REPOST (with expanded material and Barwell mini-FAQ): Secrets of the Professionals: The Cold Reading
Sherilyn
Cold Reading
by Robert Novella
The Connecticut Skeptic Vol. 2 Issue 2 (Spring '97) pg 3
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ctskeptic/coldread.htm
...
Cold reading is a skill used by tarot card readers, psychics, palm
readers, iridologists, astrologers, and even salesmen to gather
information about a subject. The process begins with careful
observation, supplemented by knowledge of statistics and the
commonalties of human nature. From these starting points general
statements are made, statements which are likely to be true about almost
anybody. Visual and verbal feedback from the subject is then used to
pursue accurate statements and abandon dead ends, all the time honing
the initial guesses to more and more accurate conclusions. In the hands
of an expert, the technique can be frighteningly successful, almost
uncanny.
...
William Barwell adds:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
More oldy moldies....
After I posted this, I recieved a good reply on this mini-FAQ.
Some additions, and some differing reviews for some of the dated
material listed below. I will post this reply if I can find it on m'
hard
disk.
The point is, cold reading is and was part and parcel of psychic
nonsense from tarot readings to astrology. There were indeed books
written and marketed for that. And still are. Of course, not
all cold bloodedly get these books and cassettes and practice
this art. Some learn it from aping others who use it, they may not even
recognize it for what it is.
All mispellings and errors are mine....
Cold Reading - An impromptu Bibliography.
W.C. Barwell March 21, 1997
***************************************************************
Some years back I was sent a bibliography of cold reading books
from Bruce Barnett who took a bibliography from a book and tape set
called, "Initiations - A Viewpoint on the Art of Cold Reading" by
Alexander Thomas (Flora and Company 188)
I will list this below. While not as such 'skeptical', this
bibliography show essentially it is a learned skill used in
mentalist acts and by 'psychic entertainers' who often learn this art
from
books. Buy the books and you can do it too, just like them.
And see how they do it and what the psychology of the tricks of this
trade are. No great powers needed. I have long ago, heard a radio
psychic
use these lame cold reading tricks on a steady stream of callers, most
of
who were rather gullible and enthusiastic about lame tricks, such as
'fishing'. Skeptics were quickly brushed off and hung up on.
This guy was lame, but it worked well enough for suckers. But with
practice, one can become a very persuasive 'psychic'. Hyman noted that
he
did this act as a youth and that it can become a bit scary if you
are halfway good at it.
He even managed to convince himself for awhile he had abilities beyond
mere tricks.
Whether you do it cold, bold or subtle, with tarot cards or astrology
charts, good cold readings are what make a 'reader' succesful.
Eveything thing else is props.
***********************
Ray Hyman Zetetic Scholar Vol 1. No 2.
"One danger of playing the role of reader is that you will persuade
youself that you are divining true character. This happened to me.
I started reading palms in my teens to supplement my income from
doing magic and mental shows. When I started, I did not believe in
palmistry. But I knew that to "sell" it I had to act as if I did.
After a few years, I became a true believer in palmistry. One day, the
late Dr. Stanley Jaks, who was a mentalist and a man I respected,
tactfully suggested that it would make an interesting experiment if
I deliberately gave readings opposite of what the lines indicated.
I tried this out on a few clients. Tpo my surprise and horror, my
readings
were as succesful as ever. Since then, I have been interetsed in the
forces that convince us, reader and client alike, that something is so
when it really isn't."
******************** COLD READING BIBLIOGRAPHY
**************************
W.C. Barwell March 1997
If Anybody has any other good articles or books to add here,
please send me particulars so I can update this bibliography.
************************************************************
Comments;
(AT) = Alexander Thomas from "Initiations" bibliography
(BB) = Bruce Barnett
(WCB) W.C. Barwell
*************************************************************
Albright, Howard "Forbidden Wisdom" (Abbot's Magic Company 1948)
Excellent crash course in palmistry, graphology
numerology, astrology, fortune telling by cards.
(AT)
Anderson, George B. "Dynamite Mentalism" (Magic Inc. 1979)
A one man question answering act using no props, gimmicks ect.
Excellent Cold Reading material.
(AT)
Anderson, George B. "It Must Be Mindreading" (Magic Inc 1949)
Mostly Q & A material, but some good ideas throughout for the reader.
(AT)
Corinda, Tony "Thirteen Steps To Mentalism" (Tannen Magic 1968)
The classic of the mentalist's art.
(AT)
Earl, Lee "The Classic Reading" (1990 Binary Star Publications)
A simple variation of a classical reading. Lee does the same reading
for everybody.
