Confessions of a Conjuror

by Derren Brown

Hardcover, 2010

Status

Available

Call number

793.8092

Genres

Collections

Biography/Memoir, Non-Fiction

Publication

Channel 4 Books (2010), Edition: First Edition

Description

The inside of Derren Brown's head is a strange and mysterious place. Now you can climb inside and wander around. Find out just how Derren's mind works, see what motivates him and discover what made him the weird and wonderful person he is today. Obsessed with magic and illusions since childhood, Derren's life to date has been an extraordinary journey and here, in Confessions of a Conjuror, he allows us all to join him on a magical mystery tour - to the centre of his brain... Taking as his starting point the various stages of a conjuring trick he's performing in a crowded restaurant, Derren's endlessly engaging narrative wanders through subjects from all points of the compass, from the history of magic and the fundamentals of psychology to the joys of internet shopping and the proper use of Parmesan cheese. Brilliant, hilarious and entirely unlike anything else you have ever read before, Confessions of a Conjuror is also a complete and utter joy.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Tamianne

This was a really interesting and original book. Interesting because Derren Brown seems to be such a fascinating character - the book really gives you an insight into how someone like this thinks and functions. It is original because it is formatted in a very unusual way, based around one magic

trick that he performs in a restaurant. Whilst describing the trick he writes as though his mind is wandering from one topic to another, in which he describes his observations and thoughts about everything in life from profound subjects such as whether or not God exists to the packaging of After Eight Mints. Then he will return to the trick again for a while. The whole book continues in this fashion.

The presentation of the book also made it enjoyable to read. The type was quite large and clear with perfect line spacing and the pages were edged in red, also illustrating how the author pays attention to the small details in life.

The only reason why I'm giving this book 4 rather than 5 stars is that the details of the magic trick were completely lost on me, as I'm not really interested in the subject. Although, I know that's a personal thing. I was just so tempted to read this book after watching a documentary on Derren Brown and wanting to learn more about this interesting and eccentric person. It certainly met if not exceeded my expectations.

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LibraryThing member Michaelhlamb

As I don't usually read auto-biographies I wasn't sure about this book but was seduced by the handsome binding it came in. The structure and style of the book was quite a refreshing change to the usual type of autobiography. Derren Brown is witty and engaging and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

LibraryThing member spbooks

I'm a big fan of Derren Brown's TV shows. I understand quite a bit of the theory behind what he does having studied NLP back in the 80s along with other psychological theories. He's a very sophisticated performer and constantly surprises and entertains. I have always wondered how he arrived where

he is today. While CONFESSIONS OF A CONJUROR is not a typical autobiography, it does provide some insight into how he thinks and the way he approaches the world. The book is a fascinating read. Using a description of one card trick as the "backbone" of the book, Derren takes us down numerous sidetracks and back alleys that reveal exquisite powers of observation of the "mundane" CONFESSIONS of life and human behaviour. There is an openness about himself, including his flaws and foibles, which is endearing. And his use of language is evocative and shot through with wit and wisdom. I've never read a book quite like this one - the style is wonderfully unique. My only criticism is that occasionally - and only occasional - the writing felt a bit bogged down. After reading his book, Derren Brown is one person I'd love to meet for a chat. If you are familiar with Derren Brown's work, check out this book. It won't be everyone's cup of tea. But after a few pages you'll know whether you want to drink the whole cup.

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