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Ask HN: Books on Magic Tricks?
My tween son been reading lots of books on magic tricks, that I buy on garage sales and in used book stores. So some of these books are really primitive, hit and miss... So I want to hear recommendations on quality books. Thanks!
- rolph 7y agoReally good tricks are kept secret, but here is a place to look for first principles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin_magic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin_magic Coins are a bit advanced due to the dexterity required, and the close up nature of the presentation. You should check out card tricks too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_manipulation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_manipulation There is a basic mechanic to magic tricks that cross over. it requires dexterity, "salesmanship" and perceptual psychology.
- Tomte 7y agoCard College is the gold standard for card magic. Several volumes. Very clear illustrations. Pricey. There is also a DVD with the book's text and videos. The Royal Road to Card Magic is much shorter, much cheaper, and also a classic.
- mudil 7y agoThanks!
- yesenadam 7y agoSome wonderful magic books I've got a lot out of: Derren Brown - Absolute Magic and Pure Effect Tommy Wonder - The Books of Wonder, Vols I & II. Books by Dariel Fitzkee, e.g. Magic by Misdirection Berglas - The Berglas Effects (and his other books) Maybe they're too sophisticated for him, but I sure wish I'd had those when I was a kid! The Derren and Tommy books in particular are so thoughtful, inspiring, philosophical. You have to create your own magic effects - they show you how. The Berglas book puts 200+ (!) pages into explaining his 'Any Card At Any Number' effect in great detail..but it's more a complex of effects than a particular thing with a start and end...most of the time. There's a lot of Derren, TW and Berglas on youtube too.
- mudil 7y agoThanks!