talkmagic.co.uk

The Book: The Magic of Michael Ammar

Cost $39.95 (+shipping) from http://www.ammarmagic.com



Difficulty
(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)

Tricks covered range from 1 - 5

Table of Contents

Introduction by David Copperfield

Foreword by Michael Ammar

Preface by Mike Maxwell

CHAPTER ONE: Cups & Balls
Stand-Up Cups & Balls
The Dai Vernon Wand Spin

CHAPTER TWO: Utilities
Retention Vanish
Amazing Coin Vanish by Rick Anderson
Fingertip Coin Vanish by John Carney
Ultimate One-Finger Spellbound
Corner Switch
Bottom Deal Force
Wiped Clean #1
Wiped Clean #2
Clip Card Vanish
Cut and Restored Rope Replacement
Side Steal
TT Finesse

CHAPTER THREE: Eight Philosophical Essays On Magic
In The Men's Hut
Super Group
I've Got Rhythum
The Unspoken Performance
Lying: The Unconscious Dilution of Impact
Get More Rubals From Your Magic
I'm In Training
Have No Mercy

CHAPTER FOUR: Social Workers
This'll Flip You Out
Coin On Ceiling
Card Matrix
Snort but Sweet by Bob Chesebro
Silver Certificate by Lou Gallo
Coin in Pen Cap by David Williamson
CHAPTER FIVE: Restaurants
New Wave Coins Across by Mike Gallo
Reverse Matrix by David Williamson
The Vanishing Glass
Coins Through Table Kicker by Mike Gallo
Now Cut That Out by David Williamson
Switching Sandwiches
Torn and Restored Cigarette #1
Torn and Restored Cigarette #2
Ring Band-It
Did You Order Salt or Pepper
Bluefield Debut
Broken and Restored Rubber Band Finesse
The Linking Headbands Pinch

CHAPTER SIX: Reputation Makers
Pencil Thru Quarter (with Trade Show Climax)
The Iceman Cometh
Card Cubes
Let's Hit The Bottle

CHAPTER SEVEN: Stand-Up
Silk to Egg
Indoor Baseball
Signed Bill In Light Bulb
Billy, The Hypnotized Balloon
The Two Card Trick
Haley's Comet

CHAPTER EIGHT: Magic Management
Custom Cue Sheets
Show Sheets
Personal Project Planner
Booking Sheets

CHAPTER NINE: Classic Renditions
The TT Bill Switch
The Crazy Man's Handcuffs

CHAPTER TEN: Bonus Chapter
False Count With Coins
Multiple Coin Production
Double Color Change
Kointakey
Inversion by James Lewis
Incredible Coins Across
The Vernon Theory of Artistic Advancement: An Essay by Michael Ammar
Challenging Your Experiences: An Essay by Michael Ammar
Where Do You Stand?: An Essay by Michael Ammar
On Magic Competition - Part One: Technical Preparation
On Magic Competition - Part Two: Mental Preparation
Pencil Thru Quarter Finesse by David Williamson

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Making Magic Memorable
The Development of Style
Eight Principles for Making Magic Memorable

CHAPTER TWELVE: Negotiating Higher Performance Fees
Negotiating
The Three Stages of Negotiation
Nine Gambits

Review
I can't belive that a review hasn't been written for this book yet. It is absolutely positivly awesome! Michael Ammar has won numerous awards & after reading this book I can see why. He explains everything extreamly clearly. The illustrations (drawn by his wife) are also clear & really well drawn. As you can see from the contents he covers a wide variety of stuff from simple tricks to how to sell yourself better.

Overall
This is worth every cent & every days wait (I couldn't afford what they wanted to charge for air mail, so it came via surface mail - took 4months ) that I spent. When ordering there is an option to have Michael Ammar sign the book for you (If he happens to be around he'll even personalise it)

Value 10:10
Tricks 10:10
C.U.P.S 10:10

Oh boy - I can hear my credit card groaning again!

Great review and great book. One advantage of this book over his DVD's is you don't get that annoying Ammar laugh!

(Just kidding Mr. Ammar if you are reading this - for the record I really admire your work).

Hey,
I've been interested in this book for a long time, thanks for the review.
I have one question.
Is the cups and balls section just a basic routine? Or is it more advanced?

It's the routine that he used to win Close-up Magician of the Year at the Magic Castle.
He's also performed it on TV a couple of times.

Takes up the first 30 pages of the book.

This was one of the first books I bought on the subject of magic and I've always referred to it as my bible. Anyone who doesn't own a copy is missing out on some of the most important writings from what I consider to be one of the best teachers of our time.

Buy it..... IT ROCKS

I agree - the book really ROCKS
I was also really impressed with the quality of the printing etc - hardcover, really good illustrations and a whole lot of picture of Ammar etc. The cups and balls is quite complex (well for me anyway). It includes the Dai Vernon wand spin, as well as a detailed explanation of the spin.
The details he goes into in all of the material is amazing. If I remember correctly - crazy man's handcuffs has something like a four page explanation. He even takes things like pencil/cigarette through coin and gives a really great way of handling the effect. I could go on and on about the rest of the book but I think it's best you read it yourself. Definitely a worthwhile buy.
Thanks for the review dar_kwan

Mandrake wrote:Oh boy - I can hear my credit card groaning again!

Im so glad i dont have a credit card!

I just followed this link from GoldFish's cups and balls routining plan, and I must say that I have not come into contact with anything to do with Michael Ammar until posting on TalkMagic.

I must say, he is an absolute legend, from what I have seen and heard, the first time that I knowingly saw him perform was the other night on Channel 5 (or is it just '5' now?) on the Best Magic Tricks in the Universe...Ever. He was in the top 5 I think, with his Cups and Balls routine, and, my god, is he good or what!?!?

Even though I knew what he was doing, I felt privileged to watch him work... AND I never saw him load the final surprises into the cups! I was baffled. He has misdirection skills that are second to none.

Is his website the only place you can get his book? I just did a quick search on Amazon and they don't have it.

I bought his sponge rabbit routine from emagictricks and it has never failed to put smile on the specs' faces. Brilliant.

I've just noticed that it's not actually his sponge rabbits routine that I've got. It's a Goshman product, endorsed by Mr Ammar.

Just thought I'd best clear that up...

However, I did find out that the Crazy Man's Handcuffs routine I've got is by Michael Ammar. I performed it yesterday at a recruitment agency for the lady interviewing me - the receptionist saw it and asked if I was single!!!!

I now know what it feels like to be Derren Brown...

I've tried searching for the book on emagictricks and they don't appear to have it. However, Alakazam do it and you can find it on their site...

www.alakazam.co.uk then just do a search for Michael Ammar.

Tried posting the full link but it didn't seem to work!!

Wow! From the response this book has recieved here already I'm thinking of getting it AND I only scan read the review. Time to go back and have a proper look methinks...

Yep, this is definatly going on my list. Now, to find a credit card....

With surface mail ($7.50) p&p, the book is actually cheaper to buy from Ammar's site - if anyone's interested. Works out at $47.75 which is just over £26.

Bargain!

good review there....shame i havejust spent all my money lol. i am been given £10 but thats buying me BoBo coin magic book. On friday cant wait i have it on PC but i want something where i dont have to sit in front of my PC to read.


Ben Bale