This book is based on a completely new and unusual idea. It contains a collection of exciting mind-reading tricks in which the Book itself actually plays the role of performer. You, the Reader, are the spectator, so to speak, of the book’s performance for each trick. You will follow a series of simple, clearly-written instructions which will lead you to make the choice of a card, a number, a symbol, a name, etc. Then after carrying out the instructions, you will turn to the page indicated and to your complete mystification and amusement you find that the book knows exactly what you are thinking.
Well, in many cases the working of the trick is certain, depending on logical or mathematical principles that are cleverly concealed. In other cases, the tricks are of a psychological character, so designed that they are successful only about 80 percent of the time.
Thus you see the Book presents a kind of challenge to you and to itself. When it fails – Oops! – it shrugs its page sadly and admits failure. But, when it scores a hit the effect is nothing short of miraculous, giving you an eerie feeling that it possesses some occult and incredible powers. This, in fact, is true in a sense. The psychological tricks are planned so that you are led unconsciously along certain mental paths without realizing it.
Finally, the Book does not attempt to teach you how to perform magic tricks. Nor does it explain exactly how its own startling effects are achieved. It is designed solely as a book of novel entertainment.