Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success from the World's Greatest Mentalist

by Oz Pearlman

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“I have always said that your mind is the most powerful weapon. Oz has learned to master it and is now sharing his tools to help you do the same.”
—David Goggins

“Oz gets right to the Success starts with understanding people. Read Your Mind isn’t about tricks—it’s about tools. If you want to close deals, build real relationships, and take control of any room, this book is your playbook.”
—Mark Cuban

From one of the most sought-after entertainers today, a powerful, modern twist on How To Win Friends and Influence People that blends the intrigue of mentalism with practical strategies for success.

Drawing on over thirty years of experience captivating audiences and accruing psychological insights, Oz Pearlman reveals the techniques and habits that have propelled his extraordinary career and shares the ingenious secrets behind his craft to teach you how to unlock your full potential. You’ll build confidence, sharpen your memory, connect more authentically with others, and eliminate your fears—all through simple, easy-to-master strategies that can be learned in minutes and applied for a lifetime.

Read Your Mind helps you turn your focus inward, teaching you how to identify and overcome the mental blocks that hold you back, building habits that stick.

Through compelling stories and practical tips, you’ll learn how

• Master the art of influence to read people, win trust, and shape outcomes
• Sharpen your cognitive and emotional intelligence
• Overcome rejection, procrastination, and self-doubt 
• Tap into the psychology of connection and persuasion

You don’t need to be a mentalist to create real, lasting change—you just need to think like one.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Audiobook, Communication, Personal Development, Memoir

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Blake Cartwright · Rating 1 out of 5]

What follows is my opinion. Oz says he doesn't read minds, he reads people. He suggests that by using psychology, body language, non-verbal cues and "tells" people unconsciously give, he can determine what they are thinking. Including figuring out their bank PIN code, a famous person's name they are thinking of, or their first crush. He says the lie is that he reads minds. He really reads people. And he wants to sell you his book so you can learn how to read people too, and be successful in all areas of life.

The real lie is that Oz does not accomplish his feats on TV and YouTube by reading people and figuring them out, rather he does it using tricks. Magic tricks. Oz is a magician performing tricks. Oz is a good magician, I'll give him that. And he is very successful as an entertainer. But it saddens me that he has chosen to misrepresent what he does and create the false impression that he can figure out what a person is thinking through psychology and reading them. That's not what he's doing. He's using magic tricks. There are lots of videos on YouTube revealing how Oz does his mind reading tricks. He uses classic methods magicians have used for many years. If you are interested, search YouTube for: "revealing all of oz pearlman's secrets (complete guide to mentalism)" for an in-depth explanation. There are even videos showing times he was exposed on live TV.

In my opinion, the basic premise of this book is disingenuous because Oz is not an expert on reading people. He does not "figure out" a person's PIN code by reading them using psychology or body language or subtle "tells". He uses magic tricks. The book is not well-written and does not contain anything new. If you want to learn how to read people for real, study books by real experts in the field such as Dr. Paul Ekman and Joe Navarro. And if you want to read a couple of good books on mentalism, Practical Mental Effects by Theodore Annemann and Thirteen Steps to Mentalism by Tony Corinda, are an excellent place to start.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, who is one of the greatest mentalists, weaves his own story through which he explains how to read people thus influence them and in return gain personal success – all in positive way, and along the way improving ourselves to be better people.

There is a lot to learn from this book, and there is a lot that has been written in other books as it has its roots in metaphysics. I believe this book might be a great read for those who are not into esoteric teachings but would like to improve themselves while reading someone else’s story, someone they admire or are into mentalists’ tricks.

There are many examples which are good reminders that small simple things can make a huge difference as we forget about simplicity. For example, just remembering something about somebody can make a difference. Or empathy is very important if we truly want to connect with someone and want to make them look and feel good.

Our mindset should be about growth, thus we should approach challenges with delight and confidence as at the end of the journey we’ll be better people. Life is not about being safe, it’s about growth. Thus, we should push ourselves to approach challenges, not be afraid to fail, but to learn from failure, try again, and along the way constantly work on improving ourselves.

