Robinson Crusoe – Mentalist Edition

Book One of the Mentalism with Classics Series

Edited by Victor VeVea

I hope you have found this page because you have a copy of the Robinson Crusoe – Mentalist Edition by Victor VeVea.  This page has instructions for use of the book.  Feel free to look at other pages in this domain but you are now one of the few who knows that most other pages are decoys to hide this, the real purpose of the domain.

If you don’t have the book, you can buy it here:

Yes, it looks like Robinson Crusoe, but that’s part of the secret.

The book appears to be a copy of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe; however, pages have been carefully edited to insert keywords throughout.

Keywords

• Groups of Seven (each keyword is found as the first word on seven different pages)
  • Prayed – Pages 3, 39, 119, 158, 183, 239, 284
  • Happy – Pages 4, 74, 129, 191, 227, 263, 301
  • Sad – Pages 7, 89, 146, 201, 221, 257, 293
  • Storm – Pages 43, 83, 143, 194, 224, 271, 313
  • Water – Pages 17, 49, 98, 128, 209, 247, 291
  • Face – Pages 8, 51, 92, 164, 248, 273, 302
  • Sun – Pages 26, 112, 147, 202, 237, 268, 292
• Formulas (each keyword is found based on a math formula as below)
  • Page number ends in zero – Hut is the first word
  • Page number is divisible by six – Canoe is the first word on the first indent
  • Page number is divisible by nine – Ship is the last word.
  • The last two digits of the page number are the same – Hair is the first word on the second line.*
• Last Digit (each keyword is found as the last word on the second line)
  • Last digit of the page number is 1.  Last word on line 2 is Able.
  • Last digit of the page number is 2.  Last word on line 2 is Black.
  • Last digit of the page number is 3.  Last word on line 2 is Color.
  • Last digit of the page number is 4.  Last word on line 2 is Done.
  • Last digit of the page number is 5.  Last word on line 3 is Early.**
  • Last digit of the page number is 6.  Last word on line 3 is Fall.**
  • Last digit of the page number is 7.  Last word on line 3 is Gun.**
  • Last digit of the page number is 8.  Last word on line 4 is Hot.**
  • Last digit of the page number is 9.  Last word on line 4 is Inside.**

*  The sample print run omitted this code on pages 100, 200, and 300.  No copies of the sample print run were sold.
** These keys were added after the sample print run.
Suggestions for additional code systems are welcome.

Sample Routines

The following are sample routines that you can do, but you should adapt and create your own routines.  Videos are posted on YouTube, so the book used in the videos is different than the actual Mentalism Handbook and different keywords are used so as to protect our secrets.

• Sample One – Between three and seven spectators randomly select a page from the book by inserting a playing card between pages and then writing down the page number.  Another spectator randomly chooses one page from the list, turns to that page, and concentrates on the word on that page.  The mentalist also concentrates, then draws a picture.  The spectator reveals his word, and the mentalist shows that it matches the picture he drew.
• Sample Two – A spectator opens the book to a page and states the page number.  The mentalist shows his extraordinary memory by telling the spectator the first word on the page.
• Sample Three – A spectator turns to a different page and a random word is chosen, but the mentalist knows the word.

Scroll to the bottom for detailed descriptions of some of the ways to do these performances.

Math Shortcuts

Divisible by six.  A page number is divisible by six if all of the digits add up to a multiple of three AND the page number is even.

Examples:

• Page  123… 1 + 2 + 3 = 6.  The total (6) is divisible by 3, but the original page number is not even.  Page 123 is NOT divisible by six.
• Page 312… 3 + 1 + 2 = 6.  The total (6) is divisible by 3, and the page number is even.  Page 312 IS divisible by six.
• Page 18… 1 + 8 = 9.  The total (9) is divisible by 3, and the page number is even.  Page 18 IS divisible by six.
• Page 198… 1 + 9 + 8 = 18.  The total (9) is divisible by 3.  We can also see this by again adding the digits.  1 + 8 = 9, which is divisible by 3.  The page number is even.  Page 198 IS divisible by six.
• Page 302… 1 + 0 + 2 = 5.  The total (5) is not divisible by 3.  Page 302 is NOT divisible by six.

Divisible by nine.  A page number is divisible by nine if all of the digits add up to a multiple of nine.

Examples:

• Page  123… 1 + 2 + 3 = 6.  The total (6) is not divisible by 9.  Page 123 is NOT divisible by nine.
• Page 216… 2 + 1 + 6 = 9.  The total (9) is divisible by 9.  Page 216 IS divisible by nine.
• Page 18… 1 + 8 = 9.  The total (9) is divisible by 9.  Page 18 IS divisible by nine.
• Page 198… 1 + 9 + 8 = 18.  The total (9) is divisible by 9.  We can also see this by again adding the digits.  1 + 8 = 9, which is divisible by 9.  Page 198 IS divisible by nine.
• Page 302… 1 + 0 + 2 = 5.  The total (5) is not divisible by 9.  Page 302 is NOT divisible by nine.

Performances

My Man Friday 

Preparation

Obtain a Jack or King from a regular deck of playing cards.  Decide how many spectators will participate in the initial stage of the routine (up to seven).  On a notepad, create a list of page numbers from one of the Groups of Seven shown above.  Page numbers should be written in random order and in different styles.  One number should be written for each spectator.

Stage One

Explain to the spectators that they will be selecting random pages from the book using a playing Robinson Crusoe’s man, Friday.  Hold up the card and explain that it is Friday.  Ask spectators to take turns inserting the card randomly between pages in the book.  The card can be facing up or down, but whatever page it faces is the page number selected.  The pages should be part of the story and not the table of contents or other parts of the book.  When a is selected, the spectator should write the number down on a piece of paper that will be provided with the pen provided.  Pass around the book, notepad, and pen.  Wait for spectators to complete the task.

Stage Two

Take the notepad and hand it to another spectator.  Ask the spectator to randomly select one of the pages from the list and turn to that page in the book.  Ask the spectator to concentrate on the first word, but not say it.  He should skip past short connecting words like, and, the, a, and select a noun or verb, like dog or run.  As the spectator concentrates, take the notepad and sketch a picture that exemplifies the word (prayed, happy, sad, storm, water, face, sun) or simply write the word.  Ask the spectator to state the word, and then reveal your sketch.

Secret

The list of page numbers chosen by the spectators in the initial stage is switched for the list you prepared before the start of the trick.  This can be accomplished in multiple ways, such as:

• Use a two-sided spiral bound flipbook notepad.  Your numbers are on one side and the spectators’ numbers are no the other.  Simply flip over the pad as you hand it to the spectator.
• Use a notecard or billet for the numbers.  Ask the last spectator to fold it up so you don’t see it.  Switch with your pre-folded, prepared card using any palming technique.
• Tear the number page (the one prepared by you) off the pad and hand it to the spectator.  This is a natural move since you will be using the pad to draw.  To hide the top sheet (with the numbers written by spectators in stage one, begin drawing a picture, act frustrated, tear off the sheet, and discard it, explaining, “I got an unclear image.  Please, concentrate harder.”

No Switch, Just Math

Preparation

none

Stage One

Give a spectator the book, a notepad, and a pen.  Ask them to select a page and write down the page number.

Stage Two – First Out

If the page number is a pattern keyed page (divisible by 6 or 9, or ending in doubles or zero) ask the spectator to concentrate on the keyword and reveal it using any technique.

Stage Two – Second Out

Ask the spectator to concentrate on the “last digit” keyword and reveal it using any technique.