Billy decided to step up his income by becoming a magician. On his first performance, his first 29 tricks went over like a flapjack. For his grand finale, small, weak, Billy would tear in half a New York City Phone Book with his bare hands. When he approached the podium holding the phone book, he focused his mind on the 500 people in front of him and the $10 apiece that they had paid. He picked up the phone book and tore it in half almost effortlessly. How?

Note: he did not just tear it down the middle of the spine.