Alex Stone is a renowned magician known for his innovation and mastery in the field of magic. With a career spanning over two decades, Stone has left a lasting impact on the world of magic through his unique performances and contributions to the art form. Born in New York City, Stone developed a fascination for magic at a young age. He began his journey by studying the works of legendary magicians and learning classic tricks. As he honed his skills, Stone started to experiment with new techniques and concepts, pushing the boundaries of traditional magic. Stone quickly gained recognition for his inventive performances that seamlessly blended storytelling, psychology, and sleight of hand.
Ever since his father bought him a magic kit at the venerable age of five, Alex Stone has seldom left home without a deck of cards and three Kennedy half dollars. Plunging headfirst into New York’s underground magic scene, he discovered a fascinating cast of characters—from his gruff mentor, who held court in the back of a rundown pizza shop, to one of the world’s greatest card cheats, who also happened to be blind—and perfected his craft. Read More >
Stone, a magician, suffered his colleagues disapproval when he revealed how a number of tricks are done in a 2008 article in Harper s Magazine , the basis for this book. Plunging headfirst into New York s underground magic scene, he discovered a fascinating cast of characters from his gruff mentor, who held court in the back of a rundown pizza shop, to one of the world s greatest card cheats, who also happened to be blind and perfected his craft.
Stone quickly gained recognition for his inventive performances that seamlessly blended storytelling, psychology, and sleight of hand. His acts were not just about creating illusions but also about captivating the audience and making them question reality. Stone's ability to engage and connect with his spectators made him a sought-after magician for events and television appearances.
Fooling Houdini: Alex Stone on How Magic Works
This Thursday at 11:30 a.m on Oct. 31, in the Great Hall, there couldn’t have been a more fitting guest speaker for this Halloween. Author and magician Alex Stone spent the hour explaining how and why magic works. He also entertained the audience with magic tricks.
Stone graduated from Harvard and earned a master’s degree in physics from Columbia University. The author addressed several questions such as: “How does magic fool us?” and “How much of what we actually perceive is real?”
The magician explained that his love for magic came at a young age. His father was interested in magic, and he liked fooling his dad. “He was a scientist, and I found it interesting that he never wanted to know how the tricks were done. That was interesting to me as a man that pursued truth for a career,” he said.
But who does want to know how the trick works? It literally takes the magic out of it. It was fascinating to know how magic worked, but it was sad to listen to him explaining that magic, well, isn’t real.
“Magic is a kind of applied psychology,” Stone said. He explained that the tricks are in the mind of the spectator, not in the hands of the magician. Basically, magic relies on your brain being slower than what it is perceiving.
One of the reasons that magic works is because of “inattentional blindness.” This results when an “individual fails to perceive an unexpected stimulus in plain sight.” Basically, the brain is focusing on something else and misses what is right in front of it.
Because of this, Stone explained that he feels it’s harder to fool children than adults. Children are accused of not being able to focus, but in reality, it’s that they can focus on many things at once and can’t give their full attention to one thing. For adults, they’re good at focusing on one thing and ignoring the rest.
Hopefully this didn’t take away the fun in magic. Although Stone was up there explaining how and why we were getting tricked, the bottom line is that we all still fell for it. Looking to still believe in magic? Halloween is just the night for that.
The next A.P.E.X event will be held Nov. 7 at 11:30. Chuck Aaron, an Aerobatic Helicopter Pilot with be in attendance.
Story by: Elizabeth Armstrong
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Photos by: Elizabeth Armstrong
Seven years ago, trying to decide between two book topics, I was spending half my time interviewing magicians and going to magic shows and the other half interviewing shoplifters and going to shoplifting-addiction groups. But then came a moment when I began to wonder whether magic was a good subject for me: I was sitting with a magician—white and middle-aged, like so many are—in a coffee shop on the Upper East Side. When I asked how he had done a card trick in a show I had seen the previous night, he glared at me for a long moment. I thought he was going to leap across the table and cut my heart out with a knife. Shoplifting it was!
One of Stone's most notable accomplishments is his publication of the book "Fooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind." In this book, he provides an inside look into the world of magic, delving into the secrets and psychology behind the tricks. "Fooling Houdini" became a bestseller and further solidified Stone's reputation as an authority in the field. In addition to his performances and writing, Stone has also served as a consultant for magic-related projects in the entertainment industry. His expertise has been sought after for films, television shows, and theatrical productions, where he has helped create captivating and mind-boggling illusions that leave audiences in awe. What sets Stone apart from other magicians is not just his technical skill but also his ability to connect with people on a deeper level. He understands that magic is not just about the tricks but also about the emotions and experiences it evokes. Stone's performances often leave spectators questioning their perception of reality and inspire them to believe in the power of possibility. In conclusion, Alex Stone has made a significant impact on the world of magic through his innovative performances, insightful writing, and consulting projects. His unique approach to magic has captivated audiences worldwide, inspiring a new generation of magicians to push the boundaries of the art form. Through his work, Stone continues to uncover the mysteries of the mind and create unforgettable magical experiences..
Reviews for "The Science of Illusion: Alex Stone's Fascinating Approach to Magix"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Alex Stone Magix". The story was boring and predictable, and the characters were very one-dimensional. There was no depth or complexity to the plot, and I found myself getting bored halfway through. The writing style was also quite dull, with repetitive phrases and cliché dialogue. Overall, this book didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "Alex Stone Magix". The writing was so bad that it was painful to read. The grammar and spelling mistakes were numerous, and it was clear that the book had not been properly edited or proofread. The story itself was convoluted and nonsensical, with unrealistic events and undeveloped characters. I regret wasting my time on this poorly written and poorly executed book.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Alex Stone Magix", but it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story. The characters lacked depth, and their actions felt forced and unrealistic. The dialogue was also stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the story or the characters. Overall, "Alex Stone Magix" was a letdown and not worth the time or effort.
4. Daniel - 2 stars - "Alex Stone Magix" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. The book was filled with unnecessary subplots and side characters that detracted from the main storyline. The writing was choppy and awkward, and I found myself constantly re-reading sentences to make sense of what was happening. The ending was also unsatisfying, leaving many loose ends unresolved. I was hoping for a captivating and thrilling read, but instead, I was left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed.
5. Jessica - 1 star - "Alex Stone Magix" was a complete waste of my time. The story was incredibly boring and lacked any originality. The characters were flat and uninteresting, with no development or growth throughout the book. The dialogue was also incredibly cheesy and unrealistic, and I found myself cringing at several points. The writing was amateurish, with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. This book was a major disappointment and I would not recommend it to anyone.