No comments about Tricks to Freak Out Your Friends.

5 comments about The Tarot of Prague Kit: A Tarot Deck and Book Based on the Art and Architecture of the "Magic City".

1. I was pleasantly surprised with this set. The cards have an unusual storage box, which is like a small book binding that ties with cord. Mine was also signed and numbered by artist and author.
   The only flaw I find with this tarot is the quality of the paper in the handbook. Its unique style and beauty still makes it a wonderful purchase, a real find for the collector.



2. "We designed the Tarot of Prague to be a vibrant expression of the city. The images are collaged from thousands of original photographs of the streets and houses, the murals and statues, manuscripts and drawings, and even from the games that make up Prague's rich visual treasury." - From the Booklet
   
   In some ways, I'm working my way backwards when it comes to the richly produced art of baba studio. To my knowledge, I own every deck and book created by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov, having reviewed most of them. However, it wasn't until now that I began to work with The Tarot of Prague, baba studio's signature deck that is so beloved in the Tarot community. (In fact, this deck was recently used in an episode of the TV show Ghost Whisperer!)
   
   I don't have the Tarot of Prague kit, just the small box with the L(ittle) W(hite) B(ook), so that's what I'll be reviewing. The Tarot of Prague follows the Rider Waite Smith system, although the Majors aren't numbered, and there's an extra Majors card: Prudence. The upper left hand of the cards depict the number or letter (in the case of Aces and the Courts), with a golden Cup, Sword, Wand, or 5-pointed Star (Pentacle) in the lower right hand corner. Matte-finished cards measure approximately 5"x 3", with card backings depicting an intricate assemblage of graphite hued scrollwork, birds, candelabras, and humans representing the four elements. At first glance, the backings appear reversible, but upon closer inspection, they are not. However, if you're not looking too closely, you probably won't notice during the shuffling process.
   
   The 32-page LWB gives a brief overview of Tarot history, as well as learning and reading the cards. Also provided is a good overview of the general meanings of the numbers and Court Cards (e.g. Pages often indicate exploration, study, enthusiasm, risk-taking beginnings, news, and messages, while the number two often deals with issues of union, balance, decisions, and dealing with emotional forces.) A few spreads are shared, including the Celtic Cross and a specially created 5-card Prague "Threshold" spread. Upright keywords are given for all the cards, but the Majors are given more attention with a brief explanation. Karen gives a great overview of each of the suits/elements, including the positive and negative sides of each expression.
   
   Aesthetically speaking, The Tarot of Prague didn't appeal to me at first. In fact, I still have mixed feelings about the mish-mashed media used for the cards, especially some of the cartoon-like images paired with gorgeous photography. If it were a photo-only collaged deck, like the Tarot de Paris, I think I'd appreciate it more.
   
   Because of this initial lack of resonance, I had my doubts about how The Tarot of Prague would read for me. However, I'm happy to please that I just did a 3-card Body, Emotions, Spirit spread and it was quite clear, surprising, and accurate! I had just finished walking over a mile on the treadmill, and was feeling energetic, centered, and clear-minded. I drew the 4 of Cups, 3 of Cups, and Ace of Cups for my spread, and, admittedly, the 4 of Cups in the Body position threw me. I had expected a "fiery" card to represent the fat-burning engine that had just been stoked (LOL)--a card like The Sun or the Ace of Wands. What in the world was the card of "boredom" doing in that position?! So I went to the LWB, and to my surprise, it mentioned "withdrawal from excesses" as one of the possible meanings. How uncanny! You see, I had began a (mostly) low-fat diet back in August, and have lost over 30 pounds so far. One of the things I noticed is that food preference seems to be a habit of sorts, because I no longer craved high-fat foods; in fact, they didn't even appeal to me! So my body was, indeed, on a "withdrawal" from excess fat--in a good way!
   
   The 3 of Cups reflected the emotional "high" I had felt towards the end of my workout (hello endorphins!), as well as my desire to make it to the 2007 Readers Studio in NYC in April. In my spiritual practice, I had been (trying) to work on cultivating compassion and such, so the Ace of Cups in the Spirit position spoke several meaningful messages to me.
   
