Magic for Dummies
by David Pogue
List Price:
Our Price: $8.11
You Save: $11.88 (59%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.25 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: David PogueEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1998-07-23
ISBN: 0764551019
Number of pages: 408
Publisher: For Dummies
Book Reviews of Magic for Dummies
Book Review: "Magic for Dummies"-- A review of a new magic book released July 1998
Summary: 5 Stars
(...)
If you're looking for some new magic tricks and a good laugh (Eccl. 3:4), read "Magic for Dummies" by David Pogue. Don't let the title fool you, even experienced magicians can benefit from this book.
The book contains many impromptu effects--things you can do anywhere with familiar objects. For example, you're in a restaurant with your friends and the conversation lulls. You take a packet of sugar off the center of the table and pour it into your clenched fist. Give it a little squeeze and "voila!" there's no sugar to be found.
You could adapt many of the tricks to a Biblical theme. For example, "The Phantom Photo" is an illusion where you assemble an empty picture frame, an audience member selects a famous movie star, and their photo appears in the frame. This same illusion and a little imagination could turn it into a lesson about the major Bible prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
Each chapter has something valuable. The effects are quite strong and unique. Many of the tricks were submitted by over 35 of the top magicians in the world. In addition to the secret, David adds tips and valuable suggested patter to the effects. The book contains several cartoons by Rich Tennant (The 5th Wave). One was especially appropriate for the Christian Conjuror and is included with this review.
I found the answers provided to common questions like "How did you do that?" and things you can say when you flub a trick very helpful. Although I wish I never needed to use those lines, reality proves me wrong. It's good to be prepared. To help you become a well-rounded magician, David has also included a couple of chapters on the history of magic, describing some of the most famous magicians and incredible moments in magic.
One appendix provides many places you can contact to continue with your interest in magic. There are many up-to-date internet addresses for information included as well. Unfortunately, the "Fellowship of Christian Magicians" is not listed. I've suggested this to the author for a future edition.
Even if you bought the book and decided not to read it, you could always use the book as a prop in your next show. For comedy effect when a trick goes bad, pull the book out of your bag and pretend to check out the secret. It's always humbling to let your audience know that you consider yourself a "dummy" sometimes.
All in all, "Magic for Dummies" is an excellent instructional book on magic for the beginner or professional. It's filled to the brim with practical illusions that you can do. David's sense of humor really makes the book fun to read. I give it a thumbs up!
Computers & Internet Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Computers & Internet Books
Learn to Program with Javaby John Smiley
Osborne/McGraw-Hill; Published: 2002-01-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.99
Price in other shops:
QuickBooks 2000: The Official Guideby Kathy Ivens
McGraw-Hill; Published: 2000-01-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
HTML: A Beginner's Guideby Wendy Willard
Mcgraw-Hill Osborne Media; Published: 2000-11-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.86
Price in other shops:
Cisco(r) CCIE(tm) Lab Practice Kitby Stephen Hutnik, Michael Satterlee
McGraw-Hill Companies; Published: 2001-02-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.56
Price in other shops:
Genealogy Online 9/ Eby Elizabeth Crowe
McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; Published: 2010-08-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.73
Price in other shops:
The Musician's Guide to Pro Toolsby John Keane
McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; Published: 2007-09-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.00
Price in other shops:
DVD Demystified Third Editionby Jim Taylor
McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; Published: 2006-01-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.81
Price in other shops:
Strategies for the Electronic Futures Traderby Jacob Bernstein, Jake Bernstein
McGraw-Hill; Published: 1999-10; Unbound; Book
Fire in the Valley: The Making of The Personal Computer (Second Edition)by Paul Freiberger, Michael Swaine
McGraw-Hill Companies; Published: 2000-11-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $139.58
Digital Signal Processingby Sanjit Mitra
McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math; Published: 2005-01-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $126.66
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Easy-to-Do Magic Tricks for Children (Dover Magic Books)by Karl Fulves
Dover Publications; Published: 1993-06-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.94
Price in other shops:
Street Magic: Great Tricks and Close-Up Secrets Revealedby Paul Zenon
Carlton Books; Published: 2010-05-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.52
Price in other shops:
Joshua Jay's Amazing Book of Cards: Tricks, Shuffles, Stunts & Hustles Plus Bets You Can't Loseby Joshua Jay
Workman Publishing Company; Published: 2010-06-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.79
Price in other shops:
Self-Working Table Magic: 97 Foolproof Tricks with Everyday Objects (Dover Magic Books)by Karl Fulves
Dover Publications; Published: 1981-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.62
Price in other shops:
Pro Brand Svengali Deck - Easy Magic Card Tricks - Red or BlueMagic Makers; Magic Makers; Toy
Best price: $3.58
Price in other shops:
101 Tricks with a Svengali Deck BookletRoyal Magic; Royal Magic; Toy
Best price: $4.50
Modern Coin Magic: 116 Coin Sleights and 236 Coin Tricksby J. B. Bobo
Dover Publications; Published: 1982-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Street Magicby Tom Ogden
Alpha; Published: 2007-10-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.58
Price in other shops:
Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magicby Mark Anthony Wilson
Running Press; Published: 2003-05-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.22
Price in other shops:
Magic: The Complete Course (Book & DVD)by Joshua Jay
Workman Publishing Company; Published: 2008-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.47
Price in other shops: