Absolute Magic: A Journey into Derren Brown's Mind

Absolute Magic, also known as Derren Brown's Absolute Magic, is a book written by Derren Brown, a popular British magician and mentalist. Published in 2000, the book explores various aspects of magic and mind manipulation from the perspective of Brown, who has become known for his unique approach to these subjects. The book delves into topics such as misdirection, psychological manipulation, sleight of hand, and card magic. It provides insights and techniques that magicians can use to enhance their performances and create a sense of wonder in their audiences. Brown shares his own experiences and offers advice on how to captivate and engage spectators. One of the main themes of Absolute Magic is the idea that magic is not just about tricks and illusions, but also about the psychology behind them.

A word about the prose style is also worth saying - it's hilarious. Brown has a very specific ideolect, which may not be to everyone's taste, but is clear, readable, and in places seizure-inducingly funny. In fact, it would be almost worth buying the book for the prose style alone. But there's far more to it than that.

At half time, when we went for Interval drinkiepoos, we noticed the book had been moved and I understand that some rapid Googling had taken place by The Gaffer to check the value, apparently he hadn t realised what sort of figure was involved. I mentioned to the barman that it was a rather valuable book to be left just lying around and he said it belonged to The Gaffer whoever that was, presumably the licensee.

One of the main themes of Absolute Magic is the idea that magic is not just about tricks and illusions, but also about the psychology behind them. Brown emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior and using it to one's advantage when performing magic. He provides examples and explanations of psychological principles that magicians can incorporate into their acts to create a more profound impact on their audiences.

talkmagic.co.uk

I bet taking them off the printing line is some sort of psychological subtlty by Derren to influence you to do. something. that you would only do without owning his book.

I was born with Multiple Personality Disorder. Luckily, they are all me, they just dont always get along.

by Marvell » Jan 16th, '07, 17:11

Pure Effect available here:

Note from Mods: All checked and approved before making this offer!

by Ed Wood » Apr 26th, '07, 11:12

Does anyone have the first edition of this book? All the later versions had a couple of chapters deleted, I'm intrigued as to what material he chose to remove.
Out of boredom just had a quick look on e-bay, copies of this are going for £150. That was £30 well spent, doubt I'd want to get rid of it though.

by Tomo » Apr 26th, '07, 11:16

ed crawford wrote: Does anyone have the first edition of this book? All the later versions had a couple of chapters deleted, I'm intrigued as to what material he chose to remove.

The first edition was a rough manuscript he used to hawk at conventions. To all intents and purposes it doesn't really exist in any rational sense.

Tomo Veteran Member Posts: 9866 Joined: May 4th, '05, 23:46 Location: Darkest Cheshire (forty-bloody-six going on six)

by Lawrence » Apr 26th, '07, 11:19

i think me may be mixed up with Pure Effect (although i could be wrong)

by Ed Wood » Apr 26th, '07, 17:54

Oops, yes I am, sorry!! Pure effect is the one that had the chapters deleted and is now going for silly money. Once again my complete lack of attention shines through.

by SonofRojBlake » Apr 3rd, '09, 15:50

I'd like to add my voice to those praising this book. If possible, I'd like to praise it even more highly, and here's why:

Years ago, I was the curious public. I would go into a magic shop and buy a cheap trick just see how it worked. Then I'd show it a friend, with some subtle intro like "Hey, look what I just bought!" And then I'd show them how it worked.

Later, I had more money, so I'd buy better tricks. But I'd still introduce them with "Hey, wanna see a trick?", and more often than not would reveal the mechanism. After I'd got a few devices together, I started stringing them together, but was still, to use the Penn and Teller phrase, a parrot guy. My magic was not magic, it was a geek showing his friends his latest toy, to no particularly edifying effect.

Then I read Pure Effect. Then I read Absolute Magic. And it is not an exaggeration to say that they came as a shattering revelation to me. Between them they made me realise that all that time I had been squandering, wasting possibilities to create moments of wonder. It made me look at my toybox in a whole new way, and more importantly made me think about the people I was subjecting to my attentions in a whole new way. And I resolved, after reading this book, to work differently. Indeed, to WORK.

You may, possibly, learn a trick or two from these books. But if you do, you will be missing the point entirely. The point of these books is NOT to teach you how to do a trick you didn't know. The point is to teach you to think more clearly about how to present material you already have at your fingertips. When you read this book, you will, with some thought, come to realise that you already have the potential to be far more effective, far more impressive, simply by focussing on your audience and their perceptions. You need learn no new sleights, need buy no additional equipment.

The best example I can offer is the way this book changed the way I delivered Coin Unique. From my initial, parrot guy presentation - "Here, watch this!" - it has become something intimate, powerful and compelling, something that allows me to convince someone that I can make them hallucinate vividly merely by talking to them.. The device is the same (obviously), the only difference is the consideration for the viewer that was inspired by this book.

A word about the prose style is also worth saying - it's hilarious. Brown has a very specific ideolect, which may not be to everyone's taste, but is clear, readable, and in places seizure-inducingly funny. In fact, it would be almost worth buying the book for the prose style alone. But there's far more to it than that.

This book is clearly written by someone who is on a journey, the same journey most of us are on. Some of us are wandering around aimlessly near where we started. Some of us are further along than others, but some of us are, sadly, headed down a dead end. I was. This book points the way, or at least, makes us focus on what it would be like to have a way of our own. But to paraphrase Morpheus in the Matrix: Derren Brown can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it.

