Customer Reviews
Better than all self-help books put together. - By: Mr. J. Horniblow, 09 Aug 2008 
I wasn't even expecting this to be a self-help book, but it not only entertained me, but is startlingly good at improving what was a poor memory. I had really struggled with memory books by the like of Tony Buzan, but Derren Brown's wit, imagination, clear explanation of the Loci System as well as superior version of the Major System had me remembering football results & phone numbers with ease.
Although he uses plenty of tongue-in-cheek use of superlatives to describe himself & his achievements, this book is packed full of tips & techniques you can actually use. Unlike many "self help" books, which is just the author explaining just how wonderful they are, without actually teaching anything.
If you're into crystal healing, you're probably not going to like his opinions on this or his rant about junk medicine, but you should probably read it anyway.
Let's see now... telephone, sausage, monkey... easy peasy! And the old lady with the beehives & totem pole still lets me remember that long number. I have never been able to achieve stuff like that before.
Buy the book - for the price of less than two pints, you could develop the basis of enough pub tricks to win all the drinks you'll ever need!
Very Funny, Very Derren - By: Mary's Smile, 05 Jul 2008 I read the book some time ago & therefore do not remember allin detail. What has stayedin my mind however is how funny he is & also his excellent tips on memory. I would recommend it to anyone.
Mind over matter - By: Mr. S. T. Parry, 19 Jun 2008 Deliveredin Derren's usual style of a mix of serious points with a tendency to show that he's not prepared to take himself too seriously this is an easy & enjoyable read. Starting with an introduction to the tricks that have been part of his stage show, it quickly moves into looking at the workings of the human mind & progresses to give a philosophical treatise that is as intelligent as it is readable (if only most philosophy books could convey their ideas like this instead of trying to tie themselves upin complexity & linguistic gymnastics). More than anything Derren shows that if you don't have a sense of humour about yourself & your own ideas then you're unlikely to really be open to understanding the nuances of human behaviour & the inner workings of the mind
Ultimately you believe what you want to believe. - By: Peter Wade, 14 Jun 2008 
Although he has been around for a few years & has had some series of programmes on channel 4 I had not taken any notice of him.I thought he was American & was merely a magician.
I changed my mind when I watched a programme on memory. I had not seen the idea before but he got some normal bloke to scan quickly without taking anythingin about 100 books. He then entered him into a pub quiz competition & he came first equal with a whole teamin atop pub quiz. It was amazing.
Some of his views are thought provoking but as he says uniformed strong opinions such as religious ones are mere prejudices
I was interestedin his views on NLP recently people keep talking about modelling & I learn it comes form NLP. He saidin experiments on practical subjects such as sharpshooting both groups those who modelled & those who learnt by traditional methods had the same results.the image is given they you can become an Einstein or a Pavarotti through some brain programming process,
He compares NLP to th e sophists who used to brag that they could convince people that black was white.They did not have to demonstrate any knowledge or improve knowledge just show how clever they were by their powers of arguing.
He claims self help gurus like Tony Robbins use the age old adage just get on with it its about do or don't do We are defined by our actions not our motives our thoughts or intentions mean very little unless they lead to action
its how we behave or even sometimes how much we make the effort to be nice that makes the difference. an obvious but much missed point.
He also discusses hypnosis & says most of it is because we want to believein it & we are therefore suggestible. It must be true asin things like stopping smoking hypnotist say it will not work if the person does not want to give up
Alternative therapists claim that scientists use they wrong methods to test the efficiency of their treatments As he says it either works or it doesn't.They only complain when science doesn't agree with them
In pseudo science & bad thinking he says alternative therapists spend time with & touch patients whereas GPs tend not to.It may therefore be a placebo effect.
He discusses what & why we believe things. Most things cannot be proved & as he says what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.
Some of the other reviewers have said it but it is a rag bag of a book but there is plentyin there to interest you & he is a showman & an entertainer. I enjoyed reading the book & I like all his shows whereas up until recently I had taken no notice of him.
Highly recommended.
Just Wonderful - By: Jason Vale, 04 Jun 2008 I was a huge fan of Derren Brown before I read the book & now perhaps an even bigger one. His command of the English language is to be admired (although there was one use of the C word which was, I feel, completely unnecessary). Although the first few chapters are hard to get through the rest is a gem. I didn't agree with all he said, especially his view on 'all science is fact & everything else is rubbish'. But we are all entitled to our opinion & quite frankly the man is simply incredible. Well done Derren, great book, great TV show & great entertainment - you have clearly worked hard for years & its paid off. GET THE BOOK - IT'S WONDERFUL!
