Ethics and Illusions in Mentalism | 25min snip from The Tim Ferriss Show

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#776: Derren Brown — A Master Mentalist on Magic, Mind Reading, Ambition, Stoicism, Religion, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show

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CHAPTER

Ethics and Illusions in Mentalism

This chapter examines deeply ethical questions presented in TV specials like 'Sacrifice' and 'The Push,' which highlight human psychology through social experiments. The discussion also chronicles the speaker's journey from law to mentalism and hypnotism, exploring both personal growth and the unpredictable nature of live performances. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of skepticism while engaging with beliefs surrounding hypnosis, mentalism, and the supernatural.

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Derren Brown is a psychological illusionist who can predict, suggest, and even control human behavior.

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Start

[06:45] Sacrifice, The Push, and Apocalypse.

[12:21] Derren's transition from student to magician.

[14:43] How Martin Taylor inspired Derren to pursue hypnosis.

[16:42] Strange audience reactions to hypnosis.

[20:00] Hypnosis, mentalism, and cold reading.

[24:34] How a TV medium uses hot reading techniques.

[26:22] How can someone learn to be a healthy skeptic?

[34:24] How learning magic influenced Derren's skepticism and faith.

[40:57] Why did Derren wait until his 30s to come out?

[43:18] Finding meaning.