Re: Absolute Magic - Derren Brown

by Mandrake » Oct 12th, '11, 22:34

My Son and I went to see Paul Daniels last night in his ‘Hair today, Gone tomorrow’ show in Tamworth. During pre-show drinkiepoos I was amazed to see a copy of Absolute Magic just lying on a shelf underneath the optic measures at the back of the bar. I mentioned to the barman that it was a rather valuable book to be left just lying around and he said it belonged to ‘The Gaffer’ whoever that was, presumably the licensee. Anyways having told, him that the book often fetches in excess of £250 on Ebay he said he’d make sure the guy knew about the value. At half time, when we went for Interval drinkiepoos, we noticed the book had been moved and I understand that some rapid Googling had taken place by The Gaffer to check the value, apparently he hadn’t realised what sort of figure was involved.

If only we’d kept our gobs shut and just offered the Gaffer a tenner.

Re: Absolute Magic - Derren Brown

by Tomo » Oct 13th, '11, 00:00

Mandrake wrote: Bumpety bump!

My Son and I went to see Paul Daniels last night in his ‘Hair today, Gone tomorrow’ show in Tamworth. During pre-show drinkiepoos I was amazed to see a copy of Absolute Magic just lying on a shelf underneath the optic measures at the back of the bar. I mentioned to the barman that it was a rather valuable book to be left just lying around and he said it belonged to ‘The Gaffer’ whoever that was, presumably the licensee. Anyways having told, him that the book often fetches in excess of £250 on Ebay he said he’d make sure the guy knew about the value. At half time, when we went for Interval drinkiepoos, we noticed the book had been moved and I understand that some rapid Googling had taken place by The Gaffer to check the value, apparently he hadn’t realised what sort of figure was involved.

If only we’d kept our gobs shut and just offered the Gaffer a tenner.

If I'm REALLY desperate, my copies of Pure Effect and Absolute Magic are always there. I bought them in the last weeks of being available. I just wish I'd bought more. I really do.

Tomo Veteran Member Posts: 9866 Joined: May 4th, '05, 23:46 Location: Darkest Cheshire (forty-bloody-six going on six)

Re: Absolute Magic - Derren Brown

by Alec Burns » Oct 13th, '11, 00:02

Mandrake wrote: Bumpety bump!

My Son and I went to see Paul Daniels last night in his ‘Hair today, Gone tomorrow’ show in Tamworth. During pre-show drinkiepoos I was amazed to see a copy of Absolute Magic just lying on a shelf underneath the optic measures at the back of the bar. I mentioned to the barman that it was a rather valuable book to be left just lying around and he said it belonged to ‘The Gaffer’ whoever that was, presumably the licensee. Anyways having told, him that the book often fetches in excess of £250 on Ebay he said he’d make sure the guy knew about the value. At half time, when we went for Interval drinkiepoos, we noticed the book had been moved and I understand that some rapid Googling had taken place by The Gaffer to check the value, apparently he hadn’t realised what sort of figure was involved.

If only we’d kept our gobs shut and just offered the Gaffer a tenner.

You missed a trick there mate! (probably covered in the book)

The best example I can offer is the way this book changed the way I delivered Coin Unique. From my initial, parrot guy presentation - "Here, watch this!" - it has become something intimate, powerful and compelling, something that allows me to convince someone that I can make them hallucinate vividly merely by talking to them.. The device is the same (obviously), the only difference is the consideration for the viewer that was inspired by this book.

In addition to teaching specific techniques, the book also delves into the broader philosophy of magic. Brown explores concepts such as the nature of belief and the power of suggestion. He challenges readers to think critically about the role of magic in society and how it can be used as a tool for entertainment, art, and even personal growth. Absolute Magic has received praise from both magicians and non-magicians alike. It has been lauded for its originality, depth, and thought-provoking content. Many have credited the book with revolutionizing the way magic is performed and viewed, inspiring a new generation of magicians to approach their craft in a more thoughtful and meaningful way. Overall, Absolute Magic is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the world of magic and mind manipulation. Derren Brown's unique perspective and expertise make it a must-read for anyone interested in the art of magic, whether as a performer or a spectator..

Reviews for "Trick or Truth? Understanding the Art of Absolute Magic with Derren Brown"

1. Samantha - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Absolute Magic" by Derrem Rown. The book promised to guide me into the world of magic, but it fell short of my expectations. The explanations were confusing, and the tricks were not well detailed. I found it hard to follow along and replicate any of the illusions. Overall, it lacked depth and substance.

2. John - 1 star - "Absolute Magic" by Derrem Rown was a complete waste of my time. The book claims to reveal secrets and teach you magic, but it fails to deliver on both fronts. The explanations were vague and poorly written, making it impossible to understand the tricks. It felt more like a marketing ploy rather than an actual comprehensive guide. Save your money and find a different book on magic if you're serious about learning the art.

3. Emily - 2 stars - I'm an avid fan of magic, but "Absolute Magic" by Derrem Rown left me feeling frustrated. The book lacked structure and organization, making it difficult to follow the progression of tricks. The illustrations were also poorly done, making it hard to decipher the necessary hand movements. It's a shame because the concept had promise, but the execution fell flat.

4. Michael - 1 star - I regret purchasing "Absolute Magic" by Derrem Rown. The book is filled with generic tricks that offer nothing new or exciting. It's apparent that the author didn't put much effort into creating original content. Furthermore, the explanations were haphazard, leaving many details crucial to the illusion missing. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking to learn and be inspired by magic.

The Evolution of Absolute Magic: From Houdini to Derren Brown