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The section on card flourishes is good. Still trying to master the ribbon of cards on your arm one!

I got the book a few years ago and I still look in it to learn new tricks. I really liked his section on rope magic and I use impossible rope tie to baffle my friends. Also, in the back, he's got some excellent show stoppers that are simple but effective. I learned my favorite trick from that book, it's called "Further than that" or something along those lines. Anyway, I think you should totally get this book.

"Show Stoppers" - that's the chapter missing from the hardback edition!

Barry

Lord Freddie wrote:Still trying to master the ribbon of cards on your arm one!

That one is a pig, I can get it every now and again but it's never pretty

sarconi wrote:

Marvell wrote:

Lady of Mystery wrote:you can adapt the ideas

This is what so many people say. Why buy a book that's inappropriate so you can change the things to suit you. Why not just buy a book that suits you?

Hmmm well when you adapt the ideas, they become your own, you can add your own flare and patter

One can adapt the ideas from any book in this way. Why not buy a book that's appropriate and then adapt the ideas from that?

The Mark Wilson Course In Magic is a must-have and a must-read for anyone who is serious about becoming a magician.

It, like Tarbell, Modern Coin, and Royal Road To Card Magic, should be considered requiered reading for all magicians.


I've been doing magic for over 30years, and I still refer back to it from time to time. That's how great of an investment it truly is !

Brian Tanner wrote:The Mark Wilson Course In Magic is a must-have and a must-read for anyone who is serious about becoming a magician.

So if a Card and Coin magician has read RRTCM, Bobo, Expert Card Technique, Roth, Strong Magic, Secrets of Indirection, Magic and Showmanship, Seventh Heaven and Art of Astonishment, they still can't be "serious magician" until they've read the relevant sections of Complete Course? Does this jack of all trades book contain some vital information not available elsewhere?

I don't want to sound like I'm harping on, but Complete Course seems to be the subject of blind evangelism. Intercourse like:

"A vast proportion of it is not my style."
"You can adapt the tricks to suit you"

OR

"I don't like cups and balls and sponge balls"
"But they are great"

... just go to show that the replies are nothing to do with the objections and that they represent a close minded need to convert all objections. "How can I take this objection and still make Complete Course right?".

I have a serious objection to Complete Course with respect to me, my stlye and my tricks and that is it's largely irellevant content (cups and balls and sponge, for isntance, not to mention rabbits and mummies) and all of the information can be found in other books I own (which is not many, compared to some).

For me, it was a total waste of money. For others, it's fantastic, and I can see why. For those with an open style or who have got in to magic and need some direction or experience of a good number of fields, it's brilliant (as is reflected in my review). In fact, if you're open minded and have enough money for one book, it's perfect, but that's not the case for everyone.

However, there is no good reason to just own it because other people do, there is no reason to like it because other people do and there is no reason to tell people it's brilliant, just because it suits you, in spite of the fact it doesn't suit them.

I have to agree to some extent there Marvell.

There seems to be a lot of discussions based on ' Any serious performer should own.. or perform.. such and such '

Thing is, we choose what area we wish to study.

It wasnt until recently I appreciated TT's, sponges and I.T and am relishing learning them now.

Personally, I own and recommend Mark Wilsons course as there are a few things in there that I perform. HOWEVER, there is at least 60% of the booke which I wont even look at yet, simply because there is nothing in these secions that I will EVER perform ( as my opinion stands at the moment.. that may change ). I may read through to know how these things are done, and to perhaps use some principles out there, but a lot of it I just dont want to bother with. Thats not to say the information is not good, it just appeals to other people more than myself.

I think 'fundamental reading' has to be Royal Road ( or Card College ) if you want the truth, and Bobos modern coin magic, and I do think all magicians should know a few solid coin routines.

Mark Wilsons course, Tarbell, Harry Lorayne's Apocolypse.. why buy a bunch of material and then disregard 70% of it?? Find your interests and focus your material arounds those specific things.. over time you may appreciate or spawn interest in other areas and then look at those.

I certainly think its good to know about a wide area of magic, and particularly I think its good to know as much impromptu material as possible so you can perform off the cuff.. but I do think that 'required reading' is a bit exagerated..

I recommend it as an all round book for anyone that is not sure what area of magic they are interested in as there is some good stuff in each area.. and I do use some of the effects in the book.. but for those who know what they want like me, a lot of it gets disregarded as I can find a lot of the effects elsewhere.

Marvell, each of us is different and it doesn't suit you, so fair enough. You've got your view, so should be able to share it.

My view is the opposite, where I think it IS a good buy. I will give my reasons, as you should be allowed to give yours.

