Unlocking the Secrets of Mentalism: Magic Tricks for Beginners

Magic for Dummies Magic has captivated the minds and imaginations of people for centuries. The ability to perform supernatural feats has always held a mysterious and alluring appeal. But magic isn't just reserved for the select few; it can be learned and practiced by anyone interested. This note aims to provide a brief overview of magic for beginners - amateurs who are eager to dip their toes into the enchanting world of magic. To begin with, magic can be categorized into different types, each with its own unique qualities. Some common types of magic include sleight of hand, illusion magic, mentalism, and close-up magic.

All in all, about a 7 out of 10.

The Puff-Chested Boyfriend In the presence of a girlfriend, a funny thing happens to this ordinarily easygoing species He becomes surprisingly defensive, remarkably unreceptive to being entertained by the magic. But if you want to act out little miracles that you can perform on the spur of the moment with items that are usually within reach, then Magic For Dummies can show you how.

Some common types of magic include sleight of hand, illusion magic, mentalism, and close-up magic. Sleight of hand involves manipulating objects to create the illusion of magic, while illusion magic focuses on the grand spectacle and stage performances. Mentalism, on the other hand, involves creating the illusion of mind reading and supernatural abilities, while close-up magic takes place in an intimate setting, engaging the audience with tricks performed up close.

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Magic for Dummies book by David Pogue, boasts “over 90 easy-to-perform tricks using everyday items like money, silverware and playing cards!” and “Includes favourite tricks from 35 top professionals magicians” Also Lance Burton is quoted on the front saying “A book that all magicians of any age and level of experience will cherish and refer to for years to come”

I got this as a Christmas present, The RRP is £18.99 but you can get it for £9.49 here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Dummies-s . 842&sr=1-1

Difficulty: 1-2
(1=Easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

This is a book aimed at beginners so most of the effects in here are pretty easy.

The author is joined by a collective of magicians including Jeff McBride, Johnny Thompson and Lance Burton amongst others. For the purpose of this book they are known as the advisory pantheon and contribute tricks. There’s an introduction on each at the start and their tricks are credited in the trickography at the back
Also included sprinkled throughout the book are advice and anecdotes on the fundamentals of magic as well as icons informing you of needing to do prep work, misdirection, acting etc next to each trick point to enhance the effect.
The book is 369 pages long, 18 chapters in all but the last 4 are to do with advice and history and magic events in history.
My favourite chapters in this book are the ones on cards and building your own card trick which contains both forces and reveals and the chapter on mentalism.
I particularly enjoyed the torn and restored toilet paper effect in chapter 14, “Don’t show me the money” in chapter 3 where the magician puts down three $1 dollar bills and one $20 dollar bill on the table and turn his back and the spectator switches the bills and then the magician tells them to keep taking bills off the table until there’s only one left which is the $20) I thought that was fun, same with “give me a ring something – and a string” where the magician hooks a ring on a looped string and with a couple of twists he manages to pull the ring off the string even with both ends wrapped around the spectators thumbs. I decided to skip a lot of this book because I didn’t like the tricks because I didn’t think they were real magic but I’ve gone into more detail about that below.

I would recommend it for beginners only who want to get something easy to get started with as not to put them off magic but unfortunately this book did because a lot of the stuff included are more gags than magic or tricks that are really easy to figure out or are impractical but there are a few chapters which I did enjoy and a few more tricks from other chapters I enjoyed as well but I didn’t think these justified the price of the book, I probably wouldn’t have bought this book if I hadn’t got it as a present, however it did give me plenty of ideas and taught me the basics of magic.
3/10

"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken"
"Self improvement is masturbation of self destruction"

by Replicant » Nov 11th, '07, 20:35

I agree with your summary of the book. I got this when I was first starting out in magic and thought it was ok; like you say, there are a few gags and jokes in the book which I don't really care for. Definitely not worth the RRP of £19-odd, in my opinion, but typically for a Dummies book, it is quite an enjoyable and humorous read.

Check my review index for an existing review on this book. http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic1759.php

by memorire » Nov 2nd, '08, 08:23

I disagree with the review. This book does have some very strong effects in it. Perhaps they are even too good for the general public.

