It was once seen as a remarkable feat of strength, only performed by strongmen and professional athletes: ripping a phonebook in half. Although phonebooks might not be as popular as they once were, the challenge remains an impressive party trick and a fascinating physical achievement. If you’re ready to try your hand at this incredible feat, follow these three methods.

1. The Classic Method: Rolling and Tearing

The classic way of tearing a phonebook in half involves rolling it up and using sheer brute force to rip the pages apart. Follow these steps:

– Select a smaller phonebook. If you’ve never tried this before, start with a thinner book that has fewer pages.

– Begin by creating a slight fold or crease in the middle of the phonebook.

– Roll up the phonebook tightly, starting from one end and working your way across to the other end.

– Hold the rolled-up phonebook firmly with both hands, keeping your thumbs close together.

– Use your entire upper body strength to quickly tear the book along the fold or crease line.

2. The Friction Method: Gripping and Twisting

This method relies on increasing friction between individual pages by holding them apart so they can’t stick together when you apply force.

– Start by holding the phonebook flat with both hands on either side.

– Tilt both hands inward toward each other, creating a V shape in the middle of the book.

– Grip it firmly, ensuring your fingers firmly press into its back cover.

– Now, twist both hands away from each other in opposite directions.

– Continue working through the phonebook until you reach its spine and eventually rip it completely in half.

3. The Levitating Tension Method: Suspended Leverage

In this method, you’ll use your knee as leverage while suspending the book from both ends.

– Select a thinner phonebook that’s easy to hold between your hands at arm’s length.

– Stand with your feet apart, slightly bending the knee of your dominant leg.

– Hold the phonebook with both hands, gripping its edges near its top and bottom so it hangs down in front of you.

– Press your knee against the middle part of the hanging phonebook, creating tension.

– Now, simultaneously pull both ends of the phonebook upward with a jerk as you push your knee down into it.

– Continue putting pressure until the pages begin to tear, and repeat until you’ve ripped the book clean in half.

Ripping a phonebook may seem like an impossible task, but by using these three techniques and practicing consistently, you’ll quickly be on your way to achieving this incredible feat. All it takes is a little bit of strength, skill, and determination. Happy ripping!