Derren Brown

Derren on mieletön esiintyjä. Hän on näköjään myös hauska kirjoittaja, ateisti, tiedeuskovainen ja fiksu mies. Hän valottaa kirjassa mentalismin ja mielenhallinan saloja ja samalla kritisoi humpuukitohtoreita, vaihtoehtohoitoja ja meedioita. Kunpa useammat tajuaisivat, että meedioissa ja enkeliterapioissa sun muissa homepatioissa on kyse lähinnä vetoamisesta ihmisten tunteisiin ja alitajuntaan, todellisuuden kanssa niillä ei ole mitään tekemistä. Niin monet ihmiset luulevat show more pääsevänsä elämästä helpolla turvautumalla yliluonnollisiin voimiin. Well folks, nobody said it was easy. Jos haluat muuttaa elämääsi tai ajatteluasi, niin sen eteen täytyy nähdä vaivaa, ei rukoilla enkeleitä tai juosta spritisti-istunnoissa. show less

Confessions of a Conjuror is, while in parts autobiographical, by no means a traditional autobiography. Structured around the performance of a card trick by his younger self in a Bristol restaurant, the book delights in veering off at tangents as and when something strikes Mr. Brown as worth expounding upon.

Thus we are steered through the quite fascinating recesses of Brown's mind. On the way we get philosophy, childhood memories, ticks and self loathing, the history of magic and the best show more recipe for Eggs Benedict. This makes for a very entertaining read.

Brown's style is conversational and he's never less than readable. Indeed at times he is quite profound, but always punctures any sense of self-import with a self-deprecating put down. Some of the anecdotes are laugh out loud funny.

Brown is never self-important and he comes across as a likeable, if eccentric, raconteur. show less

The mighty Mr Brown gives us an introduction into his techniques and opinions on a wide range of subjects, from magic to NLP to fake mediums.

A witty and inviting writer he never talks down to you. The book has some cracking anecdotes from his times as a student and happy-clapper evangelical Christian (yes, I was amazed too).

There are also very interesting sections on memory techniques, over coming phobias, hypnosis and other tools of his trade. But what comes over most of all is that he is a show more sceptic of the Dawkin's school, and that's no bad thing. Fake mediums, creationists, New Agers and all the others who deny rational thought and scientific evidence are put to the sword with wit and passion.

Thought provoking and thoroughly recommended. show less

Derren Brown is well known for his apparent mind-reading skills, and magical illusions. However, he is always totally honest about the fact that he has no belief in psychic ability whatsover. In this book, he explains much about how he does some of his tricks on stage, and delves into the subjects of memory, illusion (where he explains the basics of how some illusions are created), the power of suggestion and susceptibility, and how psychics and mediums carry out their work - and the truth show more behind their 'skills'.

I should say that I am a huge fan of Derren Brown, and was therefore perhaps predisposed into liking this book. However, I think that anyone who had never heard of him would also find this a very entertaining read. At the beginning of the book, after a brief introduction as to how Brown came to be interested in his subject, he teaches a few simple tricks with coins and cards. There is then a subject on memory, with some tips and exercises for improving yours). I liked this section a lot, and have tried the 'linking' system myself with measurable success. I did feel that this section got a little bit bogged down, especially when talking about the 'peg' system (the system seemed harder to remember than it would be to recall whatever it is that it's supposed to help you remember!). The sections on hypnosis and seances were very fascinating, exposing much about how these work.

However, most interesting to me was the part where Brown talks about psychics and mediums, and shows how they can fool an audience using intuition and cunning and confusion (but no psychic ability) to yield apparently incredible results. I would mention that of course many people have found much needed comfort from such quarters, and may find this part of the book upsetting for this reason. I do not believe in the abilities of those who claim to be able to contact the dead, and therefore I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it. Brown does go on something of a mild rant, due to his belief that such people prey on their audiences' grief and distress. He breaks down and analyses how psychics (particularly those who have made a celebrity career out of their work) fool their audiences, cheat and use their guile.

During the whole book, Brown makes for an engaging, witty and involved narrator, with a style instantly recognisable to anybody who has ever seen any of this television or live shows.

There is also a comprehensive list of suggested further reading at the back of the book, on all of the subjects covered.

Overall, definitely recommended and not only for fans of Derren Brown. This book is challenging, funny and insightful. show less