I saw this book in a local library, now its in mine (found a good $8 deal on Amazon)

This book didn't seem like it would have much for an adult, it has glossy color pictures, but I found it quite interesting. It is a cross between Wilson's Complete Course (breadth, but not the depth (no shells, or gaffed cards), and the lively, light-hearted "attitude" of Magic for Dummies.

There were a few things that got me interested:

- A good one source for "body" tricks: twist untwist arms.. These can be good for warm-ups, or just having fun with friends at the table.
- A good collection of "bar" stunts, many that I've seen before, but many that I hadn't
- directions for making some common illusions from household items w/o power tools
- I also found some interesting twists on ways to present some effects that I already knew.

Yes, it IS a kids book, and it will bring out the kid in you.
Enjoy.



Introduction 12

CLOSE-UP MAGIC
Magnetic Money 14
I Pen-go 16
: Let There Be Light 17
Coin through Coaster 18
Ring on a String 20 Chinese Coin off String 21
Rising Ring on Pencil 22
Gravity-defying Ring 24
Dissolving Coin (Versi9n 1) 26
Dissolving Coin (Version 2) 27
Coin through Ring 28
Vanishing Coin in Handkerchief 30
The Bermuda Triangle 32
Magic Papers 34
Marked Coin in Ball of Wool 36
Coin Cascade 38
Concorde Coin (Version 1) 39
Concorde Coin (Version 2) 39
The Coin Test 40
Universal Vanish 40
Gravity Vanish 41
Unlinking Safety Pins 42
Pin-credible 44
Safety Pin-a-tration 45
Domi-no-way 45
Straw Penetration 46
Banana Splitz 47
Kiss Me Quick 48
Penetrating Banknote 50 ,
Escaping Jack 52
Card on Wall 54
Spooky Matchbox 56
Swapping Checkers 57
Indestructible String 58
Magnetic Cards 60
Picture Perfect 61
Beads of Mystery 62
Sweet Tooth 63
Ping-pong Balance 64
Zero Gravity 65
Take Cover 66
Enchanted Ball 68
What a Mug 68 es
Mugged Again! 69
combine with a coin vanish (Messiah vanish)

Party Tricks
Introduction 72
Jasper the Ghost 74
Trip to China 74
Removal Man 75
Saucy Beggar 76
Magnetic Credit Cards 77
Defying Gravity 78
Sticky Fingers 78
lighter than light 79
Finger Mouse 80
The Shirt off your Back 82
Loose Thread 82
Snag 8@
Double your Money 83
Unburstable Balloon 84
Obedient Handkerchief 85
Milo the Mouse 86
Blow your Nose 88,
Broken Arm 88
Broken Nose 89
Popping your Joints 89
Dead Man's Finger 89
Torn Wallpaper 90
Jacob's Ladder 91
Jacob's Tree 92
Bottomless Mug 93
Relight my Fire 93
Floating Bread Roll 94
Bumblebee Eggs 96
Fake Scars 97
Invisible Coin Catch 98
Comedy Rising Match 98
A Good Head for Money 99
Laughter lines 100
Matchbox Challenge 100
Tie through Neck 101
Beer Money 101
Smiling Queen 102
Origami Rose 103

Optical Illusions
INtro 106
Common Optical Illustions 108
which is longer 108
How Many Shelves? 108
Shrinking Haze 108
Small, Medium, Large 108
Connecting Line 109
All Square 1 09
Full to the Brim 109
Odd Ball 109
Straight or Crooked? 110
Parallel Lines 110
Scintillating Illusion 110
Eskimo or Indian? 111
Rabbit or Duck? 111
Young or Old Woman? 111
Towards or Away? 111
Shrinking Pen 112
Floating Sausage 112
Hole in Hand 112
Ship in a Bottle 113
Emily's Illusion 113
Stretching Arm 114
Pinkie Down 114
Thumb Stretch 115
Thumb Off 115
Impossible! 116
Boomerang Cards 117
Stamp it Out! 118
East Meets West 118
Two In One 119
Height of Failure 120
Clip the Queen 121
Shrinking Wand 122


stunts and puzzles 124

Introduction 126
Follow the Leader 128
Still Following the Leader 128
Hypnotic, Magnetic Fingers 129
Wand Twist 129
Floating Arms 130
Pepper-sepper-ation 130
Table Lock 131
Broom Suspension 131
Time for a Shower 132
Inverted Glass Trick 133
Coin through Hole 134
Rising Tube Mystery 135
Suspended Animation 138
Straw Bottle 139
Escaping Coin 139
Balancing Skill 140
Card Flick 140
The Rice Lift 141
Robin Hood Meets his Match 141
Immovable 142
Try and Stand Up! 143
Surefire Bet 143
Lift Me If You Can 144
Superman 145
Box It 146
Numbers Up' 146
Fish! 147
Cocktail Glass 147
Uncrushable 148
Suspension Bridge 148
Coin Con 148
The Pyramid Game 149
Riddle Me This 149
Letter of Resignation 150
Bullseye 151
Total this Sum 152
Impossible Numbers! 152
Calculation Sensation 153
Hide and Seek 153
Hide and Seek Solo 154
Topsy-turvy Mugs 155
X-ray Vision 156
Penny Pincher 157
The Great Olive Challenge 158
Invisible Traveller 159
The Trapdoor Card 160
Walking through a Postcard 162 Drink Problem 163
A Cutting Problem 163
Salt and Pepper Separation 164
Crazy Corks 1 65
Quickness of Hand 166
Love Match 166
Interlocked 167
Impossible Link 168


stan?-up magic 170

I Introduction 172
I Production Tube 174
Blended Silks (Version 1) 176
Magic Photo Album 177
~ Genie in a Bottle 178 :
Needles through Balloon 180
f Vanishing Glass of Liquid 182
Going into Liquidation 184
Liquidated Assets 185
Multiplication Sensation 186
Spiked Thumb 187
Square Circle Production 188
Mini Flip Flap Production Box 190
I Silk through Glass (Version 1) 193
I Silk through Glass (Version 2) 195

Switching Bag 196
Picture Perfect 196
Blended Silks (Version 2) 198
Candy Caper 199
Escapologist 200
Lord of the Rings 201
Magic Circles 202
Crazy Spots! 204
Trooping the Colours 206
Paper Balls over the Head 208
Incredible Prediction 209
Vanishing Mug of Liquid 210
Incredible Blindfold Act 211 Watch This! 212
Second Sight 214
Excalibur's Cup 215
Anti-gravity Glasses 216

Stage Illusions 218

Introduction 220
Comedy Levitation 224
Mini Me 225
Houdini Outdone! 226
Flip Flap Production 228
Bowl Vanish 230
Victory Cartons Illusion 232
Cutting a Person in Two 234
Metamorphosis 235
Tip, Over Box 238
Out of Thin Air 240


putting on a show 242

Introduction 244
Magic Wand Invitations 246
Setting the Stage 248
Sample Running Orders 249



Where to Learn More 250
Visit Your Local Library 250
Join a Local Magic Society 250
Join a Magic
Organization 250
Magazines 250
Magic Shops 250


I Glossary 252
Index 253 I
Acknowledgements 256

I got this on sale at Borders for $5.00
I too thought it was comparable to The Wilson Course.
$5.00 well spent.

And I thought I got a good deal; you didn't even need to pay for postage!

yes, for a discounted price, it does have some nice bits in it. It is comparable to Wilson's complete course in its breadth (coin, card, stunts, stage illusions), but I would not trade Wilson's book for this, but it did have some interesting stuff in it

I am unanimous in that as well.