The Mentalism of Tim Conover by Tim Conover
Created by: Tim Conover
Key features
Compiles Tim Conover's lifetime of professional close-up mentalism work into a dedicated volume
Contains complete, audience-tested routines with detailed presentations and scripting
Requires a solid foundation in sleight of hand and performance skills
Often involves specialized props that performers may need to construct or source
Designed for serious performers looking to build a professional reputation
Part of a multi-volume set that can be purchased individually or as a collection
Features dense text content with practical, performable material rather than theoretical concepts
Pros
Exceptional value for dedicated magicians seeking professional-caliber material
Treasure trove of elegant and practical routines that have been audience-tested
Complete presentations with detailed scripting included
Represents a permanent record of a significant magical thinker's work
Material you can build a reputation on as a performer
Sturdy physical production that will last for years
Cons
Significant financial investment required for the full set
Not suitable for beginners - assumes solid foundation in sleight of hand
Utilitarian physical production with dense text and no color photographs
Specialized props required for many routines may need to be constructed or sourced
Density of content might feel daunting to some readers
Effect
The Mentalism of Tim Conover presents a collection of mentalism effects designed for close-up performance. To an audience, the performer demonstrates a deep understanding of human psychology and thought. Effects may involve predicting a freely chosen word, revealing a mentally selected playing card, or influencing a spectator's decision. The routines appear as demonstrations of intuition and mind reading, often presented with a sense of elegance and intellectual curiosity rather than overt supernatural claims.
Full details
The Mentalism of Tim Conover is one volume within a larger multi-volume set compiling the professional work of creator Tim Conover. This specific book focuses on his mentalism routines for close-up settings. The material consists of complete, audience-tested routines. Each routine includes detailed scripting and presentation notes, providing a full performance framework. The effects often integrate sleight of hand principles with psychological subtleties and sometimes require specialized props. The physical book is text-dense with utilitarian production values, prioritizing comprehensive written instruction over color photography.
Who should consider the trick
This material is for serious performers with a solid foundation in sleight of hand. It is aimed at magicians who perform close-up magic professionally or at a high amateur level and are seeking strong, reputation-building material. The reviewer EruditeMagic states the content is "aimed at serious performers" and is "not beginner material." It is suitable for those willing to invest time in constructing props and mastering detailed presentations. Hobbyists or those new to mentalism may find the difficulty level and required investment prohibitive.
Information on how difficult it is to perform
The routines in The Mentalism of Tim Conover are not easy. They assume a performer already has proficient sleight of hand skills. The difficulty extends beyond technique to include the performance of detailed scripts and the management of psychological subtleties. Furthermore, as noted by EruditeMagic, "the magic often assumes a solid foundation in sleight of hand and a willingness to work with specialized props, many of which the performer may need to construct or source." This adds a layer of practical preparation to the performance challenge. Mastery requires significant study and rehearsal.
What magicians say
Reviewers highlight the quality and depth of the material. EruditeMagic describes the full set as a "treasure trove of elegant, practical routines" and a "foundational resource for building a reputation in close-up magic." They loved that the books contain "complete, audience-tested routines with detailed presentations and scripting." The value is framed for the dedicated performer, with EruditeMagic arguing that "for a dedicated performer looking for profound, professional-caliber material, the value is exceptional." However, they also note considerations such as the "utilitarian" physical production and the "density of text," which might feel daunting to some readers.
What people are saying about The Mentalism of Tim Conover
EruditeMagic says...
The books compile Tim Conover's lifetime of professional close-up magic work into a 3 or 4 volume set. Material is described as a treasure trove of elegant, practical routines with detailed presentations and scripting. The full set represents a significant financial investment, but offers exceptional value for dedicated magicians.
Review videos
Tim Conover: the books
EruditeMagic mentioned this magic trick in this video.
