I have building blocks and have read thru it months back so cant really remember it that well. Howeverm after seeing that there is some interests under the mentalist section, i decided to try and summarise a bit of what i can remember.

In building blocks, its not just effect. Luke teaches quite a number of subtleties to increase the accuracy of being able to 'suggest' things. It has also quite a subtantial amount of theories.

Theories include:
The old witch doctor
Definition is Creation
Power of Silence

The subtleties are mainly called convincers in the book. He teaches 5 of them.

In addition, there is a forenote written by Steve Banachek ^_^ one of my favourite mentalists :wub:

Most of the effects are long, meaning, has tons of presentations and u really need a very coorperative audience. (Those who have watched his DVD skullduggery will know the amount of suggestions he uses to achieve the effect). Some are surefire effects, others are not that easy.

In my opinion, the effects explained in Building Blocks are mainly for stage performances, with the correct atmosphere, lighting, etc to strengthen it.

Some of my favourite effects are

Divided by hate:

The mentalist places a live rose on the table and goes on to explain how the world is divided by hate. Then, upon casting a shadow on the rose, it slowly withers and turns brown and dies right before the spectator. The phase he uses at the end of this:

"A lasting testiment to the power of hatred and its ability to warp beauty". Woah..very foreboding kind of feel to it.

Burst Bubble Suggestion:

The spectator really feels their thoughts leaving their minds and entering the mentalist's


In addition, there are some essays such as mixing magic into mentalism, etc

The book makes learning easy by bolding words that should be emphasised during performances. This makes it easier for us as we know which are the important suggestions to use in order to capture the spectator's subconcious mind.

Overall, a very good read. You will find the theories in it very usable, but the effects might not be that feasible.

Rating 8/10

Less 2 because i cant use most of the effects in normal performances.

thanks for the review man. :D

cool sounds good...
i may consider getting it... :D
anyway thanx for the review.

Just an add on as to why i mean some effects cant be used in 'normal' performances.

The setting for a one-to-one encounter, or even with a group of friends is hardly the place or time to perfrom his effect.

His effects rely too heavily on suggestions and hence, u have to have great presentation skills, and a cooperating audience. Usually, people on streets or in a group prefer the less talk more visual effects

For example,

In his remote castle effect, you are required to prebuild a standing structure with cards and then proceed to the effect

In some instances, presentation alone in the book can hit up to 2-3 pages of speaking required

Some effects of his requires placing objects in boxes and handing them to someone else, etc


All these takes time and lots of preparations. Highly impractical to me. But thats just me.

However, i have to say that the essays and techiniques explained may be more than worth the price of the book. Its just the effects which i didn't really find practical in day to day situations

cheers B)

yeap, but the techniques learned can be put into everyday use, to create your own effects or even enhance your current effects. I think it should be a good read especially if you're interested in suggestive techniques and mentalism stuff.