I'm so frustrated. I've just purchased my 2nd $80 magic book on the recommendation of people who seemed to think it would be great. I'm incredibly frustrated that I wasn't able to find what I have felt were particularly strong effects in either of them, and in both the instruction was often difficult to follow.

Obviously Magic books aren't returnable so I'm just out that money.

For those who are more experienced, how to do you make wise decisions about which books to get without blowing cash on books that you may not be able to get real value out of?

You could always resell it and cut your losses.

Hi, you've just learned the hard way something we all suffer from at times! You simply cannot rely on the advice of someone who hypes up a book on an internet forum by suggesting it is the best thing since sliced bread. They don't know you and they don't know your level and your preferences. I have noticed repeatedly how people will spend a lot on a book and swear it's awesome and everyone else who's bought it has to agree with them because they really don't want to admit they've wasted their money and can't use the material. Negative reports about books definitely are in the minority compared with the fan boy responses we so often read.

The best thing is to start with inexpensive classics and as you find your way you can get a better idea of what to move onto next. The amount you spent probably suggests you bought a highly specialised tome which is unlikely to be ideally suited to the requirements of a novice.

I am sure you are not alone. It is hard to advise you specifically without knowing your experience, goals and the books you are referring to. Were the books you purchased just a bad match for you, or were they not of high quality instruction? I would think researching the net and the Café could let you know if the subject matter will be of interest to you. However, if the issue is that the quality of the instruction, that will be more difficult to ascertain w/o honest critical reviews from others. In my view the book "reviews" and other relevant comments I find on the Café are usually all too positive but not much on the critical side, thereby making an informed purchase decision more difficult.

Having said that, I have a similar problem in that I have been easily influenced by what others say about a particular book or conjurer. I think that it is difficult to avoid these influences if one is eager to progress rapidly by taking pathways that appeared to have served others well. It has taken me a few years to become more cautious about purchases...but too late for me. I have about 18 books that I have hardly looked at yet b/c I am busy with others that I find put me on a path more to my liking. I could easily point to hundreds of dollars worth of books that I wish I had not purchased.

Have you tried watching any of the effects performed on video to confirm your feeling that these aren't particularly strong effects?
Sometimes seeing them performed will make you realize how powerful they really are.

Which books are they? You didn't name them. Maybe someone here knows them and can point you at something you didn't see.

Yeah, I am curious.

Something else to keep in mind - The presentations written up in magic books are often bare bones. This is particularly true for the older volumes. The writers used to assume the person reading the book would create their own presentation and script.

Value is a funny thing. It's not consistent at all between people. As long as I get -something- I can use in a performance I generally consider that purchase worthwhile. I have a modest library of over two hundred books. Of those, I consider only 2 worthless to me. One of those was totally my fault, too, for just impulsively purchasing without actually reading what it was.


And Dustrod is totally correct - a lot of times it's difficult to see how 'good' something is until it's actually performed for people.

Per another thread, I suspect one of his books is 'The Classic Collection 4'.

Interesting. Wonder what the other is...

Doug

Was it a Harry Lorayne book? He's written some good stuff, but the faithful disciples singing his praises occasionally need a counter-point.

Tim - you mention Harry Lorayne's 'The Classic Collection Vol 4' in another thread.

That contains 'The Magic Book' I believe.

All I can say is that whilst the material within that book may not have inspired you at first reading (we are all different) I can say in complete honesty, is that it is the content within that book and Harry's others, that has earnt me a living over the decades.

There's a UK based Magician who has recently performed some material from within The Magic Book on Youtube - see what you think - he does a pretty good job and it may help you:

The Magic Book By Harry Lorayne, The Beginners Guide:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vkDCWeR1-3c&t=8s

Coin Tricks By Harry Lorayne:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4HYg7sxt0zs&t=7s

This Book Wants Me To Perform 4 Effects:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qEkhWW51gnk

Thanks for sharing those great links Merc Man.

Good stuff!

In my view there is a great upside to reading through the Café discussions, but there is also a great downside. The upside is that you will come across references to some truly great books as well as top-notch practitioners of our art. The downside is that you will come across references to some truly great books as well as top-notch practitioners of our art. It is obvious that continuous identification and discussion of the classics of magic and the respective practitioners will greatly enhance your experience in learning magic, a process which to me seems endless. However, the inclination to obtain these "must haves" can lead one to purchase a number of books that perhaps they are not ready for, or perhaps will not stylistically appeal to them. In my case having an Acquisition Disorder as I apparently do, this dilemma created the absurd situation that I have volumes of stuff that I will probably never read. Or, will find it very similar to other books and DVDs I had already read. In retrospect, I am sorry I have spent so much money on magic books and DVDs.

In your case, since you are apparently relatively new to this you should not fret your purchase of Harry Lorayne material. His stuff presents a wide variety of effects without getting into the real knuckle-busting stuff, such as one encounters with the works of Darwin Ortiz. Don't get me wrong, they are both excellent, but serve different levels of experience. So don't try to advance too quickly-that means the Royal Road and Card College if necessary. Try to research books and DVDs at the Café and elsewhere to increase the likelihood they will be what you want. People here will be glad to help.

Guys, thank you so much. Those links are great!

I was particularly frustrated, and it seems that my greatest frustration seems to come from a lack of illustration. I've managed to come up with some youtube videos that walk through some of the tricks in the book (and even just some of the moves) and it makes a lot more sense. The book is just very limited on pictures so that's the challenge.

But I have been able to see the great value in the work now that I can see how some of it comes together. Thank you for reaching out on this.

"Acquisition Disorder" - now that is hilarious! I've never heard the term. I've sure wrestled with that disorder. The folks at my local brick and mortar magic shop are so cool that once in a while when I would drop a lot of $ on magic, the sweet lady would remind me to consider if I was REALLY going to use the coin shell or some other item that I was bouncing with urgency to obtain. Got to have it! Got to have it!

Entiendo Roberto. One would think that a wife would help control the impulse, but mine thinks its great that I get all this stuff. She will change if I forget her birthday but buy myself a vintage copy of Royal Road to Card Magic!