A minimalist book test.
Some years ago I decided to design my own minimalist variation of a book test and I sat down and set myself some criteria with the idea of producing some sort of dictionary-style book test that doesn't actually use a dictionary or any other type of magic shop prop.
I wanted something customisable that I could use in cabaret but also for walkaround close-up gigs, so it had to take up minimal pocket space. The prop had to be innocuous and reasonably examinable so a spectator could handle it with minimal audience management, and I wanted the selection process to appear completely random. But most importantly, I wanted all the words in the book to be interesting or unusual.
I tried lots of ideas but eventually took my own adaptation of another brilliant routine and combined it with what is essentially a word test to create an idea I've called D.D.T. or the dictionary diary test.
Hand a spectator a small pocket diary, ask them to merely think of a date in the year (you never know what it is) and silently read the strange and interesting word written by that date. You can now reveal what they are thinking. A single ordinary pocket diary and hundreds of words.
But there's more because I've also included a variation that I call 'Remembering Pi' that focuses on numbers rather than words.
Welcome to D.D.T.
"Just finished reading D.D.T. and simply put, Fantastic Scott! The combination of using your structural imagery technique to divine the letters are excellent and takes the process to another level. This was one of my best bang for the buck spent in a long time as far as not just with the mentalism aspect of the routine but with using an ordinary pocket diary. The bonus PI routine is excellent as well! Thank you for releasing this! A purchase made that after reading the PDF I immediately knew I would use." - Baffling Bob
"An entertaining routine that is engaging and mysterious, incredibly deceptive, yet surprisingly easy to do. In the past, I've been tempted to purchase one of the many gaffed book tests on the market, but have never done so because I never liked the idea of the mind reader providing the book as the audience will be suspicious. Scott has ingeniously found a way around that by using a very ordinary item with a logical explanation that makes perfect sense. Thank you for providing a wonderful piece of mind reading that can be performed close-up, cabaret or on stage." - Bill O'connell
"Very nice thinking and a brilliant strategy in play too. This has certainly got me thinking and already have come up with a theme which suits me well. As always, Scott's material is first rate and this is no exception." - Neil Somerville
1st edition 2025, PDF 37 pages.
word count: 11017 which is equivalent to 44 standard pages of text
