5 comments about The Royal Road to Card Magic.

1. This book is great for learning different card handling and shuffling techniques, however it can be a little tuff to follow sometimes. If you dont already have a basic understanding of how to handle cards you might want to start with a video first. It's usually a bit easier to learn when you can actually see whats going on. A side from all that, this is a really good book.



2. This is the best book to start in card magic. Small, easy to follow, full of information. After you read this book, you will be able to understand the description of most tricks to learn, and also, you will surprise yourself figuring out tricks just to look at someone performing it. If you want to be a professional magician (not my case at all) you'll have to read a lot more, but, this book will be always a good reference.
   
   I recommend after finishing reading RRTCM, move to Expert Card Technique written by the same authors.



3. This is a truly wonderful book. I can't think of a better one for Card magic. It explains the different sleights, and has excellent routines to use them. It does assume one has a basic understanding of Card magic, so I suppose someone starting out who has no background could find it frustrating. It's not the best book for a rank beginner, but for someone who has some knowledge of the basics, I think it's terrific.



4. This book is designed to teach the reader how to perform a wide variety of basic sleight-of-hand card tricks. The sleights themselves are classics; I think that knowing basic sleight of hand is fundamental for performing really impressive card magic, and this book contains all of the groundwork you will need. The book includes information on the overhand shuffle, the riffle shuffle, the glimpse, the palm, the double lift, the pass, and much more.
   
   The explanations of the sleights are quite detailed. This allows the reader to pick up fine points and refine the techniques.
   
   That said, I think this book has some important deficiencies. (1) Many of the moves are not illustrated at all. It's very difficult to learn some sleight of hand moves with just a verbal description. More pictures would be tremendously helpful. (2) While the book contains many great tricks, especially towards the end, it also includes a number of dull ones. I personally hate any card trick that involves spelling (i.e., you count cards out as you spell some word, and the last card counted out is the chosen one), and this book includes plenty of those. Still, if you select tricks carefully from the book, you will end up with some astonishing routines.
   
   One warning, though: sleight-of-hand magic requires a LOT of practice. If you're interested in picking up a new magic trick in five minutes, this is not the book for you! If, however, you would like to learn really deceptive card tricks - tricks that the average spectator will really be stunned by - and you are willing to devote time to daily practice, then this book is a fine option.



5. The basic treatise on card magic. Though somewhat outdated, this is still the fundamental course on card sleights. Pretty good tricks in here too. Sound learning principles: learn sleight, learn tricks using the sleight, only then move on to next sleight. As this is inexpensive every magician ought to have this in his library, if only as a reference work.

5 comments about Monster Manual II (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement).

1. A good book for its time, but DMs should take note that this book is dated. Monster description blocks are not 3.5 compliant. This means that the monster's Base Attack Bonus is not clearly listed, nor is the Grapple bonus (although most Swallow Whole descriptions define this variable). Also, Damage Reduction has changed significantly, so be prepared to make some on-the-fly adjustments. Otherwise I would say that this book is very usable at all levels.



2. Some interesting new entries in the D20 universe such as the infamous gem dragons :) but the format is still 3.0e and starting to show its age, very difficult to use any of the LA's PC possible entries...

   Save this purchase for last for the completisits out there after you have the MM, MMIII, and fiend folio in your collection. Actually after that I would probably recomend others still before the MMII, notably the advanced bestiary from green ronin which contains more interesting and up to date material than the aged MMII here.




3. When I first got the book in the mail I was a TINY bit disappointed in the size, expecting a book the size of the Monster Manual 1, but when I looked through I was presently surprised. It has some very interesting new creatures (Dinosaurs, Gem Dragons, and Phoenix caught by eye when fist browsing over the Table of Contents) and the layout is great. A perfect amount of tables, neat spacing, and beautiful pictures make the book easy and fun to pick out monsters or look through when your bored. Though it does pull slightly away from the "old school" fantasy setting of goblins, orcs, knolls etcetera, it's a great book for DMs that want to make campaigns more interesting and for players intrigued by cool new monsters.



