John Morton’s Baby Book by John Morton

Created by: John Morton

John Morton’s Baby Book is a mentalism trick that involves a spectator making a series of choices from a book of images or items, leading to a seemingly impossible prediction or revelation by the magician. This trick is versatile and can be adapted for various performance settings, including close-up, parlour, and even virtual performances. The method is clever and allows for a wide range of presentations, making it a valuable addition to any mentalist's repertoire.

Key features

Versatile mentalism trick suitable for various performance settings
Can be adapted for virtual performances
Allows for a wide range of presentations
Clever method that leads to an impossible prediction or revelation

Pros

Highly versatile and adaptable
Strong mentalism effect that resonates with audiences
Can be performed in person or virtually
Allows for creative presentation options

Cons

Requires preparation and understanding of the method
May need adaptation for different performance environments

Effect

John Morton’s Baby Book is a mentalism effect where the performer predicts a spectator’s freely chosen item from a seemingly random selection. The trick involves a series of images or objects, and the spectator makes a genuine, unforced choice. Despite the apparent fairness of the selection process, the performer reveals they knew the outcome from the start. The method is subtle and leaves no room for suspicion, making it a powerful piece of mentalism.

Full Details

The trick relies on a clever principle that ensures the spectator’s choice is guided without them realizing it. The performer presents a set of options—often images or text—and the spectator believes they have complete freedom in their selection. However, the structure of the presentation ensures the outcome is always under the performer’s control. The method is self-working, requiring no sleight of hand or complex moves, making it accessible to magicians of all skill levels.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for:

Mentalists who want a clean, no-force prediction effect.
Magicians who perform over the phone, via text, or in virtual settings (as Craig Petty mentions adapting it for digital performances).
Performers looking for a versatile routine that can be customized with different themes (logos, images, or other objects).

Difficulty

John Morton’s Baby Book is easy to perform. The method is straightforward and does not require advanced technical skill. The challenge lies in presentation—selling the fairness of the selection process and making the revelation impactful.

What Magicians Say

Craig Petty highlights the trick’s adaptability, mentioning how he has used the principle in different contexts, such as virtual performances:

"You can replicate the Baby Book quite easily... I created a series of images... and I can just do the Baby Book over the phone using images that I can text over to somebody."

The trick’s strength lies in its simplicity and the strong psychological impact it has on spectators. It’s a reliable method for creating a moment of astonishment without relying on complex mechanics.

For magicians seeking a powerful, easy-to-perform mentalism effect, John Morton’s Baby Book is a strong choice. Its adaptability makes it useful in live, digital, and impromptu performances.

What people are saying about John Morton’s Baby Book

Craig Petty says...

I have a version of that that I can text over to somebody. So I can text it to them and I can do the same thing that I do with toys. [...] And then the final thing is I have got if you know the book test by John Morton once you buy the baby book you'll understand how the principle works and you can recreate that principle with other images.