First of all, if you are just starting, this book WILL save you money.
Some of the reasons being:

It has a range of magic in, which is of interest or use to quite a few people. Somebody starting in magic, more often than not starting on cards or the latest Blaine/Angel effect, may not realise there is more magic than this. They can be advised to learn sleights etc from this, as it doesn't just have card or coin sleights in, but others aswell. We get people on here asking where they can buy such and such. There is a surprising amount they can find in the book. Lets face it, the book is about the same price as a packet Oil And Water effect, which you can find in the book.
Some people, such as I was, aren't too sure exactly what they want to concentrate on. Rather than spend hundreds of pounds trying different things out, they can try them from the book. If they don't like that style of magic, there is going to be something in the book for them though.
Apart from cups and balls, which you can practice with any cup and ball to start with, there isn't much that you need to buy to learn from the book.
Cards, ropes, silks, will all see you gain knowledge, without breaking the bank. Then there are elastic bands, paperclips, envelopes, matchboxes etc, which you will quite often have about anyway.


For the learning part:

The clear instructions and diagrams makes it easier than quite a few books. They are broken down into parts, so you can SEE as well as read what is being done. There are some books where you aren't quite sure on something, which would be made easier by another picture. This book has usually got that extra picture.

True, if you aren't interested in learning anything but cards and have got so many other books which you learn from, this wont be any use to you now. It MAY have been some use to you beforehand. It's ease of learning that can mean the difference between being a good book and bad. If you can learn easily and have the range of items this has, it is more likely to be used.
Someone can have a book collection the size of the local library, but if they struggle with the book, therefore not learning so much, that is money and time down the drain.

There have been comments by semi pros, or pros that have been in the business for years. They generally say how they STILL use the book after all this time. How many posts have you seen where someone has found or directed someone to, the book in response to a question.

To put this book in perspective, even if you are only interested in one part, it has enough in that section to warrent the price.

Cards, 160+ pages.

Money Magic, 55 pages.

Rope, 28 pages.

Sponge balls, Cups and Balls, Billiard Balls. A complete, step by step routine, for each.

For a 500 page book, costing around £10, it is a must have for a majoprity of people.

The comments about suitabilty and adapting does confuse me, I admit.

Surely this is the same with RRTCM, Bobo, or any others.
The idea and effect is what you take. You then need to adapt these to suit your style and give a unique performance and patter.

This book just gives a wider range of magic for you to CHOOSE from, in order to get something you can use.

I.D wrote:why buy a bunch of material and then disregard 70% of it?? Find your interests and focus your material arounds those specific things.. over time you may appreciate or spawn interest in other areas and then look at those.

That seems to condone buying inappropriate material instead of stuff you like in case you like it in the future. That's madness, surely? The implication of which is that instead of buying the Art of Astonishment, I should buy a TT, some cups, balls and sponges, etc. just in case

Darrel wrote:It has a range of magic in, which is of interest or use to quite a few people. Somebody starting in magic, more often than not starting on cards or the latest Blaine/Angel effect, may not realise there is more magic than this. They can be advised to learn sleights etc from this, as it doesn't just have card or coin sleights in, but others aswell. We get people on here asking where they can buy such and such. There is a surprising amount they can find in the book. Lets face it, the book is about the same price as a packet Oil And Water effect, which you can find in the book.

I agree that it's significantly better value than a one trick pony, but given there are other sources, does that argument really stand up? One could say the same about RRTCM or Bobo, for instance, let alone Art of Astonishment, say.

Darrel wrote:Some people, such as I was, aren't too sure exactly what they want to concentrate on. Rather than spend hundreds of pounds trying different things out, they can try them from the book. If they don't like that style of magic, there is going to be something in the book for them though.
Apart from cups and balls, which you can practice with any cup and ball to start with, there isn't much that you need to buy to learn from the book.
Cards, ropes, silks, will all see you gain knowledge, without breaking the bank. Then there are elastic bands, paperclips, envelopes, matchboxes etc, which you will quite often have about anyway.

I agree with this wholeheartedly, it's what I said, in fact. However, my objections are aimed at those who profess it as a book for those who have already made certain descisions. It's being listed as one of the top 5 card books in another thread! As is Bobo, but that's another matter.

Darrel wrote:The clear instructions and diagrams makes it easier than quite a few books. They are broken down into parts, so you can SEE as well as read what is being done. There are some books where you aren't quite sure on something, which would be made easier by another picture. This book has usually got that extra picture.

No that is the first bit of decent justifcation I've heard.

Darrel wrote:True, if you aren't interested in learning anything but cards and have got so many other books which you learn from, this wont be any use to you now.

And my point is, for the same price you can buy RRTCM and Bobo OR Expert Card Technique and to me, that's a better purchase if your inclinations have been set.

Darrel wrote:It MAY have been some use to you beforehand. It's ease of learning that can mean the difference between being a good book and bad. If you can learn easily and have the range of items this has, it is more likely to be used.

Someone can have a book collection the size of the local library, but if they struggle with the book, therefore not learning so much, that is money and time down the drain.

Brilliant. I couldn't agree more.

Darrel wrote:There have been comments by semi pros, or pros that have been in the business for years. They generally say how they STILL use the book after all this time. How many posts have you seen where someone has found or directed someone to, the book in response to a question.

