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Having just finished 'Geist' by Harding and Nyrup I would say that it is as essential as 'sleight of mind'. It's the only mentalism book I've read so far that soley concentrates on the methods that the audience believe you are using and the importance of such methods.

Expect a review shortly!

So, Geist as a follow-up to Sleight of Mind

Art of Astonishment and Apocalypse as compilations.

How about Born to Perform for cards DVD or Roth/Sankey for coins DVD?

EDIT: I also know nothing about escapology, sponges, cups, balls, pick pocket, cigarettes, dice, TT, IT, influence, magnets, fire, knives, carpentry, cameras or agents.

Any comment for or against the above? Again, remember, that I'm trying to compile "required reading" not "good books".

I don't know if everyone would call it required reading but I would recommend the Encyclopedia of card tricks by Jean Hugard.

Its a great inexpensive book that has hundreds of tricks with all different decks from normal, stripper and svengali. It also has various methods from impromptu to calculations and even the nikola system.

You could argue that this book should be included in every cardicians libray especially beginners.

Oooh just spotted this thread! Thanks, there are some other books I need to add to my list now

I think the Mark Wilson one is next in line for me!

Wills wrote:I don't know if everyone would call it required reading but I would recommend the Encyclopedia of card tricks by Jean Hugard.

Yeah, good value book, but not as important as other, me thinks.

I highly disagree that Encyclopedia is not as important. It's one of the more comprehensive books on card effects - touching on nearly all styles and plots.

Out of curiosity - how is the Card College series not on this list? I would even dare to say it should be above Royal Road.

I mentioned it in one of my posts. Check back and maybe answer my query. I'm trying to avoid putting things on because one person thinks so. I'm waiting for a few "yes, card college" type messages.

This might not be a must read but its definitely a great book and Ive gotten A LOT out of it. Im only on chapter 1 and Ive learned great blinds to retain top and bottom stock. Its a good book, fairly hard to understand at first, but now, I feel like Ive gotten better with cards already. Oh yeah, its a book on how to cheat at gambling


DRUMROLL PLEASE........

The Expert at The Card Table by S.W. Erdnase

(this teaches the Erdnase color change if you hadnt guessed)

I think Card College should be included here and purely for it's simplicity. RRTCM, Expert Card Technique are excellent, and together they pretty much form Card College. But where Card College excels is that it is brought up to date and written in today's language. It has dropped the "phalanges" referencing common in the other two, the pictures are exceptionally clear and everything flows so nicely.

Giobbi rearly did and excellent job and it should undoubtedly be considered for this list.

MartinUK wrote:I think Card College should be included here and purely for it's simplicity. RRTCM, Expert Card Technique are excellent, and together they pretty much form Card College. But where Card College excels is that it is brought up to date and written in today's language. It has dropped the "phalanges" referencing common in the other two, the pictures are exceptionally clear and everything flows so nicely.

Giobbi rearly did and excellent job and it should undoubtedly be considered for this list.

Thing is though, Card college costs £125 whereas you can get RRTCM AND Expert Card Technique for about £10

For Billet work I would say Switchcraft. Its a must read for one the core foundations of mentalism.

Actually come to think of it what with mentalism covering topics and books generaly and stuff the covers things with billets. Maybe each section should have a sub section :

Mentalism :

General

13 Steps

Billets

Switchcraft

or something along them lines

Would some mentalists care to break up the discipline into sections then, or shall I just use the 13 steps as a basis?

EDIT: could we also have research books for such as Gambling, Poker, Tarot, Numerology, etc.

I have defined two routes in Card Magic, the first being the small books and the second being Card College. Any feedback on the books put in? Remember, must reads, not good reads. I'm considering Counts, Cuts, Moves and Subtlety as a candidate and maybe removing Card Control. Any opinions?

EDIT: would someone please propose books on specific decks like sven, stripper, etc. Definitive guide, type books.

beeno wrote:

MartinUK wrote:Thing is though, Card college costs £125 whereas you can get RRTCM AND Expert Card Technique for about £10

I agree entirely Beeno. Although I still think that it is worth every penny.

Michael Jay wrote:A book rarely suggested but by far and beyond the best beginner's book out there is "The Secrets of Alkazar" (Kronzek). It covers the building blocks of magic and while adults may find the format and writing to be puerile, Kronzek teaches more about magic, and the performance thereof, in those pages than 90% of all books out there (and that's a conservative guess).

You're right Michael, this is an excellent little book. Only what, twelve chapters? Each one takes an aspect of magic - not the tricks but what is needed to make the magic - and builds upon it. It looks at misdirection, patter, presentation, routining and performance guiding you step by step through each.

It's subtitled "A Book of Magic for Young Magicians". This doesn't mean young in age, but young in the sense that you want to grow. Seriously, if you haven't read this do so, whether you're a beginner, intermediate, advanced you will take something from this book.

And really at about £5 there's no excuse

Martin

Controversially, I've heard different routes into mentalism. Maybe call them different types of mentalism if you will. Some might argue that they are not as strong. Some may argue they are different. I'm sure Craig Browning would turn in his grave (if he were dead) at such a suggestion, but I'm going pretty open to streaming.

Where do the Psychological Subtleties and Wonder Words or the Full Facts Book of Cold Reading fit into this set? If they do at all.

Is there a different set of books which is not so associated with billet, swami and other animals?