Net of Magic: Wonders and Deceptions in India

Seriously, this is one of the very best scholarly books I have ever read. It is an entertaining and perceptive treatment of Indian magical performance in its anthropological and religious dimensions. Siegel misdirects with the best of them and the reader begins to visualize the soon-to-be-released Bollywood version. Parts are very funny, but this work is every bit as effective as more conservative academic studies. Five maharaja turbans!

I ordered this book with high expectations (being a lover of India and a life-long fan of magic). I must say that they were all met and exceeded. Mr. Siegel has not only managed to write a detailed anthropological account, but a genuinely entertaining read. Description of the illusions is handled with artful care. To me, its greatest success is in making you feel like you are witnessing the magic, smelling the air, and getting to know the people of modern and ancient India.