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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The March 2007 entrée: Steve Beam » » What magic books are you reading right now? » » TOPIC IS LOCKED bozo New user 76 Posts Posted: Mar 29, 2007 1:13pm       Also, which books have provided you the most enjoyment? Steve Beam V.I.P. 149 Posts Posted: Mar 29, 2007 6:19pm       Well, you're hitting me where I live. I have books in process at the office, in my luggage, in the car, and in the house. Right now I'm reading: - David Stone's The Real Secrets of Close-Up Magic - Darwin Ortiz's Designing Illusions - The Artful Mentalism of Bob Cassidy - The Essential Robert Houdin - Thomas Henry's Hidden Numerical Forces - Foundations - Eberhard Riese - Life, Death, and Other Card Tricks (Neale) - This one has been problematic. I've been reading it for years. I get 2 tricks further into it each time and then I'm interrupted for months. Also, it's one of the ones in my suitcase so I only tackle it while traveling, and because it's thicker than the others that reside there, I generally reach for the thinner ones. (I'm really enjoying it, two tricks at a time.) As for the most enjoyment, it's relative to where I was in magic at the time I read them. As a kid, my favorites were: Royal Road to Card Magic Hay's Amateur Magician's Handbook Norman Hunter's Successful Magic for Amateurs Expert Card Technique Classic Secrets of Magic (Elliot) Hilliard's Card Magic (This was the card section out of Greater Magic.) And probably the Tarbell Course for sheer size (and their card magic sections) Those seven are all still among my favorites, but I'd have to add many, many more. Those that immediately come to mind (which is meaningless because I would add dozens more) and in no particular order: Stewart James in Print - The First Fifty Years (Allan Slaight) The James File (Allan Slaight) Collected Works of Alex Elmsley (Minch) The Phoenix (Bruce Elliott & Walter Gibson) The Magic Of Ascanio - The Structural Conceptions of Magic Derek Dingles Complete Works Our Magic (Maskelyne & Devant) Magicians Tricks - How they are Done (Hatton & Plate) Vernon Chronicles The Trick Brain (Fitzkee) Magic by Misdirection (Fitzkee) 13 Steps to Mentalism (Corinda) Most magic magazines (Pallbearers, Pabular, etc.) The rest of Greater Magic (see Hilliard's Card Magic above) Marlo's Revolutionary Card Technique Forging Ahead in Magic Original Magic (Heinemann) And if I list any more, I'll have to go consult my library and we'll be here all night. I'm not sure Steve has the disk space for a complete listing. I also spend a ton of time reading books on the theory of magic and a listing of my favorite pamphlets would be embarrassingly long. If you get the chance, spend some quality time with my paginated friends above. I think you will find that it will pay dividends. Ed Oschmann Special user Lake Worth FL 761 Posts Posted: Mar 29, 2007 9:44pm       Wow! That was much more than I expected. Thank you! You reminded me of a few that I haven't read in a long time. Guess my wife can use both sides of the bed tonight. Steve Beam V.I.P. 149 Posts Posted: Mar 29, 2007 10:19pm       Try moving her into the living room - then you can spread the books out on the bed. Mick Ayres Special user Hilton Head Island 981 Posts Posted: Mar 31, 2007 12:05am       Steve, That last bit of advice should have been included in the "Why Magicians Prefer Cards Over Women" list. Mick The 5 Obligations of Conjuring: STUDY. PRACTICE. SCRIPT. REHEARSE. PERFORM. Visit Mick Ayres' Wares! Click here MField2000 Special user Hastings, East Sussex, England 583 Posts Posted: Mar 31, 2007 6:10am       Steve -- 'The Trick Brain'?? We'll have to discuss this some time. Have you tried 'Neo Magic' by Sam Sharpe? Matt Field Steve Beam V.I.P. 149 Posts Posted: Mar 31, 2007 9:17am       Matt - Absolutely for "Neo Magic" - and Sam Sharpe's other books - several would be on my favorites list. Regarding any theory books, I often only agree with 20% of what is written - but the best among them get me to think - or to work harder to prove them wrong. Also interesting is that few of the great theory authors are great performers. Continuing on this topic, the bottom line with any source of learning magic, you do at some time have to put down whatever medium you are using to learn - books, DVDs, etc. - corner a victim, and perform. Painting a face on your practice mirror is not a substitute for a live audience. When it comes to learning magic, the audience should come last. (I'm sure that will be taken out of context at some point - I mean that the books, DVDs, mentoring, whatever, should come first. Too many "learn" by jumping out in front of an audience before they learn or they do their practicing in front of an audience.) Sam would have said it more eloquently... Steve The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The March 2007 entrée: Steve Beam » » What magic books are you reading right now? » » TOPIC IS LOCKED <<< Previous Topic   Next Topic >>>

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