Priyank Chopra is well known for his bestselling books, including, Mastering the Art of Living, The Secret, Living the Dream, and More to Come. He is also known for his ability to draw in a large following of followers through his radio show and his multi-media presentations. At times, his books have been criticized as “pseudoscience,” with those that take him seriously suggesting that he’s practicing mentalism.
A quick explanation of mentalism follows. It is where the author uses stories to attract more attention to their information. In this case, the story might be about a famous person, such as Priyank Chopra, who appears to be highly knowledgeable in their field, with little or no actual evidence to back it up. The truth is, that person could simply be an entertainer; they are not an expert in their field, and therefore, the information you receive from them is not legitimate.
Mentalism can work at either end of the spectrum. An entertainer can make you feel like they know what they’re talking about, while in reality, they aren’t. At the other end, a scam artist can convince you that they are an expert, when they’re not. So how do you tell the difference? This can often be difficult to figure out.
If you don’t believe in the subject matter, then chances are, the author will not convince you. If you believe, but the information isn’t quite right, the author will just find a way to back up the claim. And if you believe, but the information isn’t quite right, the author will just find a way to back up the claim. And so on.
The same is true for mentalism. The truth is, that person may be an expert in their field, but the information they present is not accurate. It’s all based on form. By introducing a lot of background information, an authority, or a fascinating story about a subject, a person can easily create a scene that makes them appear to be knowledgeable, when they are not.
It is important to realize that this method works the same way in the general public. Because they don’t really know a lot about their subject, they’ll take whatever they hear at face value. Therefore, if the author presents an interesting story, and some background information, they will be able to trick someone into believing that they are an expert.
This can happen on talk shows, television shows, or in print magazines. By playing on our desires and sympathies, by creating a believable situation, the entertainer can then sell us on their ideas. However, not only are their ideas false but they could be damaging to your health, and your wallet, in the long run.
The best advice you can get, is to stay away from mentalism. Avoid mentalists, and anything that implies that you should believe what they’re selling. The most important thing is that you remain informed and take care of yourself.
