mentalism needs a lot of mental exercises.
It’s not just about the speed of your shuffle or the precision of your cuts — it’s a lot of brainwork.
This book shows you the importance of getting into the right mental and physical state. And this can predict the success of your performance.
It also teaches you how to successfully lead your viewers to a specific response OR redirect their focus elsewhere while you do your “magic”.
It Touches Almost Everything You’d Want to Know About Mentalism and Magic
The breadth of the topics is vast.
From prediction and tarot cards to psychometry and so much more.
The book gives you a peek into different fields of mentalism, which is exciting and liberating.
Liberating in the sense that you won’t feel boxed into just effects with cards, sleights, and locating hidden objects. If you want to dip your toes into divination or reading, this is a good jump-off point.
It Uses Easy Language
Sure, maybe some of the tricks will be overwhelming for beginners.
And maybe some of the language is a bit old-fashioned.
But that doesn’t mean it’s hard to read.
T.A. Waters uses easy language in Mind, Myth, and Magick.
You won’t have a problem understanding and following the book.
From the tricks that have been performed since the Medieval Period, to those that you’d see in parks, to those you watch on TV or on stage – you’ll be able to understand it all.
So this isn’t going to be a hard read.
It’s Encouraging and Inspiring
Since T.A. Waters shares a lot of his own perspective about the thinking behind the tricks, you will see mentalism in a different light.
You will be inspired to work and study hard.
You will be able to see, in a way, what goes on in the mind of a mentalist.
This way, you can reach the same level as T.A. Waters or even greater mentalists today.
Okay, Waters’ tricks are hard to execute.
However, many will accept these challenges to prove that they can do it and prove that they are that good.
Should You Read Mind, Myth, and Magick?
All in all, we’d say that Mind, Myth, and Magick is a good read.
Maybe we don’t agree with it being the “bible” for mentalism, since it’s a bit outdated and just not the best.
But still, you’ll learn a lot of things here.
And as a mentalist, you’ll need all the learnings you can get.
Of course, it’s up to you.
Now that we’ve given you our Mind, Myth, and Magick review, you can make an informed decision.
Should you read this book?
If so, then you can purchase it here!