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Publisher: Phill Smith

Date: July 2007

Pages: 166 A5 Pages

Difficulty: Various

Out of 10: An absolute 10 out of 10 and then some

Contents See his website... http://mitox.phillsmiff.com/index.html

Comments

Mitox is a book I came across through recommendations from another forum, and its yours for about £25 + P&P and is written by Leicester based Mentalist Phill Smith.

This book contains a number of thoughts, quotes, and over 20 routines for mentalists everywhere. It is well written, well laid out, and very easy to read. Although not so easy to put down.

Some of the effects are truely simple but astoundingly clever;

An autograph book which someone flicks through and finds someone they like... you can name the person almost instantly - you don't even have to be in the same room (Although it is rather rude to perform in a different room to your audience). And the kicker ending is absolutely first class...

Drawing duplication without pen or paper based on physcological traits.

Gagging order is a fun *** ahead based routine.

and I could go on, but it is all on the site (see url above).

I just wanted to say this is without doubt the best book I have brought this year, and I buy lots of books. It is a joy to behold and surpasses all my expectations. I didn't really want to tell you about this but this book has really cheered me up and there isn't enough happiness in the world as it is. So you now all know...

If you want some inspiration, some new routines, or advice, buy this book.

If you read his site and have questions please ask... tip top and highly recommended.

I couldn't agree more, Jono

I'm not just saying this because Phill is a friend, I am saying it because he has my mother prisoner.....I mean the book is wonderful

In all seriousness, if you were to buy this book then you would be adding a gem to your collection.

Always happy to plug it

Kindest,

-Paul


P.S. BUY IT!

Jono - Thanks for the review. I'm just about to send for this. If it's anywhere as near as good as it sounds I think you ought to delete your post and we'll say no more about this.

Paul - Review of "The Gift" should be with you within the next 48 hours. I've been a bit tied up lately hence the delay.

Sounds cool. For the bumbling amateur who wants to bumble less, whis from this and Looch's Simple and Direct would you suggest ? Or how do they compare anyway ?
Thanks.

John and Paul, thanks very much for your kind comments! I hope you manage to drag something useful out of it.

Andrex, I'd love to help you with your quandry but I think I might be a bit biased

Phill Smith

To be honest I really like both... as a beginner you'd probably get more routines and info from Mitox, but there are a couple of killer routines in SAD that I wouldn't live without and easily pay for the price of the book.

So probably hit Mitox first, but buy SAD when you can afford it... it is really worth the price.

I ordered both at the beginning of the week (thanks to your recommendations). I await with breath abaited.

Well if you're dissapointed I'll buy you a beer... but if you're happy I'll let you buy me one...

My review of Mitox...

...I owe Jono a beer!

Nice one Steve! Next week? When's good for you and we'll put something in the Greater London Bunny bit...

Got mine this morning and have only read the first few parts but so far I like it a lot - forst impression is this is a different approach but very effective.

Rather than write up a full review (feeling really lazy) here is an extract from an email I sent to Phil complaining...


“Mitox” was delivered by the postman this morning and I immediately opened it. I had a real sinking disappointed feeling. Is that it? A pathetic little softback book! Hardly worth the cost. <sigh>

Anyway, my complaint… I was going to do loads today, one of the few where the Sun has been out this year, and ended up sat in my study all day reading the book. I blame you entirely! I know I would have bought a winning lottery ticket if I had gone to the shops as planned. You have completely ruined my life!

What a superb collection of thoughts, notes and points to ponder. Several of the ideas will be making their appearance in my next show and I fully intend adapting others for future use and abuse. An enjoyable read. Thanks. I don’t know why, maybe something subliminal, but I just have this strange urge to say “THIS BOOK IS GOOD.”


I really don't want too many of you getting your hands on this but it is an enjoyable read and contains some superb content. It is still sat beside me on my desk. There are ideas within suitable for beginners and the more advanced performers to capitalise upon. If you are serious about performing in the mentalist field do ensure you add this book to your arsenal as it will set you thinking in so many ways; if you just want to play about with mentalism just stick with card tricks, move away, nothing to see here...

I would like to echo Jono's glowing review by adding my own thoughts in full.

Disclaimer: I have not performed any one of these effects.
Disclaimer: I want to perform every one of these effects.

As a package, this is a book of ideas and the presentations that utilize them. This makes it suitable for both secret hunters and workers. The routines are divided roughly in half between stage and close-up, with most being impromptu and easy to perform. All the routines you can essentially read and practice, without needing to expend any extra creative effort on your own scripting or presentation, if you're so inclined.

Inside there are openers, closers, three phase routines that can be dropped wholesale into an act, and effects that cover the typical questions asked of a mentalist. This gives the book a "wholeness" feel, particularly as the effects are supplemented periodically with short essays and script segments which are thought-provoking and considered writing, and not the rants and ego-stroking comments you'd get in some books, or on some forums.

It contains several different type of mental effect: if I counted correctly, five utilize a psychological force, subtlety, or "outs" in some manner, three are humouress/gag/throw-away items, and the other 12 (yes, really!) are effects in the traditional sense of the word. This mixed bag means that while not everything will be suitable for a particular style, but those that do fit will be innovative or fun in some way and will be incorporated into your work.

The ideas range from the mind-blowing, to the why-didn't-I-think-of-that, to the very interesting. There are perhaps only three concepts in the whole book I wasn't impressed by.

So what of the effects? Very good! Each one is well described, covering enough script and working details to be performed by beginners. Furthermore, even those effects using traditional plots, such as the living or dead test, are supplied with new ideas and approaches that re-empahsise the simple-ness possible with mentalism, which should re-invigorate the experienced performer and elder statesmen of the art.

I have yet to try any of the psych work, but it is well thought out and provides enough script and justification to give the performer confidence. This, to me, also tells at its use in the real world.

Negatively, I was disappointed at the inability to source one of the materials necessary for the book. The alternatives that are available don't fit the script, making this an idea-only effect. But it is a good idea, but one that some may have seen before. Otherwise, it truly is a difficult book to fault.

As far as the physical attributes go, this book is very well designed and produced (it is his day job, after all!), it arrived promptly, and is a pleasure to read. The writing style is fun and approachable, and shows that mentalists can have a sense of humour. Even the gag effects have a mentalism point to them!

Phill says only the best 110% of routines were included. If that's so, then the biggest disappointment of this book is that there won't be enough material for another!

Hi there, Jae, sorry to have wasted your day! Glad you are enjoying the book. Just a brief note to Steev, re. Red Handed and the mysteriously missing prop: I have found a company that manufactures said item, exactly as per the effect, but I am having difficulty getting hold of them. The details are on the updates page, and I will let everyone know if I can get a solid supply.

Just as an aside, I have made a couple of changes to the Mitox updates page online:
1. The page is now ordered by effect rather than by date, so you can easily reference a particular effect in the book to see different handlings / performance wrinkles etc.
2. The Mitox updates page is now password protected, meaning that the updates can more directly reference the methods listed in the book. The user name is Mitox, and the password is the common name of the individual shown on page 37 of the book.

The address is still:
http://mitox.phillsmiff.com/updates.html
If anyone has any of their own variations, ideas or handlings that they think would be of interest to other Mitoxers, please drop me a line:
mitox@phillsmiff.com

Thanks!

Phill

Just got the book the other day, love the updated site, yet to read the book need to find some time.