Amateur Magician's Handbook

Henry Hay (pen name for June Barrows Mussey, who was a journalist and translator as well as magician) was probably the best magical writer that ever lived. Several professional magicians have learned from his clear prose, including Johnny Ace Palmer, Gary Oulette (producer of the WORLD'S GREATEST MAGIC specials), and David Copperfield. If it was good enough for those guys, it's good enough for anybody. It was certainly good enough for me. I still refer back to it at times, and I've been into magic since I was twelve. I'm twenty-one now. Buy this book and learn all that it has to teach. Count yourself very lucky if you can find a good copy.

If you are interested at all in magic then this is the book to get. It lets you in on the secrets of a whole realm of different magic tricks (coins, cards, stage, close, etc....). Whats great about this book is that if you are new to the "hobby" then you can sample a little of alot and find what really interests you, then you can delve into another more specific book with deeper content.

This book is superbly well-written. It is as if a kind, patient, highly gifted uncle comes to visit. The reader is taken step by step, thought by thought, along the way to appreciating the beauty, skill, and effects of the practice of magic.The writer's style takes the simplest observations and gradually builds them until, before you know it, you are quickly doing things of startling sophistication and skill!This handbook not only informs and instructs, it enriches. The author converses with the reader, and this comfort in reading inspires confidence in doing.This book is an invaluable addition to any magician's library...it is one of the three best I have read in thirty-five years of studying magic.

I've read this book alteast 15 times during the seven years that I've had it, and I still love to read it. If I could meet its author, it would be like a dream come true. This book has made me into a better magician than I could ever imagine. I even love the smell of its pages. One thing though, don't get it if you are looking for apparatus magic. Essentially teaches sleight of hand, but boy does it teach. Its the best book, it has to be.

I got my first copy about 1973, then bought the updated version a few years later. Bought 3rd copy when I heard it was out of print. This book took me from a toy magic kit to doing kid's shows and small parties. The performance tips are excellent, and the handling of classic sleights was remarkably clear, even though there were few illustrations back then. Still the textbook I use to teach magic classes! Strongly recommend grabbing a copy before they run out!