101 Greatest Magic Secrets Exposed by Herbert L Becker (Book) ISBN 0 8065 2154 6
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/whs/go.asp?isb ... fId=546330
The Effect
Over 250 pages of tricks, hints, tips and explanations.
This book contains many tricks from card levitation to great escapes and hypnosis to mind reading. It features slights of hand from magicians such as Harry Houdini, David Copperfield, Siegfried and Roy.
The book covers many things. Starting with part 1, card tricks and decks. Decks such as the Svengali and Stripper. It moves on to the one handed pass and other tricks such as card on the ceiling (2 versions) and a good impromptu rising card. Part 2 focuses on hypnosis (8 versions and 3 experiments). Part 3 focuses on rope magic including cut and restored and knot in the middle. Part 4 is quite a interesting section on grate escapes such as underwater crate and burning box. Part 5 is names Mysterious Mayhem and includes sawing a person in two and sword through neck. Part 6 is mind reading including dice and card predictions. Part 7 is magic illusions such as flying carpet, walking through a wall and vanishing bowl of water.
Cost
£11.95
Difficulty
2 to 5 (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)
I say between 2 and 5 as it really depends. Some of the easy to do card / coin tricks would be a 2 but if you tried the burning box escape I would say a 5.
Review
Although the book states it teaches you all these tricks I would say it is more an insight as to how they are done. It gives you enough information about each trick so you could figure it out but it does not teach you them in detail. I enjoyed reading it and having a look at the Copperfield and Houdini tricks. I would not say it is a super beginners book as it can say things like then perform (insert move) but not tell you how to do the move.
Overall
From a general interest point of view 9 out of 10.
From a teaching point of view 4 out of 10.
I think it is a nice book to read on a sunny day sat in the garden but not as your first and only purchase if your interested in magic and the development of it.
