Suggested Reading (Non-Effects)

[sourboarder]

Dear theory 11 crew and forum readers,
I was sitting in my lonely house.... again. Reading Art of Astonishment..... again. And I noticed that excluding sleights, I learn so much more about the performance aspect and effect design and routing when I read the excerpts in there... like Astonishment the natural start of mind or something like that. ( too lazy to get the book.... again.) So I was wondering what kind of magic magazines or books do you guess recommend for items like this.

 

[conjure_pitch]

David Blaines Mysterious stranger was a decent page turner.

 

[Brad Henderson]

Eugene Burger's The Performance of Close Up MAgic
Henning Nelm's Magic and Showmanship

and if you want some grounding in aesthetic theory (though not about magic per se)

Suzanne Langer's Philosophy in a New Key

Many recommend Ortiz's Designing Miracles, but I have not had the chance to read it yet.

Brad Henderson

 

[Sean_Raf]

The Paper Engine - 'Aaron Fisher'

This has some great thoughts in it. The full title of it is actually "The Paper Engine - Tension, Focus and Design in Card Magic"

- Sean

 

[JoeCarr]

Look no further than tricks of the Mind by Derren Brown, it's so good in many ways..

 

[SHANE BLACK]

Mysterious Stranger is a good book I also like the books of Wonder by Tommy Wonder they have awesome info on presentation and performance tips.

Shane.

 

[MitchellStafiej]

Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz

and

Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber

Two of the finest books on magic performance and presentation I have read.

Mitch