There is a lot of good advice here which is written in a very approachable way. In non-fiction or self-help books – some personal story is good to be mentioned to support the information being presented. More or less of it is a personal preference.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise Hulewsky]

DNF @ 35%

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, what a letdown.

I’ve enjoyed Oz’s mentalism and expected this book, based on how he promoted it, to be like Cues by Vanessa Van Edwards, something with real insight into reading people and understanding behavior.

Instead, it’s a surface-level self-help book disguised as something deeper. Most chapters offer typical generic advice with almost no actionable takeaways.

For example, Chapter 12 on storytelling explains that storytelling is important, then tells two stories. No structure, no technique, no “how.” Just fluff.

Chapter 5 says, “Set goals, build habits, start today.” That’s the level of depth here.

If you’re looking for practical tools or fresh ideas, skip it. Go watch some his videos, you’ll get more out of those.

[Timur Seckin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book does not capture or even explain the inner techniques of his craft. The book really just summarizes his major moments, which you can appreciate by just watching YouTube videos.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is a scam !
Ego inflation in printed form.
Should have known better.
Lost money.
Should have read my mind.

[Simon Robs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you seen Oz do his thing(s)? Sure you have, but *how* does he do it; well, you won't find it here other than his pat line, 'I read people not minds.' What you will find in this book is his life's trajectory, his climb to where he is today and the obstacles/opportunities he maneuvered around/about as he acquired the skill set of a working mentalist. It's a kinda way updated version of Carnegie's "How To Win Friend's & Influence People." The nuts & bolts of it, ya'll!

[Jon Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to "How to win friends and influence people". This book is more about how YOU can be a better person and taking the time to care about other people. We all know who those people are in our lives. They really make an impact on us and we are happy to be around them.

In a world where it is seemingly always about us, this book can help you get out outside of yourself and really pay attention to the people around you.

[Molebatsi]

"Read Your Mind" by mentalist Oz Pearlman is a practical guide that reveals how to sharpen your intuition and interpret the subtle signals people unconsciously give off every day. The book breaks down the art of "mentalism" into accessible techniques, teaching readers how to observe body language, verbal cues, and patterns of behavior to better understand the thoughts and intentions of others. It’s essentially a toolkit for building more attentive and empathetic interpersonal skills.

This book helps readers by transforming abstract concepts of intuition into actionable steps, improving both personal and professional relationships. By learning to "read" situations and people more accurately, you can enhance your communication, make better decisions, and build deeper connections. It’s a useful resource for anyone looking to become more perceptive and influential in their everyday interactions.

[Joni Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confession: I got about 2/3 of the way through the book and just couldn’t finish. I saw him being interviewed about this book and thought it sounded really interesting because he sounded really interesting. But it’s really Sales 101, neurolinguistic programming (NLP), and how to focus on others in order to accomplish your goals. He thinks he’s pretty terrific so examples are: what he’s read, the famous people he’s met, stories about him, and he has read about famous people that make his point, and includes all of his personal examples from his work and life. It became so repetitive that I didn’t feel like I would learn anything more in the last third of the book. If you’ve never read self-help/motivational books and you are a fan of his - this might be a good book to start with. If you want to learn more about neural linguistic programming, and reading people, there are probably better books to use as a spring board.

[Jordan Hejka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book after hearing Oz on the DOAC Podcast! He comes across as such a genuine person, and that is evident in his writing as well (I could actually hear his voice in the lines). Overall, the content was excellent and taught me some amazing lessons about how to leverage your situation and circumstances to achieve your desired results. The key is not about reading minds (that’s not real) but about taking small actions in how you operate to deliberately stack the odds in your favour.

[Michele Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Some interesting and god takeaways that I will use in my everyday life. But also he tends to tell long stories.

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book did not need to be written. feels very much like someone cashing in on their newfound fame.

