The instructions for each trick are clearly set out on one page, and when you have followed them, you turn to another page and find that the Book knows exactly what you are thinking. Like any mind reader the Book is not successful all the time - and when it fails - Oops! - it shurgs 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 power. In many cases, the workings of the effect are obvious, relying on logical or mathematical principles that are cleverly covered. In other cases, the effects are psychological in nature, designed to be successful about 80% of the time. You might then realize that the Book presents a kind of challenge to you and to itself. When it fails—oops!—the page sadly creases and admits its mistake. But when it succeeds, the effect is the closest thing to a miracle, giving you a mysterious feeling that it possesses a hidden and incredible power. This is, in fact, true to some extent. The psychological effects are designed to unconsciously guide you along certain mental pathways without your realizing it.


Finally, the Book does not seek to teach you how to interpret magic effects. Nor does it attempt to explain exactly how its impressive effects are achieved. It is simply designed as a novel entertainment book.