(BB)
Frazer, Kendrick, Editor "Paranormal Borderlands of Science"
(Prometheus Books 1981)
Brilliant Chapter on cold reading by Ray Hyman
(AT)
Hobrin "Gemstone Reading for Profit" (Brookfeiled Press 1988)
Another form of reading that has its roots in primitive cultures,
resurrected with the current chrystal phase.
(AT)
Jones, Bascom "The Compleat Magick Vols I - III"
Collector's Workshop 1986-8)
Treasures for the mentalist, cold reader, and psychic entertainer.
When you consider some of the trash out there, this set is worth every
penny.
(AT)
Jones, Bascom "The King of the Cold Readers" (Jones 1989)
An excelent companion to Red Hot Cold Reading. Some great
ways to assure yourself of a few hits.
(AT)
Kross, Ford "Out of the Deep Freeze" (Kross 1978)
Great ideas and practical advice from this accomplished psychic
entertainer and reader.
(AT)
Lantier, Joe "Professional Tarot Reading Secrets"
(Old Worlde Magic 19??)
(BB)
Larsen, Jr, William "The Mental Mysteries and Other Writings
of William Larsen, Sr."
(Genii Publishing Co. 1977)
A great collection of money making ideas.
(AT)
Magnuson, Walter G., and Albino, Anthony "Nelmar"
"The Twentieth Century Mindreading Act"
(Reprint Jeff Busby 1988)
Excellent psychological material, originally marketed to
spiritualists
and equally timely as when originally published in 1935 as the Nelmar
System.
(AT)
Mann, Al "Al Mann on Mentalism" (Martin Breese 19??)
A two tape audio cassette set with Al sharing his reading methods
Al has made some of the greatest contributions to mentalism.
(AT)
Mann, Al "High Domain" (Al Mann Exclusives 1985)
This explores the material in the cassette set above, but goes
into greater depth. Some great cold reading ideas.
(AT)
Martin, Ron The Tarot Reader's Handbook" (Flora and Co.) $49.50
Reccomended by many (Bascom Jones ect.).
(BB)
McGill, Ormond "Psychic Magic" (Abbot's Magic Company 1983)
A few ideas for the cold reader, plus some terrific material for the
mentalist.
(AT)
Nelson, Robert A. "The Art of Coldreading" (Nelson Enterprises 1951)
Although much of his observations are dated, his work is valuable.
(AT)
Nelson, Robert A. "Dante's System of Life Span Reading"
(Nelson Enterprises 19??)
One of the cradle to grave spiels that you can memorize.
Interesting for historical purposes, but you can't do this sort
of thing anymore and expect people to return.
(AT)
Nelson, Robert A. "Pages From a Medium's Notebook"
(Nelson Enterprises 19??)
More ideas for cold readers. Much of his material here is rehashed
from his previous books. Some good thing shere for the beginner.
(AT)
Nelson, Robert A. "The Private Medium's Secret Guides"
(Nelson Enterprise 1942)
Some good thoughts on the private reader, along with some of the
scams
these characters run on the public.
(AT)
Nelson, Robert A. "Psychological Reading" (Nelson Enterprises 19??)
Good ideas, but you must allow for this man's concept of eartly time
zones.
(AT)
Nelson, Robert A. "A Sequel to the Art of Cold Reading"
(Mickey Hades Enterprises 1971)
A worthwhile sequel.
(AT)
Nielson, Gene "The Gene Nielson Tapes Vol 1" (Flora and Company 1988)
Excellent ideas for the reader on audio cassette.
(AT)
Nielson, Gene "Questions and Answers" (Flora and Company 1988)
On the second of this two tape set, Nielson gives details on
non-directive councelling techniques, a way to answer questions
without actually answering questions! Balance of tape covers Q&A acts.
(AT)
(Non-directive, anybody here remember the computer program Eliza?
- WCB)
Ross, Ian et. al. "Marketing for Mentalisyts and Psychics"
(Flora and Company 1988)
Ross, Richard Webster and David Harper on how to get bookings
and readings. Proven methods.
(AT)
Ruthchild, Myriam "Psychotechnics: Advanced Psychic Methods"
(Lee Jacobs Productions 1981)
One of the best works on cold reading ever.
(AT)
Ruthchild, Myriam "Psychotechniques Meditation Tape"
(Lee Jacobs Productions 1981)
Companion audio cassette to the book.
(AT)
Saville Phd, Thomas K. & Dewey, Herb "Red Hot Cold Reading"
(Saville and Dewey 19??)
Destined to become a classic
(AT)
Thomas, Alexander "Initiations - a viewpoint on the Art of Coldreading"
(Flora and Company 1988)
This is a book and a companion tape.
