Product Description

From one of the world's premier practitioners of classic magic, with years of experience instructing younger readers in the magical arts, comes this new revision of his complete guide to learning and performing fantastic feats of prestidigitation. Acclaimed by the Los Angeles Times as "the text that...young magicians swear by," it's full of step-by-step instructions. More than 2,000 illustrations provide the know-how behind 300 techniques, from basic card tricks to advanced levitation, along with advice on planning and staging a professional-quality magic show.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6310 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-18
• Released on: 2003-05-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

About the Author

Customer Reviews

Extraordinary Compendium of Learning and Delight!
I have been studying sleight-of-hand magic and other departments of the art for thirty-five years. Additionally, in my own professional life, I have written 25 textbooks in another field. --With these credentials, I simply must step forward to praise Mark Wilson's "Complete Course in Magic," for the masterful instruction and the highest quality presentation.

First of all, this book is a coffee-table book-size, produced with quality binding, excellent paper selection, and the most captivatingly perfect photographic cover treatment possible! This all promises quality content; this inspires pride in possessing such a weighty and elegant work.

I can say, unequivocally, that this book is easy-to-understand, eminently practical, and immediately enjoyable; the learning factor --even for someone quite skilled-- is off the charts! Drawings everywhere! Little tips of patter and misdirection accompany all the sleights, and even self-working tricks are turned into miracles.

I have never, in all my reading over almost half-a century, encountered a more beautiful presentation, a more lucid instruction in magic. **If just one of these tricks ("presentations," really) enters your life, your personality, and, in turn, delights the people around you, the cost of this book will be rewarded many, many times over.

This is no kiddy's Course in magic, although youngsters with intelligence may begin a lifetime of delight through these pages. This is a careful, complete presentation of magic principles and nifty presentations that EVERY magician must have in his/her library.

Impress People with Magic in 1 Hour
This is my first magic book and it is fantastic. I've seen my share of amateur and professional magic tricks. This book covers the gamut. In one hour, I found and learned three tricks that I've never seen before. I performed them for co-workers the same day and astonished them.

I've since found a good handful of tricks that are original (to me), don't require great slight-of-hand skills and don't cost money (for props). Now I perform them for friends and strangers and, viola, my circle of friends is growing! Do a few easy-to-learn magic tricks really make one more interesting? I guess so.

And there's the easiest little "Jumping Rubber Band" trick that if you show a child, then teach him how to do it (sorry, I broke the first rule of magic), you'll put a big smile on his face and he'll excitedly run off to show everyone his magic.

Great guide to magic
The tricks in the book are very well explained and illustrated, making learning a breeze. After a couple of hours of reading and practicing, I was able to amaze my daughter and my wife. I had never done magic before in my life, but this book made it a breeze. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn a few tricks, or to become an amateur magician.