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Looking for something to read. What is your favorite magic book (any type) and why

Got to be the Paul Harris' art of astonishment (all three vol.) Once you pick one up it will be a long long time before you put it down, it has something for every style of magic and is really witty and funny and full of great essay's for when the hard stuff gets frustrating! but most of all it's packed tight with great great effects! I've said it before (as have many!) and no doubt I'll say it again... this is my magic bible!

My favourite magic history book is the First Psychic by Peter Lawton (see review in review section). As for books that are concerned with the art of magic, I guess either of the Derren Brown books.

Without doubt, the books which has given me the most satisfaction over the years has to be split between Corinda's 13 Steps and the Encyclopaedia of Card Tricks by Hugard and Crimmins.

Eugene Burger's "The Performance of Close-Up Magic"

Thanks to Seige for getting that for me

Close-up-card-magic by harry lorayne, love this book its only £20 put a brilliant book packed with effects.

If I had to go with a series it would definately be Tarbell. But if I just had to choose one, then I would say Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. It covers just about everything from beginning sleights to stage illusions. It was the first real magic book I read when I was young and it helped me out tremendously and got me off to a good start.

"The Dave Campbell Legacy" 90% card magic, 10% general magic. Still the best magic book in my collection. And worth every penny of its £35 price tag. All useable material and every effect in it is very strong. If I ever want to learn a cool new effect this is my first port of call.

Only available through International Magic in London. If you go in, get Jerry or Marco to demo you some effects for you. You WILL buy it.

Fantastic chapter on "Packet Tricks" that you would happily pay £15 an effect for.

Surely, expert at the card table-E.S Andrews
Without a doubt.absolutely amazing, cant describe it
Enough...what a book.....it makes
Reading more acceptable,and
Definetly opens it up to a broader audience,what magic needs!!!
New recruits,taking up the reigns...learning the ropes
And passing them on to a new generation,but only if they could
See the possibilities.too many foolers,not enough respect.i suppose
Everyone changes.........given time??

Lash wrote:If I had to go with a series it would definately be Tarbell. But if I just had to choose one, then I would say Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. It covers just about everything from beginning sleights to stage illusions. It was the first real magic book I read when I was young and it helped me out tremendously and got me off to a good start.

Almost word for word what I wanted to say. I see I need to be quicker next time.

One thing I will add, it must be the best value magic book around. What you learn for the price, must be just about unbeatable. IMHO

has to be Art of astonishment (all volumes) wonderful books and great effects too also the Tommy Wonder books

Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz.

a few of the above, but also Dear Mr. Fantasy by John Bannon, Kentonism by Kenton Knepper and Building Blocks by Luke Jermay...

edit - reasons:
Dear Mr. Fantasy - for all those off-beat moments (and the book title is one of my favourite songs)
Kentonism - for so much actually, its very influencial in my thinking nowadays
Building Blocks - ditto and for those very handy convincers...

I've gotta say "Magic with Cards". Mostly an inferior book compared to some of the newer stuff out there, but this was my very first magic book per se and I picked it up at Barnes and Noble for a discount price. The book was kind of funny with words, but you just have to focus and have an open mind when they try to explain some of the more advanced techniques. Practice doesn't hurt either! Teaches handling, sleights, technique, but mostly tricks of various categories.

This book really pushed me forward in the realm of card magic.

Thinking about giving it a re-read these days to sharpen my skill.

Royal Road, because it made me realise just how hard I'd have to work to get what I'd seen on TV.

13 Steps because it totally blew me away. The gulf between cause and effect in mentalism was a real shocker. Plus, there's so much in it.

The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading. I know Craig has issues with it, but as a manual of techniques, it's extremely comprehensive, whether it teaches you to be a reader or not.

Card Concepts, because self-working can be beautiful too.

Absolute Magic, because it's that good.