I did not write this book.
I found it.
It purports to be a sentient book offering to teach you magic through a series of rituals.
Perhaps it’s a joke, a game, or an unusual self-help manual. Regardless of what it is, it changed my life. Perhaps it will change yours too.
Did I learn magic in the end? I can’t be certain. What I know is that I see the world and myself differently now – everything is just a little lighter and brighter.
Background
I’m embarrassed to admit it. I was idly browsing the shelves of my local library to see whether they had a copy of one of my books. Don’t judge; I was waiting on someone and trying to pass the time. Instead of my book, I found this one: a slim black volume with the word “Psst!” on the spine.
That caught my attention. I slipped the book out to take a closer look. The texts continued on the front, and that was that: I was captivated.
I want others to be able to have the experiences that I had, but it turns out the book is not available anywhere. Nowhere. There is no site or shop that carries it. My library tells me it’s not actually in their catalogue. There are publishing details in the back of the book, but these turn out to be some kind of internal joke. Weirdly, the author has the same name as I do, which partly explains why I found it in the first place, but I have been unable to find any trace of him.
As the book is not available anywhere, I decided to create a reprint. I am aware that I may be stepping over a line here. If I have gone too far, I will make amends, but this book is simply too good not to make widely available. I feel compelled to share the book. When you read it, you will know why.
What this book is
A book that seems to speak directly to you and teach you magic through a series of fourteen exercises.
The magic is not the spells-and-fireballs kind but the deliberate alteration of how you see, think, and act in the world. The exercises are like little games that you perform with your mind and body, sometimes in a comfortable chair, sometimes venturing out into the world.
A few examples:
Staring into a mirror in low light until your sense of “I” wobbles.
Turning your visual blind spot into a “portable hole” for things you want to let go of.
Walking through your city as if every sign and object were a message meant for you.
Giving yourself a secret new name and testing how it changes your behaviour.
Travelling backwards in time to deliver advice to your earlier self.
Who this is for
You might like this if you:
Enjoy solo RPGs, journaling games, and LARPs that blur fiction and reality.
Have a soft spot for experimental literature and books that talk back.
Are curious about magic but allergic to dogma.
Like the idea of doing philosophy with your whole body, not just your frontal cortex.
Want a structured excuse to gently, playfully mess with how you see yourself and the world.
Get your copy
Hardback copies (printed at Mixam) are available directly from me. If you live in Sweden, you can Swish me at 0703-631930. The book is 315 SEK if you pick it up in person (Malmö) and 370 SEK if you would like it sent somewhere in Sweden.
To the rest of the world, the book is 40 EUR or 47 USD postpaid (you choose whether to pay in EUR or USD). You can send money through PayPal to prozpero@gmail.com
There is also a digital edition in PDF that can be purchased at itch.io for 12 USD.
Free sample
Download a free sample at itch.io (scroll to the bottom of that page).
