If You Could Only Have 1 Magic Book, What Would it Be?

Jayq

Jayq

Dec 11, 2016
11
4
yeah, like the title says

im looking to buy my first magic book cuz im going to college and figured it could help me pass some time and improve my sleight of hand and performing(along with social skills hopefully :'()

i think that one book would be enough material to last me the entire time im there

any suggestions?
 
RealityOne

RealityOne

Elite Member
Nov 1, 2009
3,744
4,076
New Jersey
CWhite said:
Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic.
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Without knowing anything else about you, that would be my recommendation also.

If I had to keep only one book from my collection, it would be a different book. If I had to recommend one book for doing close up performance it would be a different book. If you need to learn the basics, it would be something different. If you are only doing card tricks, something else. If you have basic skills and are looking for some "street magic" performance material another book.

So my questions is what resources do you already have, what effects do you currently perform, how often and for who do you perform and what type of magic do you want to be performing?
 
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L

Lord Magic

Aug 15, 2017
651
413
Jayq said:
yeah, like the title says

im looking to buy my first magic book cuz im going to college and figured it could help me pass some time and improve my sleight of hand and performing(along with social skills hopefully :'()

i think that one book would be enough material to last me the entire time im there

any suggestions?
Click to expand...
For the reasons you specified, I am gonna third Wilson's book.
HOWEVER if I wanted to have a book related to magic for my entire life, I would actually choose Tricks of the Mind by Derren Brown. It is not EXACTLY magic, but it has the true secrets. Effects, methods, techniques, sleights, today I can get them without any sort of book, no matter how sub-par they are. However, what is written in Derren's book?

Not for your average and highly stereotypical magician.
 
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Maaz Hasan

Maaz Hasan

Jan 26, 2017
2,173
1,338
23
Virginia
Mark Wilson's Course is amazing, as you've already heard.

I guess saying the whole of Tarbell is cheating lol (especially since I'm only going off of the part I've read, haven't had time for the whole thing). Probably not for an absolute beginner though (language is annoyingly difficult imo)
 
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Jayq

Jayq

Dec 11, 2016
11
4
RealityOne said:
Without knowing anything else about you, that would be my recommendation also.

If I had to keep only one book from my collection, it would be a different book. If I had to recommend one book for doing close up performance it would be a different book. If you need to learn the basics, it would be something different. If you are only doing card tricks, something else. If you have basic skills and are looking for some "street magic" performance material another book.

So my questions is what resources do you already have, what effects do you currently perform, how often and for who do you perform and what type of magic do you want to be performing?
Click to expand...
my only resource right now is youtube (dont kill me pls), i mostly perform card tricks and mentalism and i practice almost everyday. magic-wise, i look up to lennart green, daniel garcia, shin lim, penn and teller and chris ramsay (there are more but it'll be a long list). i want to perform close up, like something that'll make me the most interesting guy in the room (i dont talk much)

im definitely checking out Wilson's book
 
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RealityOne

RealityOne

Elite Member
Nov 1, 2009
3,744
4,076
New Jersey
Jayq said:
my only resource right now is youtube (dont kill me pls)
Click to expand...

I haven't killed anybody.... recently.

Jayq said:
i want to perform close up, like something that'll make me the most interesting guy in the room (i dont talk much)
Click to expand...

Get the three books in Paul Harris's Art of Astonishment for $135. I'd also say to get the five Volume Card College Series for #185. For $320. With those eight books, you will be able to CORRECTLY learn the vast majority of known card slights (most of which are not on YouTube) and have a lifetime worth of material. If you can't afford to get them all at once, get the first two Card College books and the first Art of Astonishment book.
 
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Jayq

Jayq

Dec 11, 2016
11
4
Get the three books in Paul Harris's Art of Astonishment for $135. I'd also say to get the five Volume Card College Series for #185. For $320. With those eight books, you will be able to CORRECTLY learn the vast majority of known card slights (most of which are not on YouTube) and have a lifetime worth of material. If you can't afford to get them all at once, get the first two Card College books and the first Art of Astonishment book.
Click to expand...

i can't find anywhere to get these books, i live in malaysia, anything else?
 
RemyYeldrem

RemyYeldrem

Jan 28, 2018
20
10
24
England.
Jayq said:
yeah, like the title says

im looking to buy my first magic book cuz im going to college and figured it could help me pass some time and improve my sleight of hand and performing(along with social skills hopefully :'()

i think that one book would be enough material to last me the entire time im there

any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Give me some specifics here. Are you new to magic? Or intermediate? Also, what type of magic do you perform? Card tricks, gambling demonstrations, coin magic, cups and balls, mentalism? Because you know, it depends what you're after. Like, I wouldn't buy Bobo's Coin Magic, not because it's bad because I've seen people perform tricks from that book and it's amazing. But, because I'm a gambler and it would be a waste of money and would be useless to me.
 
EndersGame

EndersGame

Mar 15, 2018
247
97
boardgamegeek.com
You've had some excellent suggestions so far. I'd also endorse some of the titles mentioned, like Mark Wilson's book, and even Royal Road to Card Magic - but the latter only if you want to focus on card magic.

I think you need to tell us a little bit more about:
- what your focus in magic will be: only card magic? or also coin magic, impromptu magic, etc?
- what your current level of ability is: beginner? or intermediate?

Some other possibilities:
- Joshua Jay's "Magic: The Complete Course": This is also quite good, and even comes with a DVD, but the section on card magic is not that extensive, and it is geared more to beginners.
- David Pogue's "Magic for Dummies": The authors are no dummies, and the contributors of the material in this book include some big names like Michael Ammar, Daryl, and many others, and it has some wonderful tricks.
 
Jayq

Jayq

Dec 11, 2016
11
4
Sorry, ive been working for the last month or so

I would like to learn card sleights.
I love the idea of knowing something they dont and card cheating really appeals to me (for demo purposes).

As for level, i would say im an intermediate magician. But ive not practiced in a while (cuz work) so i cant palm properly anymore but i know how to cover angles.

I also love the theory and psychology of magic and pictures would also help lots :)
 
C

cgstorz

May 28, 2018
106
100
Saint Louis, MO
If you are an intermediate level magician I would suggest Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz. Learn it, love it, live it.

Any help with sleights can be gotten in person. I guarentee you aren't the only magician on campus. Find the guy/gal who is better than you and make friends. You can also hook up with finger flingers from around the world through skype.
 
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