[Josh Fischer · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Ellen Virden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess a lot of people thought they were going to learn to “read minds” based on the reviews, but luckily for me, I was not expecting that from this book. I’ve recently gone down the proverbial rabbit hole of Oz’s videos. I’ve watched him doing mind blowing tricks on everyone from Tom Brady to Al Roker to Joe Rogan. Each one is more impressive than the previous. This book shows how Oz went from table side magician at his home town’s version of Olive Garden to stratospheric success at America’s Got Talent and pretty much every morning and late night TV show out there. Just today, he was on Howard Stern. I found his commitment to his craft and the countless hours he’s put into it (as well as being an ultra marathoner) inspiring. His catchphrase — I don’t read minds, I read people — is pretty much the crux of this book. I’m definitely going to strive to be a better listener, more observant and never forget the name of anyone I meet from now on using his tools. I listened to the audiobook read by the exuberant Oz Pearlman himself.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel terrible writing this review. I wanted to love something by a fellow Wolverine on an interesting topic, especially after listening to him on a podcast. Sadly, this book is not about mentalism. It’s a mix of mentalism, autobiography and science - not really related or cohesive. He should have just focused on mentalism tricks and tips, but he stretched too far and he is way too green to cover all of these topics. The ultramarathon sections were the worst as mental strength and his accolades were too humble-braggy. I only finished due to my Michigan loyalty. He’s much better on a podcast in short, focused bursts.

[Jung]

** HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026 **

"Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success from the World’s Greatest Mentalist" by Oz Pearlman reframes the idea of mind reading as a practical, learnable skill rooted in awareness, preparation, and human connection rather than supernatural ability. Pearlman explains that what looks like magic is actually the disciplined use of observation, empathy, memory, and storytelling. By paying closer attention to how people think, feel, and behave, anyone can improve their ability to influence situations, build trust, and follow through on goals. The book blends personal stories from Pearlman’s career with psychological insights to show how small shifts in focus and behavior can produce outsized results in professional and personal life.

A central idea of the book is that effective connection starts with understanding what is happening in someone else’s mind, not your own. People are constantly running internal narratives shaped by their expectations, fears, and goals. When you take time to anticipate those thoughts and acknowledge them out loud, you immediately reduce resistance. Simply naming what someone might be thinking or feeling makes them feel understood and lowers their defenses. This skill, often referred to as theory of mind, is something people use unconsciously every day, but Pearlman shows how applying it deliberately can dramatically improve communication. Subtle adjustments in body language, such as relaxed posture, angled approaches, and balanced eye contact, reinforce this effect by signaling openness rather than threat.

Preparation is another pillar of Pearlman’s approach. Confidence, he argues, often comes after action rather than before it. Visualizing success is helpful, but only when it includes realistic obstacles and recovery, not just perfect outcomes. By mentally rehearsing potential setbacks and responses in advance, people train themselves to stay calm under pressure. This kind of detailed visualization prepares the brain to act effectively when things do not go as planned, reducing panic and increasing adaptability. What looks like effortless composure is usually the result of careful mental practice.

Pearlman emphasizes that influence grows when attention shifts outward. Being interesting is less powerful than being genuinely interested. People feel drawn to those who listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and reflect back what they hear. When someone feels truly seen, trust develops naturally. This outward focus also helps dissolve status barriers. By humanizing high-status individuals and creating moments of shared warmth, leaders can relax group dynamics and encourage more open participation. Ending interactions on a high note, rather than overstaying, further strengthens positive impressions and leaves people wanting more.

Memory plays a surprisingly important role in connection and credibility. Forgetting names or details often signals a lack of attention rather than poor memory. Pearlman shows how simple techniques can dramatically improve recall, starting with full presence during interactions. Repeating names, linking them to vivid images, and writing down key details immediately after conversations all help information stick. Memory improves when emotion, novelty, or imagery is involved, which is why stories and unusual associations are so effective. Strong memory skills not only make others feel valued but also enhance professional relationships by demonstrating care and reliability.

Taking action, rather than waiting for permission or perfect timing, is another recurring theme. Many people stall because they feel overwhelmed by the size of their goals or fear failure. Pearlman encourages working backward from clear, specific objectives and breaking them into small, manageable steps. This approach reduces resistance and builds momentum. Understanding the brain’s tendency to avoid discomfort helps explain procrastination, but naming those tendencies makes them easier to counter. Short delays, such as waiting a few minutes before giving in to an urge, often weaken cravings enough to stay on track. Sharing goals publicly and creating external accountability further increases follow-through when motivation dips.