(BB)
Webster, Richard "Aura Reading for Fun and Profit"
(Brookfield Press 1988)
All his works are a must for the psychic entertainer and reader.
This is another way to add spice to your readings.
(AT)
Webster, Richard "Commercial Cold Reading"
(Martin Breese 1986)
An audio cassette where you get to hear soe sound (pardon me) advice
and
experience a reading from a true professional.
(AT)
Webster, Richard "How to Build Up a Psychic Practice with Full
Length Cold Readings" (Brookfield Press 1986)
The title says it all. Add this book to your list.
(AT)
Webster, Richard "Psychometery from A to Z"
(Brookfiled Press 1987)
A simple, effective system for doing psychometry readings; great
stuff.
(AT)
Webster, Richard "Quick, and Effective Cold Readings."
(Brookfield Press 1985)
Excellent material for doing short readings.
(AT)
Webster, Richard "The Richard Webster Video: techniques for Psychics"
(Flora and Company 1988)
A video cassette of Richard doing several types of readings;
an invaluable learning tool.
(AT)
Webster, Richard "Quick Readings with Numerology"
(Brookfield Press 1987)
A system for giving readings based on birth of date.
(AT)
**********************************************************************
ARTICLES
Asch S.E. 1948 "The Doctrine Of Suggestion, Prestige, and Imitations
in
Social Psychology". Psychological Review 55:250-76
Forer, B. R. 1949 "The Fallacy of Personal Validation: A Classroom
Demonstration of Gullibility"
Journal of Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology
44: 118-23
Ray Hyman 1977 "Cold Reading": How to Convince Strangers That You
Know
All About Them"
Zetetic Scholar Vol 1. No. 2
(Zetetic Scholar was renamed Skeptical Inquirer)
Ray Hyman 1955
"The Psychological Reading - An Infallible
Technique
for Winning Admiration And Popularity"
Hyman distrbuted this to course he has taught in
colleges.
(WCB)
Snyder, C.R. and R.J. Schenkel 1975
"The P.T. Barnum Effect"
Psychology Today 8: 52-54
Sundberg, N.D. 1955 "The Acceptability of 'Fake' versus 'Bona Fide'
Personality Test Interpretations"
Journal Of Abnormal Psychology and Social
Psychology. 50: 145-57
(End)
********************************************************
W.C. Barwell March 21, 1997
++++++++++++++++++
Mike Hutchinson added:
My good friend Ian Rowland (www.irowland.demon.co.uk)
(Try this page -Sheri)
http://www.irowland.demon.co.uk/coldquot.htm
is an
expert cold reader. One of the many media successes at cold
reading he has had involved preparing THE SAME astrological-
ounding reading for two women for a demonstration he did for
the BBC television programme 'Heart of the Matter'. The women
had no idea that Ian wasn't really an astrologer. That would
have ruined the demonstration. One of the women gave him
99.5% for accuracy, and the second gave him 95%. They were then
told that he isn't an astrologer.
Ian was given no information about these women beforehand. I
recall that neither of them was particularly interested in
astrology. During one of the readings the subject made a
connection to something which she thought Ian had picked-up on,
and seemed quite concerned that he could know about it. Although
he had no idea what she was thinking of, Ian played along with
it as though he knew EXACTLY what the matter was. This may well
have convinced her even more. And all this from a pre-prepared
fake astrological reading.
This sort of demonstration--of which there are many examples--
is something which anyone new to astrology or psychic readings
should consider. If such strong results can be obtained using
psychological techniques then how can they conclude that another
--paranormal--explanation needs to be invoked.
--
Sherilyn| alt.astrology
Posting FAQ http://www.faqs.org/faqs/astrology/posting/
Charter: http://www.sidaway.demon.co.uk/astrology/alt_astrology.txt
misc.predictions.registry http://www.manx2.demon.co.uk/news/faq.htm
susan kline
Hi Sherilyn,
Thanks for posting... I really did not put you into my killfile, I
mean, I am still sorta new to this kinda thing, and I have yet to
find the button anyway:) After reading:
"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he
describes
another's." Jean Paul Richter
--
Edmond H. Wollmann P.M.A.F.A.
© 1998 Altair Publications, SAN 299-5603
Astrological Consulting http://www.astroconsulting.com/astro.htm
And:
When killfiling a poster, is it really necessary to post this
intention on the newsgroup?
After all, the point is not to insult anyone, right?
