The Ross Johnson Legacy: Hard-Hitting Mentalism
- 2026 BOB CASSIDY MEMORIAL AWARD RECIPIENT (from the PEA)
- All the secrets from one of the world's premiere mentalists
- Includes a full explanation of Ross's legendary Q & A act
- Includes over 3 hours of video performances and explanations
- Foreword by Michael Weber
The Ross Johnson Legacy: Hard-Hitting Mentalism
By Lawrence Hass with Ross Johnson
For over 60 years, Ross Johnson has performed his original, entertaining, and stunning mentalism in real-world corporate contexts; his client list is a "Who's Who?" of the world's best-known companies, and he has performed for virtually all the Fortune 500 firms. Because his repertoire was the source of his livelihood, for the length of his career Ross has carefully shielded his material and their methods from magicians and mentalists.
But after an initial conversation in 2016 (initiated by Eugene Burger), in 2018, Ross decided to give Larry permission to start filming his performances and teaching sessions at McBride's Magic & Mystery School toward this legacy book. In 2022, Ross and Larry agreed on the format: that readers would learn Ross's methods after being able to watch him perform all his core material in his acclaimed full-evening show, A Funny Thing Happened... Tomorrow. Soon after, Larry commissioned a three-camera shoot of the show by celebrated Chicago filmmaker Michael Caplan. Thus, purchasers of The Ross Johnson Legacy will be able to access this 87-minute performance video, along with over 90 additional minutes of video and audio performances and instruction by Ross.
Here are the key details about The Ross Johnson Legacy. It has:
—410 pages, plus a 14-page full-color insert
—A cloth-bound hardcover book in a cloth-bound slipcase with foil-stamped titling and art
—8.5" x 11" trim size
—Foreword by Michael Weber
—19 Chapters that fully explain all of Ross's performing material, including his legendary Q & A Act. (The book's Table of Contents can be viewed by going to: www.TheoryandArtofMagic.com/RJLContents.)
—And again, access to over 3 hours of video and audio content, including Michael Caplan's 3-camera shoot of A Funny Thing Happened... Tomorrow.
NOTE: The Ross Johnson Legacy is only available from Theory and Art of Magic Press.
WORDS OF PRAISE FOR ROSS JOHNSON FROM STARS OF MAGIC AND MENTALISM
Bob Cassidy: “Ross Johnson is one of the finest mentalists in the world.”
Doug Dyment: “Classic mentalism is that which—while not advocating belief—doesn’t shy away from suggesting that the powers on display might be real, and Ross Johnson is its finest performer extant. He is also a superb teacher, from his years in the public schools to his residency with the Magic & Mystery School. Whenever my caller ID shows “Ross Johnson,” I know that some creation of mine is about to be improved.”
Jeff and Tessa Evason: “Ross is a true luminary in the world of mentalism. For decades, he has inspired us—not only with his brilliant performances, but with his deep thinking and masterful approach to the craft. It’s incredibly rare for a professional performer of Ross’s stature to share material he has polished over a lifetime on stage. This book is a treasure trove, and we feel so fortunate to have access to it. For any serious student of mentalism, this is a huge gift.”
Craig Karges: “Ross Johnson and his shows for ‘real’ people are legend. Ross has long represented the quintessential mentalist. In this legacy book you get strong performance pieces but also insight on what it takes to do real shows for real people for real money year-after-year and decade-after-decade.”
Nick Lewin: “I honestly feel Ross Johnson is the most convincing mentalist I have ever witnessed…. He is truly a master of the wonderful world of mind reading.”
Lior Manor: “Ross Johnson is a legend. The world of mentalism is receiving a huge gift with this book, as Ross reveals all the methods and philosophical aspects that have made his shows a success for decades.”
Jay Marshall: “Ross Johnson? Oh, he’ll make you $#!+ your pants.”
Max Maven: “If I had to miss a show, you are the first person I’d call.”
Jeff McBride: “Having Ross Johnson as my teacher and guide has been one of the great privileges of my life in magic and mystery. His artistry is matched only by his generosity in sharing the deeper truths of our craft. In this book, he opens the door for you as well: this is your initiation into his incredible legacy.”
Andy Nyman: “This book is a rare opportunity to learn the practical secrets of a performer who has made his living as a top corporate mentalist. Books like this don’t come along very often.”
Paul Vigil: “Not only is Ross a wonderful friend and confidant; he is the deliverer of the strongest performance of mystery I’ve ever witnessed.”
Ken Weber: “Some mentalists are obsessed with technique; some consistently wow a crowd. Ross is that rare performer who excels at both. Meaning, getting his wisdom in a book is a rare gift.”
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Customer Reviews
Genii Magazine Review, May 2026
"The book is centered around a description of [Ross] Johnson's corporate after-dinner banquet show, which was adapted for a run at the Rhapsody Theater in Chicago, filmed to be shared with buyers of the book... To say the show is worthy of your study would be a criminal understatement. The entire affair--its contents, structure, and delivery--is a master class in planning and attention to detail. Nearly every word is meticulously chosen and delivered with care."
Review in M-U-M Magazine, May 2026, by Marc DeSouza
"Is this a great book? Boy, is it ever. This is a must-read for everyone with even the slightest interest in mentalism.... This is among the very best books on any subject I have ever read. It is not to be missed, and it gets my highest recommendation."
From Andy Nunn, Unedited Facebook Post, April 28, 2026
I missed the Ross Johnson session last month. But I received the book and have been working through it.
I have read a lot of books over the years and, honestly, this is one of the best books on mentalism I have read. The structure, the breakdown of each effect, and the interview format are golden. The word Masterclass gets thrown around a lot. It's lost its true meaning, but this book is a true masterclass.
The level of thinking that Ross goes into for every routine is unbelievable. Ross is a true professional and thinks about everything.
You start off by watching his live show. I watched it with my wife, and she is hard to please and often gets annoyed with the performers I hype up for her to watch. She thought it was brilliant.
I think it's hard to get an honest review these days, and we get sucked into buying the latest and greatest, the holy grail, or game changer.
If you are a professional performer this book should be mandatory, because the gold is in the details. The structure of routines, the scripting, the pacing, the subtleties, the positioning of participants on stage. The understanding of people, the care that Ross shows to his audience. We could all learn to be a bit kinder.
Also if you are an author. We could learn from Lawrence Hass on how to write a book on mentalism. Just brilliant - get it if you can.
I've spent yesterday and most of today reading the book and watching the videos.
It is brilliant!
I think it might be the best book on magic I've ever seen and read.
The book is an extraordinary contribution to the literature of magic and mentalism—one of those rare volumes that immediately earns a permanent place on a magician’s shelf.
Rich with practical information that any magician would benefit from, the book combines real working knowledge with the kind of insight that usually takes decades to acquire.
One of its most striking virtues is the generous revelation of secrets: Ross Johnson does not merely hint at ideas but shares them openly and thoughtfully, allowing the reader to understand not just what to do but why it works. The explanations are thorough, patient, and deeply instructive, and throughout the book the reader has the delightful feeling of listening in on extraordinary discussions among experienced practitioners of the art.
There is wisdom on virtually every page—practical wisdom, performance wisdom, and the hard-won wisdom that comes from years of thinking deeply about magic.
And it is well worth the price. In fact, there is more valuable material packed into this single volume than in dozens of other books combined, making it not only a pleasure to read but a lasting investment for anyone serious about the craft of magic and mentalism.