The Art of Modern Conjuring: For Wizards of All Ages

This book is a great primer for the introduction of magic. It is well organized, and the illustrations are classic. Though much of the tricks are classic, there are tricks in the book still used today by top magicians like Lance Burton (e.g. sword and card trick). I would recommend it for any magicians library.

Hard to believe this was originally published in 1886!! This 206 page book is pure delight from beginning to end, with very clear illustrated explanations on Palming,Card and Coin Tricks,Ring,Hat,Ball,and Handkerchief tricks, and a lot besides.Perhaps you will not be totally convinced that they all work, and you may feel some of these acts are not completely described, but you have to admit it's a nicely done work. As far as the THOUGHT READING described in last pages, I am not convinced that by feeling a person's pulse you'll be able to pick a previously disclosed object on a table, but it may be possible! Worth trying at your next little get together,along with an Ouija Board! The book and it's contents are so well done/designed you can be sure it will be browsed thru and admired probably into the 22nd century!!

How do they do that? That's the question this book answers. In so doing, it will extend your imagination to help you decipher illusions for yourself in the future. I had more fun reading this book than any other "how to" book I have seen this year. As a result, I feel this book deserves more than five stars. What captured my attention was the careful demonstration of how the assumptions of viewers cause them to be misled by the practiced illusionist. I learned more from seeing the details of how the hand is quicker than the eye in this book than I have from all the scientific books I have read about perception and how the brain works. The book's examples will spill over into making readers more usefully observant in all areas of life. The Art of Modern Conjuring was originally published in 1886. The publisher has done a nice job of keeping the feel of the original (especially with the cover) while providing an easy-to-use volume. Although I have read many books about simple magic tricks and illusions, this one was more revealing and more interesting than any other. I strongly recommend it for those who want to learn how to do simple illusions and for those who want to understand what appealed to families and audiences in the late 19th century. The book is greatly enhanced by the many illustrations that carefully demonstrate how to make the illusions work. The book was designed as a "guide for amateurs and young beginners." The subjects covered include basic skills, various illusions, how to assemble an act, and how to handle an audience. Among illusions, you will find out about essential skills like palming and passes, and how to do tricks with cards, coins, wedding rings, handerchiefs, balls, hats, candles, animals, string, flying, and inexhaustible sources. You will also find out how spiritualist illusions, seances, and thought reading are conducted. Over 200 illusions are covered in detail. Some are described in as many as four ways to conduct them! To me, the best parts included how to create the clothing and equipment that you need to make the illusions work. You will learn where special pockets and trays are needed, and how to change the perspective to cause viewers to assume the wrong thing. Some of the basic principles were interesting too. "Never tell your audience beforehand what you are going to do." Whatever you say, understate what you are about to perform (a few simple tricks before you make the Eiffel Tower disappear!). "Never perform the same trick twice before the same audience." You must not look at your hands. You need a wand to offer "a plausible pretext for many necessary movements." After you become more savvy about illusions from this book, think about where else illusions are constructed for your benefit that rely on your false assumptions. For example, used car lots often spray "new car smell" into the interiors of newer cars they are selling. Many people misdescribe themselves when looking for