A Book Test is a routine employed in mentalism acts, displaying an illusion of mind-reading. The book test class of techniques involves the mentalist accurately revealing a word or phrase chosen by an audience member from a book, often under seemingly impossible conditions. The key to this illusion lies in mentalism methodologies ranging from preset arrangements and codes to psychological manipulation and advanced memory techniques. Methods vary widely, with some requiring gimmicked books, while others work with any readable material at hand, including books, magazines, or even internet pages or Wikipedia articles. The Book Test’s origins trace back to the early 20th century, evolving into hundreds of intricate variations and becoming a staple in the modern mentalist’s repertoire. The appeal of such an act lies not only in its seeming impossibility but also its inherent relatability; books being universal objects present in every household allows audiences to connect intimately with the mentalism performance.