The Effect: As if by magic the magician's performance improves tenfold overnight - I wish.
Cost: currently £26.95 from our favourite online dealer
emagictricks
Difficulty: Not really applicable, but ranges from 1-5 but with no sleights!
(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)
Review:This is a book about performance, if you are interested only in tricks don't buy it. If you want to become a real magician, though, you must read this book.
The 250ish page book is stuffed with Derrens theories on the performance of magic, particularly on the subject of making tricks seem like real magic. It is a true treasure chest of info, but I should utter a word of warning, if you accept everything that is written here you will probably break down and cry at the thought of how terrible your performance has been to date, but if you take it in a bit at a time, gradually changing what you do you will undoubtedly improve.
So who should read this book?
If you have never really considered your performance style you should read this book.
If you have, but think it isn't good enough you should read this book.
If you are happy with your performance style you should read this book to assess what you are doing wrong.
If people commend you on how good your tricks are you should read this book just to see why Derren thinks this is a terrible thing. (and having read it I agree with him)
If you want to expand your vocabulary you should read this book.
If you are easily offended by crude language you might want to be a little cautious, (though I shouldn't think that applies to most of our regulars) but Derren is very funny, particularly in his self criticism and laying into Guy Hollingworth, who I can only assume is either a very good friend of his or he really hates him!
Out of 10: Got to be all 10, no question.
Cogito, ergo sum.
Cogito sumere potum alterum.