4. this book is very god because it has creative monsters in it. And also a lot of templents. Well worth the price.



5. As with most Monster Manuals, the larger more creatures you have at your finger tips, the easier it is to keep your players challenged and keep the game fun with a variety of opponents.

5 comments about Practical Mental Magic.

1. Ted Annemann is still considered one of the greatest Mentalists to have taken the stage. Within this volume you will receive hundreds of dollars worth of ideas. Annemann was one of the most prolific and original inventors of magic effects in his short life. If "13 Steps to Mentalism" is the bible of mentalism, Practical Mental Magic is the Dead Sea Scrolls. The only down side to this excellent book is its antiquity, and may require some updating to work with more sophisticated modern audiences.



2. This is a great book on magic, but it is absolutely not for beginners. I can't do any of this stuff. My good friend is a magician and he loves it.



3. One of the great classic texts, but don't get the idea that you're going to be doing the effects in the book five minutes after you pick this gem up. More important for the principles they use and show, and some effects and not logically or easily done in the drawing rooms of today!



4. I was disappointed in this book after having read so many glowing reviews. I was surprised to discover that it was written in 1944. The archaic language is a bit distracting, the hand-drawn illustrations look very dated, and there is too much use of words where clear diagrams would have been better. A picture is worth a thousand words, and you can double that amount of words if the prose is written in such an old style. I wasn't even able to understand what the writer was trying to say in a lot of cases. I don't recommend this book for beginners.



5. If you are looking for a book full of quick mental magic gags, this isn't very good. All the tricks in this book require either A) Advanced skills in slight of hand (palming, quick switches, etc) or B) A gimmicked apparatus. It isn't as easy as amazing your buddies at a party with some mind reading tricks. These are for more advanced magicians. It was also written in 1944.
   
   That being said, it is a very interesting look into how some of this stuff is (or was) accomplished. I have seen several of these tricks used before and wondered how they were pulled off, now I know.
   
   If you are a magician with basic skills in slight of hand, palming, and switching, then you will probably find some cool additions to your performance here.
   
   If you are looking for some basic stuff to baffle your friends with, this is not the right book for you.

2 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Street Magic (Complete Idiot's Guide to).

1. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Street Magic by TOM OGDEN has to be the best book ever written on the subject. Easy to understand instructions, great visuals (pictures) and even easier to pull off and mystify your friends. THIS BOOK IS A MUST if you want to fool your friends .... Or buy a copy and give it to everyone on your Christmas list. Your friends will NOT be disappointed. I have also discovered several other books by Tom Ogden, all good fun. You are NUMBER ONE Tom. Keep it UP!
   
   Mark



2. The title of this book might be a bit off-putting to serious magicians. "Street magic" is busking, a centuries-old art: a charismatic street performer draws a crowd and does a show for as many people as will watch. Ogden is referring here to the "street magic" seen on television since David Blaine's first special in 1997. Young magicians find Blaine's "street magic" fascinating, because it's cooler than traditional stage performance. Old-timers don't consider TV-style "street magic" to be the real deal. However, Ogden is using the concept here to appeal directly to a 21st-century audience.
   
   Ogden offers a first-rate introduction to the history and art of conjuring. The tricks here vary in difficulty from very simple sleight-free tricks to intermediate sleight-of-hand. They are carefully selected to have maximum punch. The presentations will truly amaze audiences. His partners in this venture include some of the biggest names in magic: Max Maven, Jeff McBride, Mac King, Michael Ammar, and many others.
   
   This is one of the best introductory books on conjuring I have ever seen. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Magic for Dummies.

1. (...)
   
   If you're looking for some new magic tricks and a good laugh (Eccl. 3:4), read "Magic for Dummies" by David Pogue. Don't let the title fool you, even experienced magicians can benefit from this book.
   