   So while I didn't immediately connect with the images of the Tarot of Prague, it is proving to be a unique, incisive, accurate deck. Incidentally, the same thing happened with baba studio's Victorian Romantic Tarot; I ABHORRED the artwork (originally) and now it is one of my favorite personal decks for my Card-a-Day readings and journaling. Honestly, there's just something special about Team Karen and Alex!
   
   If you're enamored with The Magic City, fans of baba studio, or enjoy (seamlessly) collaged decks, you'll likely enjoy The Tarot of Prague. I don't think it's the best deck for beginners (try baba studio's Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot or The Victorian Romantic Tarot if you're just starting out), but it's a wonderful addition for deck collectors and Tarot readers.
   
   (To see 10 images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)
   
   Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)



3. I gave this tarot set as a gift to a friend, and she and I have both been enjoying giving each other readings with it. The colors are very rich and it is a beautiful set overall. Even though some other reviews didn't recommend it for a first tarot deck, my friend seems to like it, and it is her first. I like seeing images from the city of Prague. Would probably mean even more to someone who has actually been there.



4. I got this deck back in 2004, as I have always been so enamoured and enchanted with the magical city of Prague. I had high expectations.....could this tarot truly capture the elusive soul and heart of such a mysterious, haunted, uncanny, quaint, supernatural and fairytale city?
   
   Much to my eternal happiness this Tarot does all that and more! To get the full awe-inspiring affect, one must hold these cards in your hands, play with them, caress them and let them ensnare your imagination and soul.
   
   There is no modern anything in these cards and images. It's all very Olde World, quaint, strange and mystical. Stautes with life breathed into them by the creators, engravings that seem to come from very old tomes of magic sumptiously, vibrantly and gently coloured, wonderful quirky faces and characters of all stripes and ghouls from an old Cezch bohemian 32-card playing deck, these pop up all over the deck, at times the main focus, at others as odd little hidden curiosities it's a joy to find lurking in a corner.
   
   Each card has many layers for as much or as lttle interpertation as you want. The many varied, but all outstandingly beautiful and striking art and styles are very well put together and chosen to compliment one another and really bring each card to life and salient meaning.
   
   The book is really the absolute best companion book for a deck I've ever come across, and I have read a lot of them! It's large and well-packed with everything and then some that makes these extraordinary cards sing their wisdom. The author obviously knows her Tarot, and lets us in on her knowledge. The parts pertaining to the deck are just wonderfully eye-opening. She includes many fascinating and fantastical tidbits on the art and architecture and how it adds singular and notable meaning to each card. I've never had a book bring alive a deck and their images quite like this book. There is also added essays called "More About" and informs you on the stories and fables concerning things in a card. For example Ther Hermit stands in Golden Lane, a very narrow and mysterious, uncanny street with quite the history. Her "More about" essay tells all about the history any fables connected to it. What fun! The section on getting to know the cards and spreads are superb.
   
   For readings, this Tarot has no equal. I am continually astounded and awed by how the cards speak and sing to me with their images and wisdom. I get such in-depth insights, ideas and uncanny intuition from my time spent with the deck. Speaking of intuition if you're looking for a completely intuitive deck, look no further.
   
   The cards themselves in the 1st edition are unlike any other deck I've come across (I have a 100 in my collection). A very sumptious, luxurious heft and feel to them, semi-matte. The backs are a evovative sepia brown. They're the perfect size as well.
   
   The art, streets, history, magic, occult, alchemy, fantastic and fantastical enchantments and phantoms of the truly grand city of Prague are captured in this deck and book. You will most certainly not be disapponted.
   
   This 1st edition set is almost sold out, there are a few copies still available (as of this review date) for the normal asking price at the publisher's site. I cannot comment on the 2nd edition as I don't have it, but I do know the cardstock is different and they are larger. Also the 2nd edition does not come with a book, once the 1st edition sets are gone, that's it.



5. I was so surprised as I seen cards from this deck posted many
   many times - one person I know talked about loving hers so much
   I finally took the bait & ordered a set - what a pleasant surprise
   I totally love this set - the cards - the book is excellent
   I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves Tarot & like
   me you may just get such a pleasant surprise & totally love it
   Hats off to the Authors who did an A1 job on this set

5 comments about Card Manipulations.

