talkmagic.co.uk

Hi

I'm after a little advice here as I've seen a set of books for sale and wondered if they're worth the price they're up for. These are

The Classic Magic of Harry Lorayne
The Art of Astonishment 1, 2 & 3 Paul Harris
Routined Manipulation - Lewis Ganson
Capricornian Tales - the magic of Christian Chelman
The Performance of Close up - Eugene Burger
Bob Ostin - A life time of magic invention

Now the three I really really want are the Paul Harris books and will pick these up from some where regardless. That and the Tarbell Course

They're 2nd hand but in decent nick and the guy won't split them down, I can have them for £120

Are these 8 books worth that money? if not, what would you suggest is a better price. I've had a quick go with the search function but it's not turning up that much.


Thanks in advance

Considering that i bought the art of astonishment set seperate for £35 each i'd say you are getting a really good deal. I'd pay that again just for the material in the PH books. Also theres bound to be some excellent material in the Harry Lorayne Book and Bob Ostin.

Jim

sounds like a very good deal to me

Bob Ostin's book was being sold for a tenner not too long ago but the full price was much higher - see http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic15831. ... =bob+ostin

Art of Astonishment is about £80 when all three are bought together so there's good value in that selection.

I'd personally jump on that offer. It's not everyday that someone offers you magic books of that quality for such a cheap price.

I am being more and more pursuaded, I have until tomorrow lunch time to decide

Agecroft wrote:I am being more and more pursuaded, I have until tomorrow lunch time to decide

Oh, just buy the damned things and stop teasing already!

You got a bargin there - buy or tell me who's selling them lol

I love the (pardon) STUPIDITY of this sort of question.

Ok, let me explain and please understand Agecroft, I'm not picking on you personally just the idea of this sort of question... maybe it's just my getting a bit more "crusty" from hearing this kind of immature inquiry all the time and feeling like I just need to generate a bunch of generic reply files...

The question is, which of those books...

a.) Is going to take you in the direction that interests you most as a performer?

b.) Is going to teach you the most practical techniques and lines of thought that will support your vision as to how you wish to perform?

c.) Seems to deliver to you the greatest sense of value for the dollar ventured?

What I would want in a book and find of value probably isn't the same thing you would want or feel you need or more importantly, are ready for. From what I know of these titles we are looking at a great deal of diversity when it comes to content and general subject focus, which brings us back to the questions above.

When I first came to this forum I created a couple of articles on MENTALISM 101 that became stickies. I likewise encouraged others that were accomplished in specified areas to do the same thing; creating guides for people that are in your shoes and uncertain what directions they need to go, when and how, etc. Though there were a few attempts the idea seems to have lost support and more importantly, I don't think the existing links are as well known of as they should be in order to prove effective/beneficial (and to help circumvent redundant threads of this ilk).

Just a hint of common sense goes a very long way when making decisions of this sort so perhaps a better question to ask would be along the lines of, "I'm new to this but I am wanting to improve my skills and knowledge as a Bizarrist (or whatever), what books do you suggest for someone new to this field out of this list?"

Pardon the lecture, don't take it as a personal attack in that it was intended more as a cover-all point of address, but do think about such things. We get the help we need with we are more focused in what we are after and go to those sources that are familiar with that field, seeking guidance based on their experience and observations.

I don't see it as a personal attack at all, far too thick skinned and pig headed for that sort of thing

Perhaps a better way of phrasing my question may have been, Ladies and Gentlemen, I love to read books, I've an opportunity here to buy some books a few of which I'll be picking up regardless but the guy won't seperate them out. Now here is the list...... I've done a little searching and can't find the value of these books new let alone sendond hand. Would you be so kind as to help me out and advise if I'm getting ripped off here or not as I don't quite have the knowledge myself to know for sure.

I understand the point out the question being redundant if I was asking about one particular book but this is a whole set of which there is no chance of breaking it down. Surely a community such as this is better placed to quickly answer the query and it might have even sparked a little debate as to the content of the books.

Thanks for the help one and all, I shall purchase these books this afternoon and get reading