   The book contains many impromptu effects--things you can do anywhere with familiar objects. For example, you're in a restaurant with your friends and the conversation lulls. You take a packet of sugar off the center of the table and pour it into your clenched fist. Give it a little squeeze and "voila!" there's no sugar to be found.
   
   You could adapt many of the tricks to a Biblical theme. For example, "The Phantom Photo" is an illusion where you assemble an empty picture frame, an audience member selects a famous movie star, and their photo appears in the frame. This same illusion and a little imagination could turn it into a lesson about the major Bible prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
   
   Each chapter has something valuable. The effects are quite strong and unique. Many of the tricks were submitted by over 35 of the top magicians in the world. In addition to the secret, David adds tips and valuable suggested patter to the effects. The book contains several cartoons by Rich Tennant (The 5th Wave). One was especially appropriate for the Christian Conjuror and is included with this review.
   
   I found the answers provided to common questions like "How did you do that?" and things you can say when you flub a trick very helpful. Although I wish I never needed to use those lines, reality proves me wrong. It's good to be prepared. To help you become a well-rounded magician, David has also included a couple of chapters on the history of magic, describing some of the most famous magicians and incredible moments in magic.
   
   One appendix provides many places you can contact to continue with your interest in magic. There are many up-to-date internet addresses for information included as well. Unfortunately, the "Fellowship of Christian Magicians" is not listed. I've suggested this to the author for a future edition.
   
   Even if you bought the book and decided not to read it, you could always use the book as a prop in your next show. For comedy effect when a trick goes bad, pull the book out of your bag and pretend to check out the secret. It's always humbling to let your audience know that you consider yourself a "dummy" sometimes.
   
   All in all, "Magic for Dummies" is an excellent instructional book on magic for the beginner or professional. It's filled to the brim with practical illusions that you can do. David's sense of humor really makes the book fun to read. I give it a thumbs up!



2. This book provides the secrets behing some good fun and very easy to perform magic. The tricks are well described and if you are new to magic this is a great introduction.



3. the recipient enjoyed this gift. however, some of the illustrations are hard to follow. aside from that, it is a good first magic book.. or even for seasoned magicians to brush up on some old tricks



4. It was helpful. I am writing a script that requires a small amout of simple magic. I needed the book for helpful hints.



5. This book has some amazing stuff! Although I am an introvert, and certainly not one to be in the spotlight, I have really amazed some friends and relatives with some of the tricks (illusions) I have learned from this book. And it's been fabulous fun!!
   
   Each time I learned a trick from this book, I thought, "Will someone really believe this trick, it's so simple?" But guess what?? Their jaws dropped open, and they asked, "How DID you do that??" (NEVER tell!!)
   
   This book goes beyond just doing a trick, it goes into the psychology and illusion involved, which seems to make a great difference. Have a ball!

5 comments about The Structure of Magic II: A Book About Communication and Change (Book 2).

1. This series is for the serious in depth learner and student of NLP. These are not self help books for the casual reader they are the kind of book most of us read a chapter of and then have to digest, read again, as these are text books..real text books.
   
   That said, if you want to really understand communication then you want to read them, these boys are the big guns. You want to sell more real estate, read Tony Robbins, you want to be a great therapist, start here.



2. Though not an ease read, The Structure of Magic II as well as The Sturcture of Magic I are a must read for anyone interested in the healing magic that is done by therapists. This book takes the foundation created in book I and demonstrates how it is used in therapy. Bandler and Grinder have truly studied the masters of therapy and added their own unique and brilliant skills to create a very useful guide to doing therapy.



3. If you are interested in knowing how psychiatrists effect life altering change, then this book is for you. As you may know, the authors modeled the life altering strategies of successful psychiatrists, such as Milton Erickson, Perls, and Virginia Satir.
   
   I was rather intrigued, when reading this book to notice a strategy of Virginia Satir. In one of her dialogues with a patient, when the patient explains a perceived issue with another person, she repeatedly challenges his thinking by asking 'Are you a mind reader?'
   
