People ask me what my favorite books or videos are. I personally prefer books over videos. Although I did learn many tricks from Michael Ammar’s Easy to master card Miracles series, it was books that taught me the subtleties and theories needed to surpass the Ammar clone of doing magic. Yes, I said it, I was a Asian Ammar Clone. (magicians call it A.A.C) Before I give my list, I will not be listing the basic books that everyone needs to have. That is of course the Card College series, Expert at the Card Table, Royal Road to Card Magic, and Expert Card Technique. There are many more, but those are my must haves. So here is my top list of books that I recommend.
Paper Engine by Aaron Fisher
This book focuses on taking tension out of your card magic. Designing moves around gravity is an amazing concept. My favorite book of all time. When magic is done slow and elegant, we call that person a “Smoothie”. I love Smoothies. Not sexually.
By Forces Unseen by Ernest Earick
Move Monkeys beware. This is the hardest book ever devised on sleight of hand related to a deck of cards. Currently my Bible®. You will be seeing more videos from this book.
Card Fictions by Pit Hartling
Even though it is a small book, It’s the only book I would perform every single trick to an audience. Try “Color Sense”.
Revelation by Dai Vernon
The new edition that just came out this year is by far the more beautiful book I have seen. It is a must have. Not only do you get to go through Expert at the Card Table again, you get to hear what the master, Dai Vernon, has to say about it.
Pure Effect by Derren Brown
This book is pure gold. Derren Brown’s touch of mentalism while he was still a card magician? What else do you need.
Absolute Magic by Derren Brown
This is the only book on theory I would really recommend. I read it every half year to inspire myself.
Kevin
Amen on Absolute Magic. It’s just as fascinating reading Brown’s theory on presentation and approach as it is seeing it in action. Borrowed it from a friend to read a long time ago, but if I get the cash I’ll definitely plop some down to get a hardcover copy of my own.
-Kev
Matt
Hey Kev/Tony(If you read this) Are Derrens stuff really worth the 150-200 Dollars?
I mean I love his stuff but $200, damn.
Kevin
@Matt:
Hell yeah. I assume you’ve already read the more-affordable Tricks of the Mind, so if you liked his writing style in that, realize that his other two books are just as well-written, but focused specifically in non-layperson areas (which is why they cost so much).
Like I said, if I had the money to spare I’d have them already
-Kev
unseenforces
I’m glad i got them when they were $35 bucks each. not letting go of these babies.
satoeri
What about the bottom steal notes we got from the Portland magic store from that cocky kid way back in our University days???? I think it was called Insomniac or something.
Also, Justin Hanes!! his first released notes on his ACR using some strange tilt variation! That was gold man. Add it to the list! dooooo it
Matt
@Unseen, BabieS? You’ve got more than one?
Kevin
@Matt:
I think he’s talking about both Absolute Magic and Pure Effect. Unless he’s insists on holding on to two copies of AM, which means I’ll have to go a-hunting in NY pretty soon.
-Kev
unseenforces
yeah. I only have 1 copy of each.
Matt
Ah, I misunderstood, sorry.
Gary Au
Hehe, nice list. I’d have to agree with most. I actually don’t own the Hartling book. Ever since I saw his video, dude creeped me out. Haha. Then again, I was fooled by the material the first time I saw people do it.
@satoeri – you mean Hanes’ Action notes. That tilt variation is just a take on the Kenner/Kalush thing of spliting the halves of the deck. I have to look that thing up again. That’s also where I saw the variation of Marlo’s Double Lift Substitute and worked my ass off on it. It still doesn’t look ready, but is one of those moves that looks cool when you expose it
. Also, “Will” is really sweet. Play around with variations on it.