Introduction

After I saw the effect “Die Macht der Bücher” (engl. The Power of Books) by Alexander Römer in
the Zauberkabinett, I badly wanted to perform it as well; an original, strong effect that happens in
the hands of a spectator. I bought the effect from Alexander Römer and during the following perfor-
mances I added several small twists and adapted the effect to my performance style. I developed
for instance this book force handling and changed the handling in a way that the spectator can
hold the first book in his hands the whole time. Then I printed my own soft cover books (in German
language), as the books supplied with the effect by Alexander did not match my presentation style.
Because of the books I created you will be able to explore endless presentational ideas.

Sometimes I like to give away the second book to the spectator. If you would also like to do that,
you can order the second book in sets of ten for a very reasonable price at www.card-shark.de. It’s
definitely worth a thought. What a great souvenir for your spectator!

You get:
1 book: “Everything Women know about Men”
1 book: “Everything Men know about Women”

The effect:
A book is freely shown. The pages of this book are blank with the exception of the page numbers.
Nothing else is printed.

A spectator gets a second, normal book. He selects and reads (briefly) a page. He closes the book,
but keeps it in his hand! After a short journey into his fantasy, the page inside his book vanishes -
the spectator can check it for himself - his selected page is now blank. In the other, formerly blank
book, the vanished print appears on the exact page that the spectator selected.

The props:
The book “Everything Men know about Women” is completely blank, only the page numbers are
printed. One page in the second half of the book (page 107) is printed with the same content of
page 107 from the other book. Otherwise this book is completely ungimmicked.

The other book “Everything Women know about Men” is more or less printed normally, but the page
that is printed in the other book is empty. Ten pages later this double page (106 & 107) is printed
again, but this time completely. This double page will be forced, therefore the spectator can read
“page 107”. When he flips through the book from the beginning, he will reach the real page 107 and
will realize that this page suddenly is unprinted.

The presentation:
I explain that I love books and show two of my latest purchases as I really like them and they
amused me. The first one reads “Everything Women know about Men” and contains frightening
knowledge. The second reads “Everything Men know about Women”. I flip through the book start-
ing from the beginning, page by page, very slowly. Later I jump to the rear of the book. I keep an
eye on the page numbers as I know that I have to avoid showing page 107. And the page numbers
work like an easy marking as I always know where I am. That way I can easily skip a chunk of
pages around page 107.

“Gentlemen, this cannot be real! We have to transfer at least a bit of Wisdom!”

I leave the book in full view, on a table or a music stand.

Then I take the other, printed, book, flip casually through it and secretly search for the double page
that is “misplaced” and that shows page 107 on the right side (an easy task, as I know that this
page follows after 115). This double page is forced on the spectator. (Later I will explain my book
page force. You certainly can use a different force method if you prefer.)

The spectator keeps this book in his hand, opened at the forced double page. He should check if
there is a headline somewhere. This way I force the right page. I ask him to remember the page
number and to scan the page for content; then to close the book.

I emphasize that he is holding the book and that it will stay there without me touching it. I ask him
if he has a good imagination. If he answers “yes”, I reply “Great, otherwise you could just imagine
being imaginative...”. If he answers “no” or “probably not”, your response can be “No problem, just
imagine you would be imaginative...”. This always gets a nice little chuckle.

“In your imagination take all the letters from your selected page and throw them into the empty
book, certainly on the correct page”. Let the spectator mime the action more or less. I like this
moment and let him act freely. But be aware that this moment should not take too long or it will
weaken the effect.

I look over to the empty book and shout: “There, the book has moved a little bit!”. Now comes an
important moment. I guide the spectator in a way that he flips slowly through the book from the
beginning to his page number. If he opens the book too far in the back the chance could be that
he will accidentally open up the force page. Try to avoid that, but if it ever happens - what is really
seldom with the right spectator management - just say “Ah, nothing happened yet. Close the book
and try again!”.

I ask him: “Please open page 20. That wasn’t your selected page; you opened up the book further
in the back.” He does it. “And - everything still there? Letters, numbers? Great. Then how about
page 50?! Again, everything is there. Which page did you choose? 107? Ah. Then please continue
flipping through the book page by page. It is all there. You are approaching your page - there, what
has happened?” Time your words according to the spectator’s actions. The spectator - who should
be placed in a way that the audience can see his face - will make a very baffled look. I then take
the book from him, look at the empty page and show it to the audience. Pause. Sometimes you will
get some applause, sometimes it will be baffled silence or mumbling.

I draw attention to the empty book. “If you managed to remove the page with your imagination,
then there should... “ I take the empty book, open it up somewhere in the middle: “Here page 58.
Empty”. I continue flipping through the pages. „77. Empty. 86. Empty. But here...page 105, 106,
107. Here one page arrived.” I show it to the audience and then I approach the spectator: “Is that
your page?” - “Yes!”

The book page force

I developed this variation for my own soft cover book. With a hardcover book it is more difficult; I
would recommend another force method.

When coming up with my force I based it on the riffle force for cards by Rainer Teschner.
I casually flip through the book and stop at the force page. Then I place my left pinky finger in the
book (right photo) and close the book. The pinky finger stays in there. Immediately bring the book
with both hands into the position that you see in the second photo (view from the side). The open
long side points downward, the upper open short
side points towards the spectator. The left pinky
is inside the book, close to the edge. The thumb
on the front and the ring- and middle finger on
the back press the book together in a way that
the gap is invisible on the short edge pointing
towards the spectator (second photo).

Now I address the spectator, explaining that he

should say “stop” as I flip through the book. I start
with my right index finger to riffle slowly through
the pages from the back to the front. When he
says “stop” I pause a second. Then my right
middle finger goes into the gap selected by the
spectator. The right hand moves backwards (to-
wards me), as if I would open the book exactly there. Half way through, my middle finger slips out
and my ring finger enters the gap kept by the left pinky. The ring finger opens the book at the force
page. Simultaneously the left hand turns the book with the back towards the spectator. These two
actions cover each other. It is important that both
actions happen smoothly but slowly. No rush!
Hold the open book towards the spectator. He
should look at the page or takeover the opened
book, depending on your chosen presentation.

You can read this Instruction also on your mobile device. Please do not share it.
Diese Anleitung ist auch online verfügbar. Möglicherweise auch in deutscher Sprache.
Vous pouvez aussi accéder à ces instructions sur votre téléphone portable, peut-être aussi dans votre langue.
Estas instrucciones también pueden ser leídas desde tu dispositivo móvil, tal vez en tu propio idioma.
Queste istruzioni possono anche essere lette sul tuo dispositivo portatile, con molta probabilità anche nella tua
lingua.
www.phoenixdeck.com/qr/PS

copyrighted 2015 by Card-Shark Christian Schenk

Schliepersberg 43, 45257 Essen, Germany
www.card-shark.de