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Hey everyone,

I just started about a month ago, My library consists of RRTCM and Bill Tarr's Now You See It, Now You Don't.

I have herd excellent reviews for both Mark Wilson's book and the Tarbell series, I am not asking which one is better or which I should buy instead of the other.

I am asking for a comparison of the two. Do they both have a lot of pictures, are they both equally newbie friendly? are there areas where one lacks or the other excels? Basically, how are they different.

Thanks in advance,

-Ab

Ultimately you will want both but given your familiarity with the Bill Tarr material I'd bet you will find the Mark Wilson book more "familiar" and easier to learn from. The Tarbell system is a bit more encyclopedic, allowing you a wonderful overview as to the different styles and modes of magical operation.

I'll be honest with you, I find it amazing that you have Royal Road in that it's rather "advanced" when it comes to those "new" to the craft.

As to some of the stand by types... you may want to find the Amateur Magician's Handbook as well as the Stein & Dey Handbook of Magic Though dated, they are still packed full of some wonderful points of view.

Wise words from Craig, I have both books and Mark Wilson is good as a cheap and compact overview for the beginner (and experienced in some cases - some great effects in it) but the Tarbell books are, as Craig rightfully pointed out, like an encyclopedia of classic magic.
When I say classic, you won't find coin in "soda can" style effects in there but all aspects of the art including escapology, mentalism, productions, silk magic, coin magic, rope magic, wand magic, cards....it's all in there.

Both books are well illustrated and leave in you no doubt as to what you need to be doing.Many of the effects in MW have step by step drawings form both the performers and spectators perspectives.

Both great and worthwhile buys in my opinion. I refer to these books a great deal, particularly Tarbell.

I agree with all the above recommendations but i'd just like to mention another classic which seems to be forgotten, though it was my first magic "bible" - Jean Hugard's "Modern Magic Manual". It covers sleight of hand magic with all kinds of objects in considerable detail. It's available as a Dover reprint.

Barry

Tarbell is also quite a big outlay for someone just starting out in magic, unless you're just buying the volumes individually. Going on the way that the books are written, Mark Wilson's book is more 'modern', while the Tarbell course really is quite old-fashioned (in a similar way to Royal Road to Card Magic). That said, it's the best there is, and I'd highly recommend you get it eventually. I started with Mark Wilson, still use it, and recommend it to any serious beginner.

Listen to Craig. Personally starting out, I would suggest Mark Wilson the reason being that it gives a 'brief' overview of magic, 2nd, every move is illustrated. It is very easy to flip through and pick stuff out. The format is as Craig said very Bill Tarr ish. I typically do not advise people new to magic to go out and get the Tarbell course (with one exception) because t is a little more difficult to follow and there is so much information that it can get overwhelming.
With that said the above exception pertains to the 1st book of Tarbell if you are serious about magic (more then just the tricks) then the Intro in the first book is a must. It teaches what magic is about, theory, performance etc. although the book is older and written in an 'older' format the lessons are true today, although you may have to read between the lines a little to bring it up to today. Then once you are moving along I recomend, I believe it is book 7 it is the Index (make sure it is the index I may be mistaken about the book number) That way you can reference things and if you are interested in a specific effect or object you can simply look it up in the index and get the appropriate book and slowly build the collection in an order that will work for you. Of course most magic shops will give you a break in price if you buy all volumes at once.

Wow. First of all, thanks for all the replies.

Im flatted by your amazement at my using the Royal Road. I'm actually finding it to be a lot easier to use than the Bill Tarr book.

I really enjoy how RRTCM progressively teaches me things in a definitive order. I also own Bobo's Modern Coin Magic but had a problem with both it and Bill Tarr's book. I really need some direction, I feel that (although I recognize that this is not all these books have to offer,) with these two books I learn a few random slights and am left with a bunch of fragments which I do not know how to fit together.

You said Tarbell was more encyclopedic. Does this mean it's is more of a reference for someone who already knows the content or could it be used by a beginner? What about Mark Wilson on this respect?

If I were to buy the Tarbell books I would definitely only buy volume 1 to start with.

Another thing that I was going to leave for a different thread, but that bmat touched on was magic theory. I was planning on picking up a book on the subject like "Leading with your Head", "Strong Magic", or "Magic in Theory," but would the first chapter in Tarbell be sufficient for a start?

ArcticBanana wrote:I really enjoy how RRTCM progressively teaches me things in a definitive order. I also own Bobo's Modern Coin Magic but had a problem with both it and Bill Tarr's book. I really need some direction, I feel that (although I recognize that this is not all these books have to offer,) with these two books I learn a few random slights and am left with a bunch of fragments which I do not know how to fit together.

If you look in the support and tips section, there is a sticky on Bobo, which contains a study guide that helps to take you throughout the main aspects in some form of order, it is WELL worth a read.

Tarbell 1 is fine for a beginner, in fact it was one of the books I got the most out of initially.
The section on theory is a good start and although some of the style of writing is dated, it is applicable now as it was then.
Have a look under the book review section and you'll see a list of the contents of the Tarbell volumes. The first covers coin magic, cards and sleights, rope magic, mathematical magic, TT effects, impromptu effects....there's a lot in there.

Thanks so much everyone, found Mark Wilson at a used bookstore in hardcover for $15. Im going to wait till after Christmas to pick up the Tarbell book.

ArcticBanana wrote:Thanks so much everyone, found Mark Wilson at a used bookstore in hardcover for $15. Im going to wait till after Christmas to pick up the Tarbell book.

I was going to say that Wilson's book is much more cost friendly, and for the price its a great deal.

Craig Browning wrote:As to some of the stand by types... you may want to find the Amateur Magician's Handbook as well as the Stein & Dey Handbook of Magic Though dated, they are still packed full of some wonderful points of view.

Interesting you should mention that, because I've nearly finished my recently-purchased copy of Stein and Day. Actually The Creative Magician's Handbook, but it's exactly the same book with a new flashy cover. It even still refers to itself as The Stein and Day Handbook of Magic in the introduction.

Adrian Morgan wrote:

Craig Browning wrote:As to some of the stand by types... you may want to find the Amateur Magician's Handbook as well as the Stein & Dey Handbook of Magic Though dated, they are still packed full of some wonderful points of view.

Interesting you should mention that, because I've nearly finished my recently-purchased copy of Stein and Day. Actually The Creative Magician's Handbook, but it's exactly the same book with a new flashy cover. It even still refers to itself as The Stein and Day Handbook of Magic in the introduction.

In the UK it was published as The Complete Magician. The author is Marvin Kaye.

Barry