Storytelling is presented as one of the most powerful tools for influence. Facts may inform, but stories engage emotion, which drives memory and action. Pearlman illustrates this through vivid personal anecdotes, including moments of success and serious mistakes, showing how stories shape identity and meaning. Neuroscience supports this emphasis, as narratives activate emotional and social regions of the brain that raw data cannot reach. Leaders, speakers, and negotiators who frame messages as stories are more likely to be remembered and believed because they create emotional resonance rather than intellectual distance.

Throughout the book, Pearlman stresses that what appears to be mind reading is actually the result of consistent habits. Observation sharpens with practice, empathy deepens with intention, and confidence grows through preparation and action. The techniques he describes are not about manipulation, but about alignment - meeting people where they are and responding thoughtfully. When combined, these habits help individuals navigate social situations more effectively, build trust faster, and recover smoothly from setbacks.

In conclusion, "Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success from the World’s Greatest Mentalist" by Oz Pearlman shows that influence and connection are not mysterious talents reserved for performers, but skills anyone can develop. By focusing on others’ perspectives, preparing thoroughly, taking consistent action, strengthening memory, and using stories to create emotional connection, people can dramatically improve how they interact with the world. Mind reading, as Pearlman presents it, is simply the art of paying closer attention and acting with intention. When practiced consistently, these habits lead to stronger relationships, greater confidence, and a clearer path toward personal and professional success.

[Wojtek Kryściński · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tragically boring. This book rehashes the same recycled self-help advice you’ve read a hundred times, but with less insight and more chest-thumping. Despite the author insisting we “stop making everything about ourselves,” the entire read feels like Oz tooting his own horn.

It’s also unintentionally hilarious how often he reminds us that he works “in finance,” when the reality is closer to back-office IT — same same, but definitely different. The arguments are shallow, barely developed, and mostly serve as scaffolding for humble-brags about who he knows and what he’s done.

A major waste of time.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mentalist who talks about reading people not minds and takeaway is anyone can do it. He intersperses his very general life advice with his personal story so quick interesting read but not particularly enlightening or insightful other than sone memory tricks: listen (undivided attn), repeat (anchor) name 2-3x—how do you spell, what’s that short for, or love those glasses then you associate Brian with the cool glasses & reply or make personal connection

—LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes’ selfie (“so great to meet you; let’s memorialize the moment”)
-being on cruise and being mesmerized by magic; not many places for magician to hide
—lessons learned performing at restaurant: importance of timing (after ordered ~ asking for raise Mon morning): speak with light urgency, empathize and validate their reactions
-play the long game: take notes after meeting someone
-if you fail to plan, then plan to fail

-Taking the effort to imagine what someone else is thinking let’s you step into someone else’s shoes and see the world from their point of view, and that is a superpower eg new teacher
—Account for every contingency (if you failed the plan, plan to fail)
—validate; lean into kindness
—tie to an emotion I/o tell me what celebrity you’re thinking of v imagine you’ve just won the Super Bowl and you are guys forever. Who is it?
-help others to take away that pedestal, when you demonstrate how they are special and memorable, when you make it about them, when you cast your light on others, it all reflects back on you twice as strongly
— whenever anyone showed interest, he never replied with his card. Instead, he’d say I do parties all the time. What’s your name and number? Someone from my team will reach out. Spoiler alert: my team consisted of me myself and I! Likewise, when people called the book, he would check the date until that he was available, but then wait to talk about more details. That way he could do research, including on pricing.
— be own alter ego; detachment (not yet v no); + self talk.
— make it a mission to ask at least one or two people if you can do anything for them; regular check-ins
— mimic body language; keep palms open; when you can’t see people’s hands, it impacts your degree of trust in them. Looking up & to left=accessing memories; looking up & to right means they’re constructing an idea.
Pretending one of his mates Prince Harry & time he got arrayed for stealing Papa John (broken) phone and shirts

Interesting story of his wife refusing to accept his breaking up with her.

[Rubama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Read Your Mind because I genuinely like Oz Pearlman and was expecting something closer to mentalism, for example sharper insights into mind-reading, intuition and the techniques behind what he does on stage. What I found instead was a thoughtful, approachable self-development book centered on empathy, influence and understanding people.

