The Magic Book by Harry Lorayne

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The Magic Book by Harry Lorayne

Postby TerryC » Feb 21st, '09, 08:20



The Publisher describes this book: “The complete beginner’s guide to anytime, anywhere, sleight-of-hand magic.”

Cost
$29.95, although I found dozens of used copies for sale at prices ranging from $5.00 to $220.27! www.addall.com

Outline of the book
This book covers many aspects of magic, not just cards. Some of the chapters include:

CARD FLOURISHES
    Ribbon Spread
    Charlier Cut
CARD HANDLING AND SLEIGHTS
    Jog Shuffle
    Slip Shuffle
    Instead of the Pass (for those of you –hmmm, those of us—who can’t do the pass
    Several false cuts
    Hindu Shuffle—regular and false
    DL—three methods
    The Palm—two methods
    Four forces—crisscross, classic, etc
SLEIGHT OF HAND EFFECTS AND ROUTINES
17 effects including The Color Changing Deck and The Ambitious Card

PRACTICALLY SELF-WORKING ROUTINES
9 tricks and routines

BASIC COIN SLEIGHTS
Four sections including The Finger Palm and the Basic Coin Switch

COIN MAGIC
Nine tricks including Copper and Silver and Four Coins Across

NUMBER MAGIC
Six tricks, including The Magic Square

MENTAL EFFECTS
Seven tricks that involve one ahead, magician’s force, etc.

MISCELLANEOUS MAGIC
Nineteen effects that use salt shakers, matches, rings, string etc.

I remember buying a Harry Lorayne memory book as a kid. When I discovered he was also an accomplished magician I was thrilled. My wife bought me his 4 volume DVD set Harry Lorayne’s Best Ever Collection. Good stuff on the DVD, but I find that his writing is far easier to understand! (Hope she doesn't read this...)

This is an incredible collection of beginner stuff. If you, or someone you know, want to start out in magic then this book is THE one to buy. It is certainly aimed at the beginner, but the beginner better be serious. Mr. Lorayne’s aim is to teach a selection of basic skills that have to be practiced until they become second nature. He includes tricks, that use these basic sleights, that are worth learning.

The following excerpt illustrates the level of understanding he expects of his readers. From his explanation of The Color Changing Deck :
    ”... The best-known version, among cardmen, using a gimmicked card is Paul Curry’s. My own ending eliminates the need for gimmicking or palming out. ... It utilizes sleights you’ve already learned: the Hindu Shuffle, the DL, a variation of the Kick Cut, and the Slip Shuffle.”
Certainly, not everything is this demanding, but it shows that Harry really wants to share his skills with his students—and expects them to put in the time learning and practicing what he teaches.

There are several commercial grade tricks in this book. For example
    The Ambitious Card is being sold by L&L for $19.95,
    The Color Changing Deck
    by Magic Pro Shop for $24.95;
    The Magic Square
    is virtually identical to the Luke Jermay version sold by Penguin for $12.95.


Overall Rating
10/10 for the serious beginner. There is nothing very difficult in this book. But, don't buy it unless you are prepared to put in the time, otherwise you'll be like to guy who buys a season ticket and never goes to a game.

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Postby showithers » Feb 24th, '09, 01:23

Is any of the content in it original, or is it mostly describing common ideas?

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Postby TerryC » Feb 24th, '09, 01:39

There is nothing original here. I doubt if any beginner material contains ground-breaking stuff.

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Re: The Magic Book by Harry Lorayne

Postby AJ1 » Jan 10th, '22, 14:29

10/10 for sure. I think this is the best beginner book ever. Mark Wilson is awesome and I go back to that many times. Henry Hay's books Learn Magic and Amateur Magician's Handbook are also good. Nicholas Einhorn's Illustrated Compendium of Magic is never mentioned, but highly underrated. Also Jon Tremaine's Amazing series are underrated, but so good. Actually, that suits me as there are some tricks in those last 2 books I would rather keep to my self. Joshua Jay's Magic a Complete Course is also a great book, but I feel a little light on sleight of hand. That isn't essentially a bad thing for beginners, but in the long run, if you want to be really good, you are going to have to learn sleight of hand. This is where the latter books shine a bit more. The Magic Book is so good. I love the coin magic section so much. Think of if, Mr Lorayne teaches 3 retention vanishes, Bobo switch and Han Ping Chien in a beginner's book and thereafter teaches you classics using them.
The miscellaneous section is also fantastic. Thanks for the early lesson to learn the "good stuff " HL.

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