By: David Pogue Publisher: For Dummies Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: For Dummies Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 408 Publication Date: July 23, 1998
Product Description: You don’t need a white tiger, expensive props, or hours of preparation to do magic. With a little practice, some clever misdirection (which lays at the heart of all magic tricks), and showmanship, you can surprise family, friends, and coworkers using a few everyday items!
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.
Magic For Dummies features more than 90 easy-to-perform deceptions, illusions, and sleights of hand for any event or occasion. You’ll discover how to perform entertaining card tricks, coin tricks, disappearing acts, as well as the always-popular mind reading trick. You’ll even see how easy it is to make money disappear as well as melt a saltshaker! Chock-full of show-stopping tricks, Magic For Dummies will:
Get you started with easy-to-learn magic tricks
Let you turn a restaurant into a your stage with tricks that include utensils, mugs, and even food
Show you how to use a deck of cards to perform endless magic tricks
Make you the life of the party with tricks such as “Call This Number,” “The Strength Test,” and “The Phantom Photo”
Get you out of tough situations by giving you ten things to say when things go wrong
Filled with photos, patter, and presentation tips for every trick in the book, Magic For Dummies offers a great opportunity to become familiar with some of the coolest magic tricks ever performed. With the help of author David Pogue and the stunning tricks contributed by thirty-five of America’s top professional magicians, you’ll be leaving your friends, family, and coworkers spellbound at your mastery of the mystical arts.
Amaze some people with this!! This book has some amazing stuff! Although I am an introvert, and certainly not one to be in the spotlight, I have really amazed some friends and relatives with some of the tricks (illusions) I have learned from this book. And it's been fabulous fun!!
Each time I learned a trick from this book, I thought, "Will someone really believe this trick, it's so simple?" But guess what?? Their jaws dropped open, and they asked, "How DID you do that??" (NEVER tell!!)
This book goes beyond just doing a trick, it goes into the psychology and illusion involved, which seems to make a great difference. Have a ball!
Magic for Dummies It was helpful. I am writing a script that requires a small amout of simple magic. I needed the book for helpful hints.
satisfied customer the recipient enjoyed this gift. however, some of the illustrations are hard to follow. aside from that, it is a good first magic book.. or even for seasoned magicians to brush up on some old tricks
Good fun and easy This book provides the secrets behing some good fun and very easy to perform magic. The tricks are well described and if you are new to magic this is a great introduction.
"Magic for Dummies"-- A review of a new magic book released July 1998 (...)
If you're looking for some new magic tricks and a good laugh (Eccl. 3:4), read "Magic for Dummies" by David Pogue. Don't let the title fool you, even experienced magicians can benefit from this book.
The book contains many impromptu effects--things you can do anywhere with familiar objects. For example, you're in a restaurant with your friends and the conversation lulls. You take a packet of sugar off the center of the table and pour it into your clenched fist. Give it a little squeeze and "voila!" there's no sugar to be found.
You could adapt many of the tricks to a Biblical theme. For example, "The Phantom Photo" is an illusion where you assemble an empty picture frame, an audience member selects a famous movie star, and their photo appears in the frame. This same illusion and a little imagination could turn it into a lesson about the major Bible prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
Each chapter has something valuable. The effects are quite strong and unique. Many of the tricks were submitted by over 35 of the top magicians in the world. In addition to the secret, David adds tips and valuable suggested patter to the effects. The book contains several cartoons by Rich Tennant (The 5th Wave). One was especially appropriate for the Christian Conjuror and is included with this review.
I found the answers provided to common questions like "How did you do that?" and things you can say when you flub a trick very helpful. Although I wish I never needed to use those lines, reality proves me wrong. It's good to be prepared. To help you become a well-rounded magician, David has also included a couple of chapters on the history of magic, describing some of the most famous magicians and incredible moments in magic.
One appendix provides many places you can contact to continue with your interest in magic. There are many up-to-date internet addresses for information included as well. Unfortunately, the "Fellowship of Christian Magicians" is not listed. I've suggested this to the author for a future edition.
Even if you bought the book and decided not to read it, you could always use the book as a prop in your next show. For comedy effect when a trick goes bad, pull the book out of your bag and pretend to check out the secret. It's always humbling to let your audience know that you consider yourself a "dummy" sometimes.
All in all, "Magic for Dummies" is an excellent instructional book on magic for the beginner or professional. It's filled to the brim with practical illusions that you can do. David's sense of humor really makes the book fun to read. I give it a thumbs up!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
