On Cold Reading - Theory & Practice by Timon Krause

After his acclaimed lecture on cold reading at the MINDS 2023 convention, Timon Krause proudly presents Cold Reading: Theory & Practice!

"Timon’s work makes me think. It also makes me stop thinking. You see, craftspeople think, but artists do not; artists stop thinking…so they can dream. Timon’s work makes me a better craftsperson, and a better artist." - Rick Maue

This book contains Timon’s comprehensive work on cold reading, making it an invaluable resource for both beginners and experts alike.

"This book, which is easy to read and enjoy, offers a remarkably fresh take on using cold reading in everyday life or in mentalism shows. Timon shares a simplified, effective approach to giving readings, some exciting and versatile principles that guarantee strong hits, a wonderful personality reading that takes just 15 seconds (The Ezra Test) and much more besides. He also details his own brilliant approach to the traditional Q&A act. The Q&A section features the most comprehensive statistical analysis of typical audience questions ever published. I highly recommend this enjoyable, accessible and remarkable new book on a fascinating subject." - Ian Rowland

Timon began studying cold reading at the age of 16 under the guidance of Richard Webster, and it has remained a central part of his repertoire ever since. His fascination with the subject has driven him to explore its depths and applications. In this book, he guides readers through the theoretical foundations of cold reading and its many practical uses—whether on stage (including hypnosis settings) or in everyday interactions.

 “On Cold Reading contains the best information I’ve read on the subject in many years. If you study this book, you’ll not only become an expert cold reader, but will also learn how to get on with people and make friends everywhere you go. Highly recommended.” - Richard Webster

Unlike the current trend of free-flow readings, Timon’s approach emphasises the use of Barnum statements. Don’t underestimate their value—these statements offer far more flexibility and utility than you might expect.

"Timon, I ended up enjoying this book much more than I imagined I would. I don't really have much use for traditional cold-reading-, since I"m most often performing for people I know. So I loved that this book offered almost a "social style" of cold-reading. There are a few things I'm going to add to my mental rolodex of techniques. Starting with the 15-second personality test. Thanks again!" - Andy Jerx

In addition to explaining the fundamentals of cold reading, Timon introduces several visionary reading frameworks, including:

    •    The 15-Second Personality Test (a charming icebreaker doubling as a pair of cold reading training-wheels)

    •    The Which-Hand Personality Reading (more of a routine than a reading structure)

    •    The Myth-making Sequence (blending philosophy and developmental psychology)

    •    The Full-Colour Future Sequence (merging cold reading with NLP principles)

    •    The Pseudo-Scientific Palm Reading framework (for presenting palm readings with a scientific flair).

To round it all out, the book provides detailed statistics from years of Timon’s Q&A work, along with insights on performing the Q&A  and practical advice for memorising large amounts of information for later recall.

This comprehensive package is as complete as it gets. Drawing on his background as a philosopher, former hypnosis coach, and professional performer, Timon Krause shares everything he knows about cold reading in a practical and accessible way.