The Magic of Mentalism: Reading Minds and Predicting the Future

Magic for Dummies Magic is an ancient art steeped in mysticism and wonder. It has fascinated humans for centuries and continues to captivate audiences today. If you've ever been curious about how magic tricks are performed or have dreamt of becoming a magician yourself, this guide is for you. The first thing to understand about magic is that it is not real. It is an illusion, a carefully crafted performance designed to deceive and delight. Magicians use a combination of misdirection, sleight of hand, and theatrical skills to create the illusion of magic.

by drewj » Feb 4th, '09, 23:07

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. 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.

Magicians use a combination of misdirection, sleight of hand, and theatrical skills to create the illusion of magic. Misdirection is a crucial element of magic. It involves diverting the audience's attention away from the actual method of the trick.

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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.

If you’re looking to saw a beautiful women in half or make buildings disappear, we’re sorry, but this book isn’t you. 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.

Through clever choreography, a magician can make you look where they want you to look while they perform the secret move that makes the trick work. Sleight of hand is another essential tool in a magician's repertoire. It involves the dexterous manipulation of objects, usually playing cards or coins, to create illusions. With practice, anyone can develop the skills and coordination necessary to perform impressive sleight of hand tricks. Theatrical skills, such as acting, storytelling, and showmanship, are also essential for a successful magic performance. A magician must engage their audience, build suspense, and create a sense of wonder and excitement. Theatrical skills enhance the overall experience and make the magic tricks more memorable. To get started with magic, it's important to learn and practice some basic tricks. For beginners, card tricks are an excellent place to start. Card tricks can be performed with a standard deck of playing cards, which makes them accessible and easy to practice. Learning basic card handling techniques, such as shuffling, cutting, and dealing, is the foundation for many card tricks. From there, you can progress to learning simple tricks like the color change or the ambitious card routine. Additionally, studying the history and theory of magic can provide valuable insights into the art form. Understanding the principles behind magic tricks can help you create your own unique performances and add depth to your repertoire. Remember, practice makes perfect. Becoming a skilled magician takes time, dedication, and countless hours of practice. Start small, master the basics, and gradually expand your repertoire. The more you practice, the better you will become. In conclusion, magic is an art form that combines misdirection, sleight of hand, and theatrical skills to create illusions. By learning and practicing basic tricks, developing showmanship, and understanding the principles of magic, anyone can become a magician. So grab a deck of playing cards, start practicing, and prepare to amaze your friends and family with your newfound magical abilities..

Reviews for "Building Your Magic Collection: Essential Tools and Props for Every Magician"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic for Dummies". Although the book claims to teach even a complete beginner like me, I found the explanations to be confusing and lacking in depth. It felt like the author was rushing through the concepts without providing enough examples or practical exercises for me to truly grasp the techniques. Furthermore, the book failed to address common challenges and troubleshooting tips, leaving me frustrated with my progress. I would not recommend this book to anyone serious about learning magic.

2. Sarah - 1 star - "Magic for Dummies" was a complete waste of time for me. As someone who was excited to learn magic tricks, I expected the book to provide clear instructions and guidance. Unfortunately, the explanations were convoluted, and the illustrations did not provide enough visual support. The book also had a repetitive nature, explaining the same concept multiple times without adding any new insights. Overall, I found it difficult to follow and ended up being more confused than when I started. Save your money and look for a more comprehensive magic guide elsewhere.

3. Mike - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magic for Dummies," but it fell short of my expectations. The book claims to cover a wide range of magic tricks and techniques, but it only scratches the surface of each topic. The descriptions were often vague, leaving me unsure of how to properly execute the tricks. Additionally, the book lacked detailed explanations of necessary props and how to acquire them. I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied with my attempt to dive into the world of magic.

4. Emily - 3 stars - While "Magic for Dummies" provides an overview of different magic tricks, it lacks the depth required to truly master the art. The explanations are brief and sometimes unclear, leaving room for confusion and mistakes. The book could benefit from more detailed illustrations and step-by-step instructions to help readers understand the intricacies of each trick. Overall, it is a decent starting point for beginners, but those serious about learning magic should seek more comprehensive resources.

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