Scarne on Card Tricks

This is the definitive collection of non sleight-of-hand (you don't have to be quick with your hands) card tricks. I bought my first paperback copy in 1974 when I was still a schoolboy. Some of the tricks are easy but astounding, such that I've memorised two of them and have amazed my friends over the years until now. Since then, there hasn't been any other card trick manual that can beat this one, to the best of my knowledge.

John Scarne is today perhaps best remembered as a leading authority on gambling scams and card cheats. However, in his prime, he was one of the best magicians in America. In the late 40s, as stated in the Introduction, Scarne decided to gather for magicians a set of card tricks involving no sleight-of-hand. The result is "Scarne on Card Tricks". The 155 effects in the book range from quick tricks and puzzlers to more elaborate card demonstrations. All of the effects are attributed to either the originator of the effect or to a magician who used the effect frequently. The book clearly bears Scarne's unique genius not only in the selection and variety of effects, but in Scarne's improvements of the original effects. There is no doubt that anyone can put together a most entertaining routine with the material in this book. Two words of caution. First, the copyright of the book is 1950 and so some of the patter is clearly dated and needs to be revised for contemporary audiences. (Patter is the words or story that accompany the effect.) Second, because the effects are easy to do when practiced, there is a tendency to perform the effects before fully thought out. For every hour learning the basic effect itself, two hours should be spent on how to present it in an entertaining and interesting manner. The book itself, however, remains one of the very best in card magic. Scarne's work clearly stands the test of time. Frankly, the book is a steal at the published price. I bought two copies because I knew I'd wear one book out. I did. The book is that useful.

I've been fooling millions of people with Scarne's sensational non-sleight of hand card tricks from this book. It doesn't take much practice to master these tricks yet the effect on your spectators face is- how the hell did you do that? As a cardician, I think every card trick enthusiast should have it

This is one of the finest books in magic with cards. As an expert magician and cardician I highly recomend this book to beginners and professionals of the "Quin Art"

I own the original 1950 hard-backed copy of Scarne on Card Tricks. John was a dear old friend of our family. For years, I have been doing his great tricks and astounding everyone without having to use any slight of hand. That's what makes this book so great. If you want to entertain your friends or bring some life to a party, this is a great way to do it. They're clever, simple, yet always impossible to figure out! I strongly suggest everyone get it!! Johnalways was, and always will be the greatest magician and authority on gambling that ever lived!