It does not disappoint. Derren's writing style which I loved in his previous book has continued here - but in many ways is more refined. I had to look a couple of words up in a dictionary - but as I've commented on someone else's review - it's good to be challenged. Derren's prose is so elegant, funny (at times) and flows so well, this book is almost impossible to put down. There are several laugh out loud moments too!

Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 2020-06-03 10:03:06 Boxid IA1814417 Camera Sony Alpha-A6300 (Control) Collection_set printdisabled External-identifier I love Derren Brown; I have such admiration for this man. This book should be made compulsory reading for everyone, especially teenagers.I only thing that surprised me about this book was that I had this expectation that due to Derren's knowledge of the mind and psychology he would have some profound insights into our nature and know some secrets as to how we can increase our personal power. I don't want to use the word disappointed because that's not fair. The content is mostly Derren's musings on a wide variety of topics, from the use of a handkerchief to the satisfaction of closing a drawer with a snap. I found myself nodding along and agreeing with a lot of his opinions and observations (especially the one that kindness is the most valuable trait a person can possess), however I was not hugely entertained. It was more like listening to a friend thinking aloud while you're on a long car journey together. A pleasant experience, but I don't need to have the same conversation again in the future. On the language: one of my language betes noires is a reluctance to reuse the same word, to look for convoluted synonyms to avoid repetition, in a way that drags the eye and seems more clumsy than repetition would have. Derren does this throughout and it isn’t just okay, it’s a central part of the pleasure. It’s obviously tongue in cheek, and the joy he takes in finding comically wordy alternatives (again, I can’t find a better example than his discussion of Monster Munch) is transmitted without dilution to the reader. As with the idea that psychics use Barnum statements that appear to be very personal and accurate statements about you but would actually apply to most people, I would say that most of the ideas and experiences told in here are similar in that they are obviously very personal things about Derren himself but most of it will apply to everyone in some respect.

It truly is a set of (humiliating and hysterical and fascainting and impressive) confessions. To anyone who admires derren's work, this book is incredible. All in all, if I were to judge the quality of writing I would give it 5 stars. His words are rich, and his descriptions perfect. The content is creative and good. He held my attention, amused me, made me think, and gave me a unique insight into his life. Surely this is a joke, I thought to myself. Surely, at some point in this book Derren Brown is going to write "Gotcha! Can't believe you read so much drivel, here's the real story,". It's so bad that by 10% into the book, I was convinced it was some kind of practical joke; a set up for some convoluted mind f*** that Derren Brown was about to reveal, but no, this is just a mindblowingly boring selection of boring random and boring thoughts that are boring, boring, boring. Did I mention that this is boring? I love Derren Brown, I think he is a terrific showman, a talented artist, conjurer and hypnotist, and (if it is possible to judge solely from TV appearances and interviews) a very kind and caring human being.

Learn Magic

Blimey, he's so pompous! / He's clearly bragging but pretending he's casually mentioning something." Vanishing Inc. UK Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 09430707. Prices shown excluding UK VAT. And, above all, he stresses the point that one of the things which ultimately makes life worth living is bringing other people joy. I can't imagine what possessed the publisher to agree to printing this, or why, given how his other books are so good, he ever thought that this would be of any interest to anyone. Derren's really waffling on about nothing here. Is this padding or is it priming the reader for something?"