The Blurb
The Prodigal was written with the sole intention of
demonstrating the value of one misunderstood and much
maligned method, and offers glimpses of masterworks that can
be built with it.
It offers a true demonstration of pure mental powers – void
of pencils, scraps of paper, envelopes, gimmicks, or any of
the accompanying apparatus that walk hand-in-hand with other
effects and immediately serve to trigger skeptical reactions
in our audiences – suspicious that they are being deceived,
just unsure as to how.
The Prodigal examines the method by which you can create
pure, direct mind reading – miracles that can be performed
whilst in a straight jacket, with no props at all if you so
choose.
This book offers ideas for performing impressive ungaffed
book tests, and outlines a means by which actions taken
hundreds of miles away can be accurately revealed. Better
than all this – it establishes a creative platform upon
which you can expand and create your own distinctive feats!”
My Comments
This 90 page e-book is jam packed with an incredible variety
of material on the subject of pr********* ana***** (working
professionals know what that subject is). For those who use
this technique, there are dozens of different templates
within this book for a variety of different subjects. Some
are esoteric (actors who played Doctor Who?!?), but most are
ones that you may well end up using.
My issue with this is that this book doesn't feel like it's
written by someone as experienced in using PA's as I feel
the author should be. Yes, there is much solid advice here
and some of it is quite good and unfamiliar to me. Brooks
also outlines his eight steps in the process. I don't
necessarily disagree with them, but there's some key advice
that isn't here. There are a few well-known tips that I use
that are not here that make this technique not look like
guessing.
In another example, Brookings also writes, "Let me give you
an example of a flawed performance. I could do a book test,
followed by an anagram. The two lend themselves beautifully
to each other. But if I reveal their word straight away from
the book test, without naming letters first, then I am
psychic one moment, but then have to apparently receive
individual letters when I move to the anagram... This lack
of consistency will signal an alarm in the minds of the
spectators."
I agree that this may be a flawed performance, but the lack
of consistency is not to blame. It's the presentation. For
me, I will simply state that some people are more
challenging to work with and I have to take a little more
time with them. That's certainly a plausible explanation.
I know because I use it. It's simple and it works well.
Brookings has done a marvelous job compiling data for use on
the subject, and if you use PAs, then certainly do not
hesitate to get this. But I'd be very careful with the
advice he gives on performing the material. Following his
advice exclusively may not earn you the results you're
looking for.