talkmagic.co.uk

ITEM: Book with enclosed DVD

PRICE: US$19.95. Cdn$22.95 (amazon.ca Cdn$15.72!)

LEVEL: Beginner

QUALITY OF PUBLICATION: Outstanding! 278 pages in full colour. Most pages have 3 or 4 pictures of Joshua Jay performing.

CONTENT:
1. MAGIC SCHOOL--Intro, and how to use the book. Some excellent advice here (e.g. "rabbits and top hats are standard magic images, but they are outdated for most performers.)

2. IMPROMPTU MAGIC--The usual beginner stuff, but includes finger exercises. (This is a first for me.)

3. DINNER DECEPTIONS--Salt, sugar and bananas are the stuff of this section.

4. TEN GREATEST CARD TRICKS OF ALL TIME--includes a couple of tricks using the Svengali deck and the ID.

5. KID CONJURING--a small section; clearly not his comfort zone.

6. WORKING MIRACLES--magic for the office

7. MONEY MAGIC--Good stuff, including Coin thru bottle, using a cheap gimmick available from your local magic store.

8. PARLOR PRESTIDIGITATION--includes Cut & Restored newspaper and a neat book test.

9. TELEPHONE TRICKERY--which also includes a cell phone trick.

10. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER--Joshua creates five complete acts for you; Close up, Card, Parlor, Kid's and Stage.

If that's not enough there are dozens of excellent side-bars. Items such as "How Houdini Died", "Dressing the Part" and "The Magic Gesture" give an example of the diversity of these. (If you buy this book for your child, I'll bet you borrow it just for these wonderful side bars.)

Clearly this has no value to most people who visit this web site; but I'm sure many have friends/kids/etc. who want to start magic. This book is as good as it gets.

An enthusiastic 10/10

Agree. This is a great book to add to your bookshelf.. pass on to your kids later

I bought this as it looked like a really nicely produced book and something I might want to pass onto my godkids if they ever tear themselves away from their DS's....

It really is sumptuous, and the extra explanations on the DVD are the icing on the cake. Personally, I got loads of mileage from the kids magic section (particularly the cut down TT).

There's also a nice 'name your card' trick that you can do online from any pc which I'm sure would appeal to loads of youngsters.

10/10 from me as well.

Many tricks, good descriptions (I haven't needed the DVD at all yet), several very good tricks.

9/10. Maybe I'm just a little bit harsher a critic, but there's a few too many "filler" beginner tricks. "Silverware Sorcery" is just silly. Still, for the price, perhaps the best starting book I've seen.

I find that this book is an interesting read. I really like Josh explains each of the routines in great detail with history and credits.

It's a must-have book category.