The Art of Reading Minds | Oz Pearlman | TED

I am billed as the world's greatest mind reader. But guess what? I can't read minds. What I can do is read people. And people ask a question all the time, which is, “Were you born with this?” And the answer is no, of course not. Absolutely not. I do not possess any supernatural powers.

I am not a psychic. This is a learnable skill that I feel anyone could do, but I've applied for about roughly three decades at reverse-engineering the human mind. If I know how you think, I know what you think. And I want to ask each and every one of you in this room a question.

But before we do, take a deep breath in. Take a deep breath in. Exhale out and close your eyes. A little zen mode, OK. I see the people with trust issues, eyes wide open, holding their wallets and phones. Fellow New Yorkers. (Laughter) Here is my question. If you could have dinner, hypothetical, with someone famous, right?

Some of you have heard this question already, I didn't invent it, I love asking people, someone famous, dead or alive, past or present, man, woman, whatever. I like to ask people, who would that person be for you? It’s fascinating, everyone’s different, and if you've already done it, open your eyes. Some of you have done it, some of you are quick,

I see nods, I see people that are decisive. If you haven't, you always need a deadline for creativity. Three, two, one, crunch time, open your eyes. Everyone out there, give me a big clap over your head if you can see your person in your mind's eye, give me a big clap. (Claps) One more big clap.

Notice the technique. Elbows locked on this man. Michael Phelps would have been jealous of that streamline. Stand up, please. Introduce yourself. Person: I'm Ian. OP: Ian, question for you. Before you walked in this room and sat down, did you have any idea who I was or what I was going to do? Ian: No, actually, sorry.