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The Book
This is more than just tricks, it has some excellent information on various sleights and shuffles. It is aimed at the amateur who wants to rise above the simple "Let me show you a trick" level. Bob Lange says,

"The purpose of this book is to teach you great card tricks and tell you exactly how to perform them. This includes step-by-step instruction and tips on presentation."

Cost
www.amazon.com today listed 34 used copies ranging in price from one penny to $14.98. Mine, which is "two books in one", includes Giant Book of Card Games, cost $24.95


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)
Ranges from 1-3, and all the sleights are taught.

Review

I decided to write this review when I saw one of Bob Lange's other books, 101 Magic Tricks, panned by the reviewer. I owned this book, which I thought was very good, so I hope my review shows a different view of Mr. Lange's work

The book is divided into two main sections:

THE MOVES--Over 30 moves are explained, including:

The Peek
The Glide
Controlling a card (includes double-cut, key card control etc.)
False Cuts
Shuffles
Forces, and
Three different ways to do the DL

CARD TRICKS--16 sections explaining almost 100 card tricks. The sections include

Prediction
Transposition
Face up, Face down
Spelling
Gambling
Mind Reading
Setup
Four Aces.

I like Bob's style of presentation. Here is an example of how he introduces one trick to his spectators:

"I hope you enjoy murder mysteries. The one I am about to present is challenging, thrilling, exciting and preposterous. See if you can solve the murders. Yes, I said murders; this is going to be a juicy one. Now these four queens are rich, old spinsters living alone in a huge mansion. You, as symbolized by the six of clubs, are their lawyer and in charge of their finances." Nod knowingly. "...Also in the house is the tall, gaunt, old butler". Indicate the jack. "... Suddenly the lights go out!"

The trick is quite simple, requiring only the use of the glide.

If you enjoy complicated tricks where you can demonstrate your skill as a cardition, then this book is not for you. To quote from Bob's introduction:

"...some magicians miss the main point. The object is not merely to fool spectators, nor to impress with a variety of flourishes. The object is to entertain."

Overall
I rate this 9/10 for the target customer.

I started with a bunch of Bob Longe material years ago...it was a great introduction to card work. Interestingly, I still use some of it now (or some of it is seen in components of my work) and I get far greater reactions now than I ever did. This just proves the point that performance is everything....my patter is better and my own, my sleights and flourishes are cleaner, and I have much greater enthusiasm in my performance.

Sometimes for fun I will throw in one of my original self workers from a book of his and it gets great reactions (as mentioned even better than when first learned) and it is amazing how now that my "credability" has gone up I am not longer questioned on the simplicity of some of teh issues that I used to struggle with....I always recommend anything by him to start.

It's always encouraging to hear professionals admit they use the tricks that we amateurs perform. Now, if only I could improve my glide I would start doing this one again. (My brother-in-law caught me last time I tried this, and he's not magic-savvy at all.)

The book the original poster referred to with the two books as one is a compilation. It includes tricks from Great Card Tricks, World's Greatest Card Tricks, World's Best Card Tricks. Every trick from World's Best Card Tricks is included.

The edition of Giant Book of Card Tricks without the card games book has the same tricks in it with the addition of every trick from the Longe book Clever Cards Tricks for the Hopelessly Clumsy.

TerryC wrote:It's always encouraging to hear professionals admit they use the tricks that we amateurs perform. Now, if only I could improve my glide I would start doing this one again. (My brother-in-law caught me last time I tried this, and he's not magic-savvy at all.)

I know it has been a constant topic of debate in the magic community, but I personally don't use the glide so much. I think it was Gary Ouellet who said that the glide is the most useless sleight in card magic.

Very rarely do I come across the glide used in an effect. And even if it is, I generally substitute it for my very-bad-looking-yet-good-enough-to-deceive-spectator Second Deal, or even the awesome Tenkai Palm Deal.

@TerryC : Yes, even I love it when I hear about or see working professionals performing tricks that I perform . It gives a me a heightened sense of achievement

TerryC wrote: Now, if only I could improve my glide I would start doing this one again. (My brother-in-law caught me last time I tried this, and he's not magic-savvy at all.)

I find the classic glide problematic, with straining fingers and white knuckles! As was so often the case, Dai Vernon had a new take on the glide which completely avoids the above. Additionally, the pack can be picked up from the table and the glide effected without altering the grip. More Inner Secrets of Card Magic page 82.