Mother of All Book Tests by Craig Petty and Phil Smith

Effect

The Mother of All Book Tests (MoaBT) in Focus allows a magician to reveal specific details about a spectator's chosen movie that go beyond the information printed on the cards. The spectator freely selects a movie card from a shuffled deck, and the magician can then reveal not only the movie title but also additional details like the director, release year, or box office earnings—information that was never visible on the card itself. The effect is highly interactive, with the spectator making genuine choices, making the revelation feel impossible.

Full Details

Focus is a deck of 52 cards, split evenly between 26 movie posters and 26 movie quotes. The deck incorporates multiple deceptive systems:

• Marking System: Developed by Phil Smith, the backs of the cards contain hidden numerical and alphabetical markings that allow the magician to identify the movie, its release year, and other details.
• Mother of All Book Test (MoaBT) Integration: The movie quote cards function as a powerful book test, letting the magician reveal exact words or phrases the spectator is thinking of.
• Alphabetical & Cyclical Stack: The deck is arranged so that the magician can determine a selected card by examining the back of the next card in the deck.
• Non-Card Information Revelation: The magician can reveal details not printed on the cards, such as director names or box office numbers, enhancing the impossibility of the effect.
• Visual Trick: A bonus effect involves Slimer from Ghostbusters appearing to jump off the cards, adding a visual surprise.

The deck is fully examinable, with markings hidden in plain sight, and can be performed surrounded (360-degree angles).

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for:

• Mentalists who want a powerful, interactive book test effect.
• Magicians looking for a versatile tool that blends magic and mentalism.
• Performers who work in walk-around, corporate, or stage settings.
• Beginners to experts, as the deck includes both simple and advanced techniques.

Since nearly everyone has a favorite movie, this trick creates strong audience connections.

Difficulty

The deck is designed to be accessible to beginner magicians, with the marking system learnable in about 30 minutes. However, it also includes advanced techniques for experienced performers, such as revealing non-printed information. The methods are well-taught in the included 6.5-hour tutorial, which breaks down 40 routines.

What Magicians Say

Beau Creamer from Murphy’s Magic calls Focus a "devious and powerful" collaboration, praising its ability to reveal information not printed on the cards as a groundbreaking feature. He notes that the deck is "perfect for walk-around, corporate, parlor, stage, TV, or social media."

The marking system, developed by Phil Smith, is described as "covertly hidden in plain sight," making the deck completely examinable. Performers also highlight the 360-degree angle-proof nature of the trick, allowing for surrounded performances.

Overall, Focus is considered a highly versatile and deceptive tool that elevates both magic and mentalism performances.