In many ways, though, the book felt like Pearlman was articulating traits and practices I already try to live by. Active listening, reading the room, being emotionally present, adjusting communication based on the person in front of you. These are things that felt familiar and already integrated into my daily life. Much of the advice echoes principles of emotional intelligence and human connection that come naturally to me, so while it was affirming, it wasn’t especially surprising.

That said, the book is warm, encouraging and accessible. The examples from conversations to subtle behavioral cues reinforce how much impact attentiveness and empathy can have, especially in professional and personal interactions. For someone earlier in their journey of understanding people, this could feel genuinely eye-opening and empowering.

Overall, I’d describe this less as a book about “mind reading” and more as a guide to being a more attuned, influential and emotionally intelligent human. If you’re expecting mentalist secrets, you may feel a bit underwhelmed. But if you’re looking for validation, language and structure around skills you may already be practicing or want to develop, it’s a pleasant, confidence-boosting read.

[Barbara Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The point of Oz Pearlman's book appears in the title, Read Your Mind; the focus is on you, the reader. This is not a book about how to become a mentalist; Pearlman keeps those secrets to himself. It is a book about how to relate to people and build strong, successful relationships, which in turn support a successful career and life.

Pearlman offers practical ways of overcoming the enemies of success—self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and procrastination to name a few. His advice often falls into the category of common courtesy in conversations, such as active listening, not interrupting, and remembering names and details of others' lives. The guidance, however, is well-timed because using good manners seems to have fallen out of practice in so many relationships.

The book is half advice and half memoir, and Pearlman is a good storyteller. While a few of his stories are repeated as examples, overall, his willingness to be self-effacing, honest, and vulnerable about his past mistakes and weaknesses make him a likable virtual mentor. The book has an accessible message and for someone at the beginning of their career or who wonders why they're not progressing, following Pearlman's advice and methods could be an excellent first step toward success.

Thank you to Viking/Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success is an engaging and practical guide that blends psychology, habit-formation science, and mindset coaching into a highly accessible framework for personal improvement. The author breaks down the mental patterns that hold people back—such as self-doubt, procrastination, and negative self-talk—and replaces them with clear, actionable strategies that anyone can implement.

One of the strengths of this book is its simplicity; instead of overwhelming the reader with theory, the author focuses on realistic habits that build confidence, sharpen focus, and support long-term success. Tools like reframing thoughts, setting micro-goals, and creating consistent mental “rituals” feel attainable and encouraging rather than intimidating. The tone is motivational without being gimmicky, making it a great fit for readers who want practical steps rather than generic positivity.

While seasoned self-help readers may find some concepts familiar, Read Your Mind excels at presenting them in a fresh, relatable way. Its blend of neuroscience-based insights and everyday examples makes mindset work feel approachable and empowering.

[Jacob Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I was an enjoyable book. I've read a lot of self help books and I felt like many of the concepts Oz writes about are ones I've heard many times before. I was excited for this because of the limitless ways he could apply mentalist approach to personal development concepts. Unfortunately I was disappointed because the concepts were familiar from the unlimited amount of self help books out there. I was hoping he'd give some insight on how he actually does his tricks. How he reads people. How he directs them in such specific ways during his tricks. I was hoping he'd apply his incredible mentalist skillset into bettering our own lives and understanding people better. I didn't get much of that while reading. It makes sense why he didn't because a magician never reveals his secrets though because I this I felt it took away from what could have been a standout book. It's not to say I didn't have a few takeaways, there was just very little I haven't already read in a different book.

The source of enjoyment for me while reading were his stories. He definitely knows how to tell a story and he's lived an interesting life. Because of this I'd say it's worth a read.

[Monica Nuno · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all… missed opportunity to not call himself The Wizard of Oz 😂

I absolutely loved this book. It was one of those reads that’s genuinely hard to put down. Oz blends storytelling, psychology, memory training, and personal grit in a way that feels both entertaining and empowering. Learning about his discipline, honesty, and relentless work ethic made me realize how much of our so-called limitations are simply stories we’ve carried from our past. With the right habits — and a smile — we can overcome far more than we think.