1. This book remains a classic for obvious reason. In it, you learn how to make cards appear and disappear from your empty hand, how to make some of the most beautiful card fans ever conceived, and how to manipulate cards in ways most folks would never imagine. There are also several tricks in this book that use the manipulation principles involved. This book is for die-hard cardicians, but those interested in fooling their friends may find something here also



2. This is an excellent collection of card sleights and a few tricks. My only complaint is that some of its methods require every ounce of your attention to comprehend them. Not real clear in some areas but other than that it is excellent!



3. This is an excellent book, which I waited for for two and a half weeks, it came to me and I was excited, it turned out to be quite a wonderful suprise. The appearing card trick is quite suprising, but difficult to comprehend what he is getting at. no dissapearing card tricks either, other than that, he has some excellent one handed shuffles and other great tricks. thank you



4. This is a great book. A lot of the things in this book have inspired a lot of ideas and variations. However, this book suffers from a major flaw: many of the techniques in this book are out of date, and many of the tricks would not be as powerful for today's audiences.



5. This book is a wonderful resource for those wanting to improve their sleight of hand, and contains over 165 card tricks and stunts. While the book starts with the basics, understand that the basics can be very challenging to master! Many of the tricks will require serious practice to make them polished enough to perform. The text of this book can be somewhat dense, and require a few readings to get the gist of what is being said. And while there are some difficult tricks to perform, there are a number of things the absolute beginner can pick up rather quickly.

No comments about Simple Magic Tricks: Easy-to-Learn Magic Tricks with Everyday Objects (Hamlyn Reference S.).

3 comments about The Amazing Magical Wonder Deck: A Box of Illusions with Trick Cards and Instruction Book.

1. Didn't expect much out of this one, but it actually turned out to be a great deck for anyone who wants to do magic. It has 16 great 'gimmicked' cards, and a full 52 card 'stripper' deck, that enables you to do great tricks. It also comes with a very thick instruction book, written by 'Mr. Mysterio', a magicicain from the 20's. There is also something of a plot line to the instruction book, with funny intruductions to the tricks. If your a beggenner or an advanced magician, this an amazing buy!



2. This deck is perfect for beginners who want to learn a few tricks. The 52 card "stripped" deck is well made and makes some of the more popular card tricks (included in the booklet) very easy to learn and repeat. The gimmicked cards are also well crafted and seem to hold up over time and use. Beginners will find the instructions/illustrations are well written/drawn which makes learning fun and gets you going with these tricks very quickly*. If you are more advanced with card magic you will find this entire set a breeze. This set is as good as any you might find in a magic shop. It is nice to see a well made set with multiple tricks all in one neat package at a reasonable price. Buying these tricks individually would prove tedious and expensive. Once you have mastered this deck, then learn all of the "stripped" deck tricks with a "normal" deck...then you'll be on your way!
   
   *Learning some basic card handling and sleight of hand will make these tricks EVEN MORE impressive!



3. I'm surprised that none of the previous reviews mentioned Mr. Mysterio's missing 16th card trick. As you will note in the product description..."The kit also contains a set of 16 "gimmicked" cards, including - An Eight of Clubs that makes a matchstick levitate!" Well, no such trick is included. The booklet states that 16 gimmicked cards are enclosed, and then proceeds to describe only 15 such cards - omitting the gimmicked 8 of clubs. The trick is simply not mentioned anywhere in the booklet. I checked the publisher's site, and it has the same product description as Amazon. It also has a page preview link - guess which page it calls up - yes, the "Eight of Clubs that makes a matchstick levitate!" page. I guess the trick was part of the package when first released.
   
   If you're interested in how the trick is done, here's the link to the publisher's site:
   [...]

5 comments about Snake Oil: Life's Calculations, Misdirections, And Manipulations.

1. I was very dissappointed with this book. It is a series of old and fairly useless information. I hope Jim Rose's show is better than the book.



2. This book is interesting and informative, but clearly a quick-'n-dirty effort. Rose claims he wants to tell "all he has learned" about con games and sideshow ruses, before he starts to forget any of it. In fact, it's obvious that he merely rattled off whatever happened to come into his head as quickly as he could and slapped it between two covers. In some places, he tells the same stories twice in the space of a few pages - apparently forgetting he had already mentioned them - and in many places he merely retails well-known parlor tricks as "insider secrets".
   
