Maximum Entertainment gets my vote. Definitely a must read for those looking to better their performance.

Just finished reading Billion Dollar Bunco. Technically it is not a magic book but a real fun read. Most important, it will give you the background for patter that can't be beat. Now here is what we are going to do. Send me one dollar for the lastest scam and add your name to the bottom .....................................................................................................................

Well it's all been said before: Bannon's Impossibilia and Smoke and Mirrors.
Art of Astonishment.
Mind Myth and Magic.
Magic of Alex Elmsley.
Both books of Derren Brown's
Corinda's 13 steps
Totally Out of Control
Richard's Almanac
Pallbearer's review
John Carney's books
Five points in Magic
Anneman (Abrams)
5x5 Japan
Paramiracles
anything by Doc Shiels
more that I'm forgetting....

I would like to add Darwin Ortiz's Designing Miracles to the list. I especially enjoyed the case studies he includes.

The Greater Artful Dodges of Eddie Fields and Fechter.

Harry Lorayne's "Reputation Makers." Simon Lovell's "Simon Says."

Any book with good tricks in it. Right now, it's Card College Light. I also like reading Karl Fulves books.

Almost finished reading Frances Ireland Marshall's 1946 autobiography "You Don't Have To Be Crazy (But it Helps)". Boy, this book should be required reading for the modern magician... Drawing on her already varied career in magic at the time of writing amidst the changing world of WWII, Frances, who continued to contribute to the world of magic through the 21st Century, shares fantastic stories and perfectly describes magic and magicians in a way that could have been written yesterday. There are a few sentences here and there that belie the fact that the book is in fact 60 years old but this is a timeless book about our art that deserves to be reprinted and read by anyone who claims the title of magician.

I love Steve Beam's books. Great sense of humor.

Session-The Magic Of Joel Givens by Joshua Jay is a great book to curl up with. It's written in the form of a novel to make a very enjoyable read.

One book I really enjoyed reading through was Mitox by Phill Smiff, great book!

Dear Mr Fantasy by John Bannon

I find a lot of 'bizarre magic' books enjoyable to read because of the stories contained....Hauntiques by Christian Chelman and Vu Du Magick by Baba Gede Nibo are two of my favourites

Derren Browns books are a good read too....





A.

Cheers Y2John, I put a lot of time into the writing *around* the tricks in Mitox: I was inspired by the brilliant writing in Paul Harris' Art of Astonishment series.

Really early in the first book of his I read he sends up the whole structure of the technical writing of magic. He launches into the 'method' description of one of the effects, which uses an everyday object, and just describes the way the item is supposed to be used in normal life instead of the handling for the effect. (sorry for the vague description but I don't want to spoil the fun for anyone who hasn't read it yet.) It tickled me at least.

The best magic books I think are ones, like the AoA books, which cut through the formality of the format and give you the impression of a personal chinwag with the writer, conveying their personality and excitement as well as the clarity of instruction.

Phill

'Collected Almanac' for me - or 'Enchantment'

"Shattering Illusions" by Jamy Ian Swiss. I cannot believe it has not been mentioned yet. Mastering the Art of Magic, and many more. I am sure Secret Ways of Al Baker will be as well whenever I finish it.

I'd like to add The Vernon Chronicles Volume 4 to the list. I enjoyed reading about his opinions on some of the greats; Houdini, Leipzig, Malini, etc. There were also several interesting anecdotes and of course great insights on how to create great magical effects.

Jake

For me, any books from Lorayne or Fulves is an enjoyable read.

Another vote here for Session - the magic of Joel Givens by Josh Jay. Written in a great, engaging style that aims to make you feel as though you're sat there at a convention with Joel, getting fooled then enlightened.

Good Lord, according to all these readers I've wasted all these years!!!