I'm Gretchen Rubin and this is a little happier.

Darren Brown is a famous illusionist and mentalist who performs on stage and on screen.

He wrote an absolutely fascinating book called Tricks of the Mind in which he writes about

his work.

I read this book several years ago and one observation he made particularly sticks in my mind.

He explains that when he's doing a sleight of hand trick, he directs the attention of the

audience where he wants it to go and away from the trick he's doing.

He stays relaxed and casual and with his story, voice, pacing and actions takes the audience

where he wants them to go.

To my surprise, Darren Brown noted that his tricks worked best with the most engaged audience

members, the ones who were hanging on his every word and scrutinizing every move he made.

He explained why.

It is generally the most disinterested spectator who is hardest to fool.

When I performed this kind of magic for groups of parties, it was the peripheral punters

stood on the sidelines with folded arms, half in conversation with each other who were

the danger.

If they were not paying attention, I could not bring them into the game.

They watched less, but they saw more.

I found this observation astonishing.

These audience members watched less, they paid less attention and for that reason, they

saw more.

Brown's comment reminded me of what's sometimes called the monkey business solution, which

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