   There is no attempt in the book to be systematic - it is a hodgepodge of magic tricks, rigged carnival games, actual con scams, math tricks, mentalism, bar bets, and just about any other kind of "tricky" move, but only a few of each. Anyone who has read even a little about any of the above subjects will find they already know most of what he has to say - and that a vast range of lore in each category has been left out.
   
   The book would work well if it were billed as an introductory review of different kinds of tricks and scams - maybe for kids who are intrigued by such things but haven't started to read up on them yet. (It also needs some serious editing and better organization.) With that less-ambitious aim in mind, the book can be read for pleasure and information - but as a comprehensive review of every scam ever pulled, from an insider expert, this book itself is its own best scam.



3. While not as entertaining as his first book, 'Freak Like Me', Jim's second book is far more useful. Armed with the tips and trickery contained within one would never again have to buy a drink.
   
   With the knowledge contained in Snake Oil, a person of questionable character could make a lot of money. After all, a sucker is born every minute.



4. I bought this book based on a magazine article I read that made it seem interesting. Boy, was that a mistake! Snake Oil as a title must be Jim Rose's little joke on us, because this book is exactly that, a specious product sold by a charlatan. I now have the book in a box where I keep it while I think of someone I dislike enough to give it to.



5. Jim Rose, a man unique in so many ways, has a riveting book here. I highly recommend it. I still would love to see his show someday.

3 comments about Self-Working Rope Magic: 70 Foolproof Tricks (Dover Books on Magic).

1. If you see a book written by Karl Fulves on magic that has the words Self-Working in the title then buy it. There is a wealth of knowledge in each of these books. -Diamond Jim Tyler



2. Hi; Whether you are a beginner or experienced magician, you will find a wealth of great magic in these books, especially if you enjoy the subtle (sneaky!) instead of complicated sleight-of-hand.



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.
   
   [...]

2 comments about The Everything Card Tricks Book: Over 100 Amazing Tricks to Impress Your Friends And Family! (Everything: Sports and Hobbies).

1. I was looking for a book of card tricks, not a book on "magic" tricks. I spent the money and now I have to suck it up.



2. This is a great book for going beyond the basics of "self-working" card tricks to actual sleight-of-hand tricks that are professional quality.

1 comments about Presenting & Training With Magic : 53 Simple Magic Tricks You Can Use to Energize Any Audience.

1. What a great idea to include relatively easy magic tricks in presentations and training sessions! Although some of the "magic tricks" are redundant, the overall idea is great. Each trick includes a description, materials required and step-by-step instructions. Whether a seasoned or new presenter or trainer, this book is likely to have something useful to spice up your presentations.

3 comments about Houdini Speaks Out.

1. Harry Houdini is a legendary stage magician whose legacy and influence have served to inspire practitioners of legerdemain down to the present day. Although very well known as a magician and as an escape artist, over time people have largely forgotten that he was also a believer in an after life and an exposure of fraudulent mediums who tended to prey on a gullible public. "Houdini Speaks Out: "I am Houdini! And you are a fraud!" by Arthur Moses recreates Houdini's 'solitarian' lectures which he gave from 1922 to his unexpected and early death in 1926. Each of the fifty glass lantern slides he used to highlight his lectures are recreated and carefully matched to his original lecture text. Also available in a hardcover edition (9781425767433, $79.99) "Houdini Speaks Out" is a very strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library collections -- and should be considered mandatory reading by anyone with an interest in spiritualism, magic, and the occult.



2. Arthur did a fantastic job on this book. If you are interested in Houdini and Houdini research, this is a valuable edition to have and well done. It seems a bit specialized as the focus is Houdini's magic lantern slide show given at the end of his Spirit Fraud lectures but also Arthur has published the wonderful pictures from a set of the glass slides that Houdini used in his show - nice stuff. I highly recommend this book should you have an interest in this material and the rare photos. -- In spring 2008 #1 issue of Skeptic Magazine you can read my article on Houdini's Spirit Expose Show with Houdini's show reveiwed and spoken quotes of Houdini during the show largely used.
   
   - Steve Rivkin



3. I have read few bíographies about Houdini. This one I bought because of lantern slide photos it represent, Houdini used these lantern slides in his lectures about spiritualism. All the pictures in this book are perfect, interesting and beautiful (if I may use word beautiful when talking about Houdini...). Addition to lantern slides there are more photos, copies of handbills etc. Nice work.