   I now ask myself the same question on a regular basis. Sometimes, I ask other people that question too. If you think about it, that is a very good perception changing question unless, of course, you are a mind reader.
   
   Another book I recommend in this field is Mind Lines by L Michael Hall, which has an extensive list of change patterns, and My voice will go with you, which is a book of the therapeutic teaching tales of Milton Erickson.
   
   If you were to find this review helpful, please click yes.



4. I found this book even more difficult than the already challenging "Structure of Magic" but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The detail and precision that is gone into describing the unlimited power of words and communication is just what is needed in the wishy-washy world of self-help. Consider it more of a text book than a fun/easy read like Tony Robbins, and definitely start with "Structure of Magic" before going into this one.



5. This book is the book that when wanting to learn about NLP this is the text book to learn. If you have never done anything in NLP I suggest that you take some lighter material about the topic before you pick up this book. This book is in depth and the heart of NLP. Get the first volume too, as this one covers more on the first volume.

5 comments about Modern Coin Magic.

1. Although this book is not really "modern" anymore, I found it to be the most comprehensive and helpful book on coin magic that I have ever read. It gives detailed illustrations and step by step instructions (unlike some other books) and is well worth the effort. I definitely reccomend this book as a great buy, especially if you have been looking around on the internet for some coin magic that you can easily learn. There really is no website, but this is a great buy at a great price. Definitely buy this book, whether you are a novice magician or an expereienced one.



2. You find the best magic in books.
   
   To many magicians these days learn from videos and DVD's. While these are useful tools, book are where it is really at. The skill it takes to read a book and put it all together is what makes a magician great.
   
   But you have to find the right books and this is certainly one of them. Every magician worth his salt should have certain books in his library and Bobo's Coin Magic is one of them.
   
   Tim "Santiago" Converse
   Enter a World of Elegant Magic
   Santiago's Magic



3. This review will be simple and to the point. One of the best coin books you can possible find. By reading it, you won't just gain skills with coins. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Anyway, great book.



4. This book is great for learning good old fashioned magic. There is a ton of different coin handling techniques. Trick coins will only take you so far, "Modern Coin Magic" will help you to learn the coin skills to amaze your friends and family with any coin. Of course with lots of practice.



5. Modern Coin Magic, or the 'Bobo Book', is one of the CLASSICS of coin manipulation and deserves a prominent place in the library of any magician. Thanks to Dover we can avail of this book more than 5 decades after its first publication.
   
   Commencing with the basics of palming, sleeving, concealment, production, vanishes, etc., this book builds on with quick simple 'tricks' to ever more complex routines - including suggestions on patter & mis-direction. Never before have I seen such clarity of explication & illustration in books devoted to sleight of hand. And there is hardly any sleight of coin manipulation that has not been covered in this book. While one can come up with one's own routines based on a thorough mastery of the 'primitives of the trade', the most famous routines of its day have also been documented to the tiniest relevant detail.
   
   However, be warned that a complete mastery of coin manipulation is 'earned' only after hours & hours & hours of practice. This book is not the place to be looking for trivial 'self working' coin tricks (though they may well be in here).
   
   An excellent companion to this book is Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic which is to Cards as the Bobo book is to Coins.
   
   Overall a MUST HAVE for any budding/practising magician. Highly Recommended.

5 comments about Mindfreak: Secret Revelations.

1. I like Criss Angel and appreciate his skill with magic, but found the book to be very short, and low on any substance. It focuses on his own belief in himself. I hope a proper biography or autobiography gets written at a later date



2. This book is amazing! It gives you the history of Criss. It tells you the experiances he went through during his life, and his rise to fame. It also teaches you lots of tricks that you can do at home. I reccommend this book to everybody!!!!



3. I purchased this book from the MINDFREAK store in Luxor, Las Vegas. Less of a mindFREAK than a mindNUMB... This was one of the very worst books I have ever read, and I wasn't expecting much (he is, after all, a magician and not a writer).
   