June
I mean, I feel a little small... The thing is that I have been a very
large fish in a very small pond for sometime now. Now that I see that
there are others whom areas good, and perhaps even better, is, to me,
an awaking of sorts. I am an eagle, but a bit more humble in
flight... Ian Musgrave is outstanding in his post, and though I am in
admamant in my disagreement with his position, I find his position
admiral and thus do yield the field... for the moment. Besides I am
having to brush upon my Russian, not an excuse, well sorta:) I am
invited to the opening to the Russian Museum of National Art. (They
do need our help and we owe them a debt of blood)... I love the
Russian people, I find them very down to earth... Sometime I have a
problem with you Sherilyn, because you have that snooty thing working.
I think that was the major cause for our first civil war...
Missunderstading.
I think, the English astrologers are among the best in the world. The
reson for this is clearly that there are those such as yourself, that
nip at our loose ends and help to keep things straight.
It is my hope, that you keep up the good work. I would like to see
astrology removed from the comic pages in this country. It is clear
that we must move to another level... And its imparative that we are
able to address the argument to all whom join in. If we are to
restore this ancient thought to the high place where it once stood.
I think we are all on the same side here... You would not post, and Ed
would not respond, if there was not a feeling of some greater passion
here. You are necessary dear friend, and you do us all a continued
service in your dedicated post.
I thank you for your service,
L-
Avital Pilpel
susan kline wrote:
> I mean, I feel a little small... The thing is that I have been a very
> large fish in a very small pond for sometime now. Now that I see that
> there are others whom areas good, and perhaps even better, is, to me,
> an awaking of sorts. I am an eagle, but a bit more humble in
> flight...
I don't believe you wrote this, Susan.
If you feel that you have outgrown the bowl, let me help ou by cutting you
down to size a bit.
Remember when you said that you can predict the stock market? Do ou have any
proof, or will you _again_ say that it is "confidential information" - an
excuse for us having to take your word for it.
Well, I am not willing to take your word for it.Post some proof about it or
withdraw our claim.
susan kline
On Thu, 26 Mar 1998 10:16:16 -0500, Avital Pilpel <ap...@columbia.edu>
wrote:
>susan kline wrote:
>
>> I mean, I feel a little small... The thing is that I have been a very
>> large fish in a very small pond for sometime now. Now that I see that
>> there are others whom areas good, and perhaps even better, is, to me,
>> an awaking of sorts. I am an eagle, but a bit more humble in
>> flight...
>
>I don't believe you wrote this, Susan.
>
>If you feel that you have outgrown the bowl, let me help ou by cutting you
>down to size a bit.
>
>Remember when you said that you can predict the stock market? Do ou have any
>proof, or will you _again_ say that it is "confidential information" - an
>excuse for us having to take your word for it.
>
>Well, I am not willing to take your word for it.Post some proof about it or
>withdraw our claim.
>
Yes, I did, but I think you took it the wrong way... I mean, in my
little neck of the woods, not in this newsgroup. Be that as it may,
you can look at the pattern yourself. Use the Elloit Wave function on
the 29 crash and compare it to the 87... If you allow for volume and
magnitude, it is the same pattern... wild extremes in oscilation
frequency is not a good thing... I was not the only one who spotted
this pattern.. Marty on "Wall Street Week" also saw the same thing.
The fact that he saw it too, leads me to one conclusion... Marty
"charts" the market.
Anyway, I do have my plane ticket, and records are kept at TRW, also I
expect that there would be phone records to Insterstate Securties.
I mean, the people who are in the know... Already know. I actually
got burned as I was into trading "options" at the time and I got
locked into a postion. I put in my sell order and should have made a
bundel but I was told by the time my order was processed that I was
frozen because they could not act on the numbers quick enough. Left a
really bad taste.
This current market is trading in some unknownareas and the fact that
we have opened eastern europe and Russia... not to meantion a lot of
the new emurging areas in the Pacific relm and in Africa... It
changes everything. New ballgame, still our markets will have to find
a way to make all this run up translate. Consumer demand in these
area should take on a simular demand as what we have experienced in
this country and western europe... No reason why this should not
happen. There is this issue of slave labor that must be addressed if
we are to experience economies of scale, which must happen in order to
maintain a smooth and fair playing field. I think this is something
that our trade negotiations have yet to fully come to grips.
But as to point out, I think you just took my post the wrong way. I
found the posts excellent, and just got a little tried of getting a
bit beat up. I have my job and some other things that I am really
looking foward to... I could see with this posting thing it could
become a full time job to just keep up:)
Thanks for posting,
L-
PS I you do wish to hire my services I can provide you all the
necessary info. I require a modest retainer and my funds in an escrow
account... Now I will work on a percentage but I am a professional. I
do have a lot of irons in the fire at the moment. You will need to
email me your fax# because this is just not the right forum for this
sort of discussion.