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Rennie Inner circle I think I have about 1826 Posts |
I read in a book or magazine a few years ago an article called "The Five Foot Bookshelf". It was supposedly a list of the ideal books that a magician should have. It listed all the "must have" book titles for magic books. If you had these books, you had all you needed. My question is, does anyone know where the article was printed, I know I have it somwhere and would like to read it again.
Rennie
The effect is the important thing, how you achieve it is not.......
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eddieloughran Special user 942 Posts |
Jamy Ian Swiss wrote this !
I think it started out as an article, and was then written up as lecture notes. A chapter of Shattering Ilusions is given over to it. |
Josho Special user Albany, New York 758 Posts |
The notion of a "five-foot bookshelf" of must-have books dates from the 19th century, and was first used to describe the Harvard Classics collection. Since then, countless writers have created their own five-foot bookshelves of required reading in other more specific categories.
I remember reading a list of someone's five-foot bookshelf of Magic books in college, 30 years ago (it might've been in the Jinx). Remember, it's all just one person's opinion. Jamy Ian Swiss's list, which is published in his book "Theories II," contains over 200 titles (and so is probably a good deal more than five feet long!). It's very difficult to say whose list you might've read...it might be possible to narrow it down if you recall some of the books that were on it, and/or what magazine you might've read it in... --Josh |
hitmouse Loyal user 249 Posts |
Theres a long thread on the Genii forum on just this subject.
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ixnay66 Inner circle Denver 1525 Posts |
My dad has the Harvard Classics. Hopefull he'll give them to me eventually.
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Jeff Dial Special user Kent, WA 533 Posts |
Annemann published "The Jinx Five-Foot Shelf of Magic" in the Jinx May 1935 (#8). It included Stanyon, Tarbell, Downs, Hoffman, Maskelyne and Davant, Erdnase, Annemann, and many more. Most names and titles still recognizable. He also included a dictionary and a grammer. 37 titles in all. Estimated cost $125.
"Think our brains must be too highly trained, Majikthise" HHGG
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Josho Special user Albany, New York 758 Posts |
$125 then, maybe...
--Josh |
Rennie Inner circle I think I have about 1826 Posts |
Josh / Jeff,
I think you guys got it. It was in the Jinx. Now I can go home and get it. I know there are so many more that should be on that list and would sure like to keep this thread going with the recommended books. Another statement Josh made, "probably a good deal more than five feet long", tell me about it, my library is wall to wall, ceiling to ceilng and still buying.I would have to put the following on the shelf; ( Classics ) 1 - Greater Magic 2 - Tarbell Course 3 - The 3 Volumes of Rice's Encyclopedia of Silk Magic 4 - Modern Coin Magic 5 - Encyclopedia of Card Tricks - Hugard 6 - 13 Steps to Mentalism 7 - Practical Mental Effects - Annemann 8 - The Jinx - Annemann 9 - The Magic of Robert Harbin 10 - Slydini Encores 11 - Encyclopedia of Cigarette Tricks - Keith Clark 12 - The Dai Vernon Book of Magic (Later Editions;) 1 - The First 50 Years - Stewart James 2 - Impossibilia - Bannon 3 - The Card Magic of Nick Trost 4 - The Mark Wilson Course 5 - Effortless Card Magic - Duffie 6 - Annemann - Max Abrams 7 - The Four Apocalypse Volumes 8 - Color Series of Mentalism - Goldstein 9 - Expert Coin Magic - David Roth 10 - Card Craft - J.K. Hartman 11 - The Best of Slydini / The Magical World of Slydini 12 - The Steve Dusheck series of Books 13 - The 5 Card College series 14 - The Complete Albo Series 15 - World's Beyond - Paul Curry 16 - The Vernon Chronicles 17 - The Art of Mentalism - Robert Cassidy 18 - The Book of Secrets - John Carney There are many, many books I am forgetting, however I am going cross eyed here. Someone take over... Rennie
The effect is the important thing, how you achieve it is not.......
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Let me save you two inches, Rennie: dump PME — everything in it is already in The Jinx.
Glad to be of service Now, I've got to ask: is this a five-foot bookshelf of "essential" texts? Because if it is, do that many card books really qualify? And why include the more advanced mentalism books? In my mind, the five-foot bookshelf contains the absolute mandatories that every student of the art should have, read, and know. For instance, Eugene Burger's Mastering The Art of Magic and Ken Weber's Maximum Entertainment. Best, Neil
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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Jeff Dial Special user Kent, WA 533 Posts |
Neil wrote: Now, I've got to ask: is this a five-foot bookshelf of "essential" texts?
Annemann’s criterion was as follows: “Every included work has its value and I take my stand now the the shelf of make as herein listed covers every phase and known principle necessary to a modern performer. There are hundreds of other books magazines and pamphlets which contain excellent and practical effects but I’m not listing trick books alone. I’m listing what I think are textbooks and if an absolute stranger to magic asked me tomorrow what books he should buy I’d give him this list.” [emphasis in the original] Jinx vol 8 p. 32 I like the idea of what books would you recommend to a newcomer to magic the books that are essential to learn the craft.
"Think our brains must be too highly trained, Majikthise" HHGG
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omk Regular user Florida's Space Coast 108 Posts |
You have forgotten about the Fitzkee Triliogy and the Books of Wonder?
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Mike Powers Inner circle Midwest 2983 Posts |
Art of Astonishmen 1, 2, 3!
Mike
Mike Powers
http://www.mallofmagic.com |
Magiguy Inner circle Seattle, WA 5467 Posts |
I just added 2 inches of Mike Powers (Top Secret Stuff, Powerful Magic and Power Plays).
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Josho Special user Albany, New York 758 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-12 19:58, Magiguy wrote: Ooh, ooh, I'd like to be the first to go on record as ignoring this OBVIOUS set-up! --Josh |
Magiguy Inner circle Seattle, WA 5467 Posts |
Huh??????!!!!!! I'll assume that you're simply jealous of my find (knowing that two thirds of the items I've posted are virtually impossible to come by). I suppose this would account for your squinting avatar.
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andre combrinck Special user South Africa 953 Posts |
Stars of Magic
Books of Wonder Smoke and Mirrors Expert Card Technique Card College AOA AJ |
Josho Special user Albany, New York 758 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-13 00:34, Magiguy wrote: No, I was really referring to the comment about the "two inches of Mike Powers" and what a great set-up it would be should SOMEBODY want to make an off-color joke...but since I'm completely above that sort of thing, I was ignoring the set-up. --Josh |
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