Kenton Knepper's
MYSTERY BY ASSOCIATION
$41
Suggested Retail Price $45

THE BLURB:
A new masterwork from Kenton.

Over 100 full size pages on the secret principle of
Association and how Kenton and students use this long
ignored and mysterious factor.

We simply cannot say enough about it, or what it will do for
you.

Using association causes spectators to stop being
spectators. Association actively engages onlookers, causing
more of an experience and relationship with your audience.
The audience becomes an active force in your performance.
They do not feel left out of the act.

With association, the audience is a willing and active
participant, rather than an antagonistic force to be won
over by manipulation.

Best of all, magic and mentalism can easily be made into
legitimate art by applying association to standard tricks
and presentations. In a sentence or less, with one object,
or less, association casts its spell. Immediate ART and
MEANING can be had without hard work, once you grasp the
underused and oft ignored principle of association.

Influence and shape audiences to do as you desire by
association and its related branches of sneaky psychology.
People will follow your lead and more. Your audience is just
waiting to be taught what to do!

All of this is just for starters.

We know these sound like impossible promises, but they are
true. Artists and psychologists have proved these claims
about association reliable for ages.

Association is the standard used in video, persuasion
psychologies, advertising, art, music and theatre. Yet
mentalists and magicians use it unknowingly, as if by
happenstance.

Like Wonder Words, Kenton once again changes the landscape
of mentalism and magic forever with this book. You will
wonder how mystery performers ever performed without this
incredible principle.

THIS work will remind you why Kenton is considered a
groundbreaking leader in mentalism and magic.

New effects, tricks and methods included, as well as
material from The S.E.C.R.E.T. School

Pages 111 - Tapebound

MY COMMENTS:
The blurb pretty much explains this as much as I can.  This
is a theory book, but a very important one.  It explains why
having something associated with what you do or what you say
during your performance is practically essential to the
working performer.  Be warned.  This is not light reading.
And there are a couple new effects, but mostly the
discussion is around classic magic and mental effects and
how association can work with them.

Interestingly, the blurb says that "you will wonder how
mystery performers ever performed without this incredible
principle." I disagree. The best performers know, at
least instinctively, about this. I even recognized
examples in my act that I used for effect. I knew it
worked, but didn't name it or explain it. Now I can.

Obviously, this is a very important, mature work.  As I
said, this is not an anthology of mental routines.  And this
is not something that is going to convince you to radically
change all the effects you now perform in your act.  Rather,
you will take this information and apply it where you can
into your act.  Doing so will elevate your performance into
something much more professional, much more entertaining,
and much more effective.  Beginning mentalists should put
this on their list of must things to read after they've done
many performances and feel comfortable performing mentalism.
If you're an experienced mentalist, and constantly looking
for ways to improve your act, I highly recommend you study
this book.