Quite often, they have been with regards to non card or coin work and have equal, if not better, references in Bobo or RRTCM or others, and the constant references to this book, even though it might not be the best source is another example of evangelism. I have been recommended this book for work I know is better explained in Expert Card Technique, for instance. It seemed there was no other reason than recomending it because they knew I didn't like the book

Darrel wrote:To put this book in perspective, even if you are only interested in one part, it has enough in that section to warrent the price.

And I say you can buy two books for the price of this one.

Darrel wrote:Cards, 160+ pages.

RRTCM - 430 pages
Expert Card Technique - 450 pages
Bobo - 280 pages

Darrel wrote:This book just gives a wider range of magic for you to CHOOSE from, in order to get something you can use.

And you one has a broad style, it's perfect.

I'm glad we agree

sarconi wrote:Ive seen nothing but good reviews, although some say that its really a book for the raw beginner? is this so?

Quite possibly, that is so. Then again, Lance Burton in a nationally televised special, used a trick that, move for move and almost word for word, came straight out of that book. I don't think that I'd list Mr. Burton as a raw beginner...

Marvell, above, makes some excellent points. Should everyone have this book? Probably not and to that extent I do, in fact, agree with Marvell in his assesment. However, it has been noted that magicians are one of the few people that can buy a book and if they can find just one thing useful in that book feel as though they've done well with their purchase. And, that is a truism.

Magic, like many courses of study, is a matter of one thing building on the next. You don't try to learn the pass before you become comfortable with simply handling a deck of cards. If the cards are clumsy in your hands, you'd have a hard time pulling off a pass with panache. This is why RRTCM tries to lay the foundations of proper card handling before ever getting into the more advanced material.

Wilson's book is a reference source. If your only goal in magic is to be proficient with cards and do some awesome card magic, then you certainly don't need Wison's book, if you have RRTCM. But, if your goal is to learn magic in general and have the basics to peruse at your fingertips anytime that you please, then Wilson's book fits the bill.

I have a student that I meet with once a week. He jumped in with both feet and is stuggling to learn some harder moves, before he ever put time into the basics. We've gone over the fact that this wasn't the best way to go, but he's doing all right. Under my guidance, he's learning the basics and his more advanced material is getting better as a result.

I explained to this young man that he needs to learn some very simple stuff to show whilst he works on his advanced material. Just basic forces and discoveries, which, if presented properly, can be excellent magic to the layman. This is what Wilson's gives you - the basics. It also delves into some more intermediate stuff, but it really is a book of basics.

Further, Einstein stated, "Why should I try to memorize something that I can easily look up." Well, going from this statement, that is what Wilson's gives you...Like I said, it is more akin to a reference book than anything. Why try to memorize specific things if you have the reference material at your fingertips?

So, use it or don't, I do believe that Wilson's book belongs in every magician's library.

Mike.

Marvell wrote:

I.D wrote:why buy a bunch of material and then disregard 70% of it?? Find your interests and focus your material arounds those specific things.. over time you may appreciate or spawn interest in other areas and then look at those.

That seems to condone buying inappropriate material instead of stuff you like in case you like it in the future. That's madness, surely? The implication of which is that instead of buying the Art of Astonishment, I should buy a TT, some cups, balls and sponges, etc. just in case

Ah bad wording.. what I meant is for instance.. shelling out £150 on the Tarbell volumes when you are only interested in cards..

In other words.. dont just buy material for the sake of it... buy things that focus on what you want to learn. Theres enough out there. If later on you want to learn a different area of magic, then turn your energy and money toward that>

Same with Mark Wilsons course.. its not REQUIRED reading but does lay down a solid foundation for a person who wants an all rounded education, if you get my meaning.

I agree... sections on stage acts focused on making women disappear do nothing for me, but there are those that it appeals to..

The main reason that I like Mark Wilson's book is because it lays down a good, solid base for so many different areas of magic. I'm not being evangelical (is that a word? ) when I recommend it to people, it's because I honestly believe that they'll get some benefit from it.

For the beginners I think it's brilliant, I'd recommend people read through the card section of this book before touching Royal Road. Why? Because the explainations in Roayl Road can be very hard to follow until you get used to it where as Mark Wilson expalains things so much clearer. Having the base that his book will give you will make picking up what Royal Road has to teach so much easier.

It's also great for beginners because it'll give them in introduction into areas of magic that they'd never normally look at, any just maybe might find that they actually enjoy. That's what happened to me with the sponges and cups and balls. I wasn't interested in them but because they were in the book I thought I'd give them a go. Now they're one of the main parts of some of my routines.

If I point someone to something in that book, it's because I believe that it's the best resource for it, not because I'm trying to convert to my 'Mark Wilson Cult'. It might be better explained somewhere else, but perhaps not everyone knows about that somewhere else.

How much magic is in this book for small effects with everyday objects like rubber bands and the like?

I'm a cardie and have plenty of material on them so I didn't think there was much point in buying this book. But lately I've been trying to learn more tricks to do on the spur of the moment in work or somewhere similar.