   The book was rambling and contained very little meaningful discussion. Instead, Angel spends page after page (after page...) lauding himself and his self-reported "laser-like" focus on his goals, his amazing imagination, and his laughable "signature poses". The "biography" portion of the book is thankfully short, with the balance of the book consisting of 40 "Mindfreaks" -- Magic 101-level tricks complete with photos of an "intense" looking Criss (who mostly just looks silly).
   
   I actually felt LESS smart after reading this book. The real magic is how Angel makes your money disappear without providing you anything worthwhile in exchange.
   
   Avoid this book.



4. One of the best magician in the world. In this book, takes us on a personal tour of his surreal world, a special place where he seamlessly blends illusion and reality. Prepare yourself for a stunning look into his mind, life, and philosophy.



5. Two things I really loved about this book are that you get to read about Chris' life and learn about how he became the magician that he is. He's a very special person and he shares a lot of himself in this book. Second is that the back of the book is filled with magic tricks that ANYONE can learn. I say that because I've never tried learning magic before and had a blast with these tricks. I got a huge kick out of showing the tricks to people and seeing them freak out trying to figure out how I did them. Way cool!

5 comments about Self-Working Table Magic: 97 Foolproof Tricks with Everyday Objects.

1. Many beginners to magic (and others who should know better) are of the opinion that a magic effect has to be difficult in order to be worthwhile. While there are many killer effects that take months or years of practice, there are equally wonderful tricks that rely on psychology, subtlety, and/or advance preparation. The Self Working series of books are a treasure trove of great magic. This book is no exception. Many of the included tricks are used by successful professional magicians. Admittedly, these are best used in a program with other, more elaborate tricks, but for those moments in your act where you need a short, sweet effect, something in this book might just fill the bill. And as you get more proficient in magic you will find ways to further embellish these tricks and make them your own private miracles.



2. i think that this is a great book and it rocks my socks



3. Karl Fulves has been putting out these kinds of books for what seems like an eternity. They are good books for kids and even a skilled performer can pull some good material from these books.
   [...]



4. I purchased this book thinking that it would be a good beginning magic book for a group of middle schoolers interested in learning magic tricks. It seems that even though the objects are everyday, the tricks are not. This is a great book if you are willing to do the practice to master the tricks, but if you are looking for a quick trick, then keep looking.



5. This book is amusing but not spectacular, I would go for the street magic, Mindfreak and blaine books for something more espectacular. Decent for beginers.

5 comments about Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic.

1. I have a library full of Magic books. This is definitely in the top of my recommended list for magic books.
   
   1. For the price it can't be beat
   2. For all the information included it can't be beat
   3. For included illustrations it can't be beat
   4. It includes tricks from about every category in magic
   
   I find it hard to give any book 5 stars but this one definitely deserves it.
   
   If you are interested in magic and want a good book to start or to have for reference just buy this one without further thought.



2. Many times applauded, this classic for teaching magic is practically unequaled. If you want to learn magic from scratch, this book is what you need.



3. This book is wonderful for anyone wanting to learn magic tricks. This book explains how each trick will appear to the audience and then gives very detailed instructions with drawings showing each step. I used the information in the book to teach rope tricks to a bunch of third grade cubscouts. The parents were so impressed with the tricks that they wanted to learn them too.



4. I've always fascinated by magic. And for those guys who like to entertain the women, will find an absolute importance of magic in their routine. The tricks in this book are ranging in difficulty and definitely require times, energy and whole lot of practices to execute.
   
   I was expecting there will be lots of impromptu magics, the kinds I like to entertain people. Quite dissapointed to find the section to be basic and not very impressive. However, if you are a professional magician without this book, you'll be like a man in LA without a car. Thus I can say that this book is critical and mainly focused for stage magicians.



5. This is the instruction manual that I use to teach new magicians.
   Lawrence O'Leary