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Does anybody know wether it is necessary to read the Tarbell Course {seperate books 1-8} in order?

At the moment I only have number 1 but i do intend to get them all eventually. I ask because I am interested in a chapter in number 5 but i dont want to get 5 before the others if i need to learn skills from the earlier lessons before i could tackle number 5.

I hope this is clear! I mean, is it actually an ongoing course like in RRTCM where you learn tricks based on the sleights you have already learnt?

Thanks Guys

That rather depends on which chapter you have in mind. The card effects probably assume you're familiar with card work, but I'd say the others are self-contained. You can see a detailed contents listing of all the volumes (and many other books) here:
http://magicref.tripod.com/books.htm

Barry

Thanks Barry
It is really the chapter on Four Ace Tricks but I am familiar with card work as thats what i love most, it was the other chapters i was more concerned with really.
I guess i should just get it and see.
Thanks for your help.

Andy

When I was a kid it was always encouraged to start at the beginning but to augment Tarbell with Hay & Huggard. In the mid and latter 70's the list included the Wilson Course which is quite excellent, but not nearly as "complete" as Tarbell. Unfortunately it has "replaced" the elder source and cost the majority of us a great deal of insight and knowledge. This is one of the biggest reasons why I still encourage people to wade through the complete course; like the Bible, you may not buy into everything it says, but you will walk away with knowledge and understanding on things you otherwise would never know if you don't read it from start to finish.