What is cold reading? Is it a mentalism term?

Danny,
Yes, I suppose you could call it a mentalism term.
It is giving the subject a reading without any apparent advance prepartion.

If you go to the "Penny for Your Thoughts" forum and scoll through the topics you will find loads of info on cold reading.

Enjoy
Dave

There's a convenient description of cold reading on Ian Rowland's site http://www.ianrowland.com

I just purchased "Tradecraft" from http://www.trickshop.com. It is a pretty good intro to cold reading techniques and best of all (unlike most good coldreading material) it is easy to get.

Thanks,
Richard Green

IMO, the best available book on the subject is Ian Rowland's "The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading."

It is currently out of print but the next edition is scheduled to be released in November.

Or so he says...

(I've been waiting a long time for Ian's book and I ordered it right after his last release)

Richard Green

Is Ian's book good for someone who doesent have any experiance with cold reading? Its something I would like to get into, and this book sounds like a good resource..

Hi,

The most basic introduction to cold reading would be IMHO the small Lee Earle's booklet/audiotape "The Gentle Art of Cold Reading".

Once you've read that, you should get either (or both) "Tradecraft" (available on-line) or "The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading" (not yet available unfortunately).

Hope this helps,
Eric.

"Cold reading" is the exact opposite of "warm reading"...
Basically cold reading is "reading" a complete stranger's (clients) personality.
That means reading the "past", telling the "present", and forecasting the "future" of someone you have never met...a psychological "game" with multiple tacts to employ.
There are numerous authors of such books.
The best I have ever found on this disclosure is Ian Rowlands "Complete Facts of Cold Reading".

"Warm reading" is knowing your client. Having access to their information - ie look in their car parked outside to see their "Go Green" sticker on their car. Then announce to them that they are conservationists.
- Wulfie