As someone who read Moonwalking With Einstein, I loved how this book connects to memory-palace techniques but makes them feel more practical and usable in everyday life. And yes… I can officially say I learned how to recite the alphabet backwards thanks to him!

This book is packed with insight, motivation, and real mental tools you can apply immediately. Absolutely worth the read — I devoured it.

[Eloise J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been reading the book by Oz Pearlman and have found it to be slow and a bit boring. It’s very anecdotal with story after story of his experiences that feel like basic common sense. Nothing that feels groundbreaking or transformational so far. With that said, I am impressed by the books and research he references throughout. The footnotes are the real value in the regard to the sources he is pulling information from, not really in how he is presenting the information.
It feels like the book is for someone who hasn’t already been thinking about human behavior , communication and psychology.

I would like to compare Oz’s book to the book by Mel Robbins. In her book much of the anecdotes were not remarkable however given her unique and also common sense twist of “Let Them” gave a new framework to view them with. Mel’s book was delightful and exciting to read as opposed to Oz’s book.

[Jacob Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the boring books I've read this year (2025). Eventhough, I'm a big fan of OZ and respect him over the things he does, I would suggest him to step away from writing books.

The fourth chapter of this book titled "Focus on Others", he talks about being thoughtful of others while you perform anything. But, it is the exact same thing he has forgotten when he wrote this book. He hasn't even thought 0.1% about the reader while writing this book. It could be the lack of his skill as a writer or the way he presented the things in this book.

To me this book feels like a typical author's book which says - LOOK at ME! I'm GREAT. I DO GREAT THINGS. I MEET WITH GREATS. LEARN FROM MY STUFF.

The stuff he talks about is mostly common sense. Rest of 80% if just filler. Just my 2C.

[Terris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seen Oz Pearlman on AGT and various television shows performing his amazing feats as a mentalist -- but I didn’t know what to expect from a book written by him. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much information he gave that is helpful for anyone living and working through everyday life!

Pearlman offers many tips on using charm and your memory, as well as stressing the use of “listening” to make a positive impression on people you are dealing with. And he gives all this information with his cheerful, bubbly personality and charismatic style.

This book is very readable, entertaining, and includes lots of ways to improve your interactions with others, whether friends, family, or coworkers.

I enjoyed it a lot and highly recommend it!

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Oz Pearlman, and Viking Penguin for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Alphonso C · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oz, what were you thinking?

Oz, you are well-known for being a mentalist entertainer who performs amazing tricks. People know you for you mind reading. You come out with a book called, "Read Your Mind" that has NOTHING to do with mentalism or mind reading. The book does not teach mentalism tricks, nor does it teach how to read people. The book is just a bunch of stories about you, with some general self-help advice thrown in. And there is nothing new here! Just a re-hash of vague self-help concepts that have already been covered in dozens of other self-help books over the years. Read Your Mind does not deliver. Such a disappointment. If you really could read people, you should have read your audience and known how unhappy they would be with this awful book.

[Mike Cheng · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oz Pearlman is probably the world’s most famous mentalist, especially of late. For obvious reasons this book does not give insight into mentalism (other than it being a combination of psychology, memory, and observation) or how Oz does what he does. There are some rudimentary advices about body language, learning to interpret signals and tells, etc. but other than that, it reads more like a garden variety self-help book - for example the need to visualize success, plan for all possible contingencies, having a growth mindset, goals needing to be specific and time-bound, etc. Imo the book can be summarized in a single sentence: Have a plan. This said, it was still a fun read if one is a fan of Oz’s admittedly mindblowing performances.

[Rosie Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda bummed out about this. I’ve heard Oz on several podcasts & have vaguely known about his mentalism for a few years now. What he does is super cool, but this book ultimately didn’t offer much in the way of new or innovative ways of ‘reading people.’ The advice he gives is spot on, but it’s advice that’s been laid out in essentially every self help book that came before it.

Also, his final chapter is him telling two of his own stories to emphasize the “importance of story telling on the mind.” And neither are cohesive or really have anything to do with what he spent the entire book talking about. Just felt like an editing issue.

But I do admire his work ethic & willingness to share some of how he does what he does - even if it isn’t novel.