by Zebedee0 » Nov 24th, '06, 15:04
How to pick pockets for fun and profit - A magician's guide to pickpocket magic - Eddie Joseph
Usually around £5-7
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)
Review
A book that claims to show you how to secretly remove anything from the pockets of people.
Fairly poor book IMO, for beginners wanting to find some methods to help them anyway. The description on the back is slightly misleading because inside he actually says..
"I have purposely not refferred to the manner in which your hand should operate in the pocket... I have not given you specific instructions on removing many items such as belts, cufflinks, bracelets, necklaces... "
Not to mention that he refuses to tell you how to pick anything from someone's front pockets.
Other things I didn't like in the book was the getting caught section. Which basically says if the volunteer is aware that you are picking his pocket but the audience isn't, then to whisper to him to play along! And then the section of stealing a shirt involves using a stooge who you 'randomly' pick from the audience and who is also wearing the shirt in a specific way to make it easier for you to take off.
Overall
There are a few good things in the book, but on the whole it's pretty poor if you're new to pickpocketing and you're looking for a well explained book on the subject.