In my opinion its a very good introduction for a beginner and thats how it should be rated. for a beginner i would rate it 9/10 (the amateur magicians handbook having 10/10)

@reviewer. if it taught you the basics of magic then it has fulfilled its purpose. why such a low rating?

by Alraune » Nov 2nd, '08, 10:38

Most reviews of the book are positiv. I personally agree with the negative one here.
I got this book to start with magic and I didn't. Years later I made a second try with the Royal Road and Wilsons Complete Course and those beginners book are simply on another level than the Dummy-book. It includes some nice gags but nothing you can really use in a performance (and thats what IMHO is the reason for learning magic).

by Misanthropy » Nov 4th, '08, 16:40

I gave it a low score because as you said there are much better beginner books out there and it did put me off a little because some of the things in it were really dumb but maybe I was a little harsh and should have given it 5/10

"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken"
"Self improvement is masturbation of self destruction"

by drewj » Feb 4th, '09, 23:07

I got this for my daughter when she was about twelve and expressed a (passing) interest.

OK, you can call me Percy Pedant, but I do have an instinctive dislike of the 'for Dummies' concept due to its failure to differentitiate between stupidity and ignorance. However, I was pleasantly suprised by this. There are some strong effects here, and quite a lot of the sort of filler material of gag/fun stuff things that you might used between tricks. The writing style is quite relaxed, without overdoing the folksy feel that could be a problem.

All in all, about a 7 out of 10.

Incidentally, my daughter decided that her future lay in the audience side of things. Unusually, she really preferred not to know how things were done.

In my opinion its a very good introduction for a beginner and thats how it should be rated. for a beginner i would rate it 9/10 (the amateur magicians handbook having 10/10)

Regardless of the type of magic one wishes to pursue, there are fundamental skills and techniques that every aspiring magician should learn. These include misdirection - the art of diverting attention away from the secret maneuver, palming - discreetly holding an object without detection, and the art of storytelling - weaving a captivating narrative to enhance the magical experience. To begin learning magic, it is essential to practice foundational tricks and techniques. Mastering simple card tricks, coin tricks, or vanishing object tricks can provide a solid foundation for progressing onto more complex illusions. One can find a vast array of resources, such as books, online tutorials, and even magic classes, that cater to beginners and offer step-by-step guidance. Apart from learning the tricks themselves, it is crucial to work on presentation and showmanship. Magic is not just about the trick; it is about the experience created for the audience. Engaging with spectators, maintaining charisma, and developing a stage persona are vital aspects of being a successful magician. Observing and learning from experienced magicians can be immensely helpful in honing these performance skills. Furthermore, joining magic clubs and attending magic conventions can provide a supportive community of fellow magicians, opportunities for collaboration, and a platform to showcase one's talent. These platforms can help budding magicians refine their craft and gain valuable feedback from experienced individuals within the magic community. Lastly, it is important to remember that practice makes perfect. Magic requires dedicated practice and honing of skills to deliver flawless performances. Patience, resilience, and persistence are key qualities for any magician to develop. In conclusion, magic is an art form that can be learned and enjoyed by enthusiasts of all ages. While this note provides a brief overview of magic for beginners, it is just the beginning of a fascinating journey. From learning simple tricks to creating awe-inspiring illusions, the world of magic offers endless possibilities for those willing to explore it. So, grab your deck of cards, perfect your misdirection, and prepare to unlock the secrets and wonders of magic!.

Reviews for "The Science of Magic: Understanding the Psychology Behind Illusions"

1. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really hoping that "Magic for dummies" would be a comprehensive guide to learning magic tricks, but I was sorely disappointed. The book seemed more like a collection of random tips and tricks, rather than a step-by-step instructional guide. The explanations were convoluted and hard to follow, and there were no visual aids or diagrams to accompany the instructions. Overall, I found it to be an unintuitive and confusing read, and it did not help me in improving my magic skills.

2. Jason - 1 out of 5 stars - I found "Magic for dummies" to be incredibly basic and lacking in substance. The book only touched on the very basics of magic tricks and did not provide any in-depth knowledge or techniques. I was expecting a comprehensive guide that would teach me advanced magic tricks and techniques, but I was sorely disappointed. The content felt like it was meant for absolute beginners, and even they might not find it particularly helpful. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking to learn magic seriously.

3. Samantha - 2 out of 5 stars - I found "Magic for dummies" to be quite boring and unengaging. The writing style was dry and lacked the excitement and enthusiasm that I would expect from a book about magic. The explanations were often overly technical and filled with jargon, which made it difficult for me to understand the concepts. Additionally, the book did not provide any real-life examples or stories to illustrate the tricks, which made it hard to visualize how they should be performed. Overall, I didn't enjoy reading this book and didn't find it helpful in learning magic.

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