MAGIC-CON 2010 : Recommended Reading List

[Alex Hess]

Hey everyone,

The below post was pulled from Theory11 (here), and was posted by jonraiker. These are his personal list of books that were registrants of the 2010's MAGIC-CON. Only about half of his thread was copied, so check it out for the full list. I added the first two main categories he posted and modified the links to give you the best savings :)

: : FUNDAMENTALS
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- The Illustrated History of Magic by Milbourne and Maurine Christopher : Fascinating stories of the world's greatest conjurers - from sorcerer priests in ancient Egypt, to Chung Ling Soo and Houdini, to modern miracle workers like David Copperfield and David Blaine. Filled with fantastic illustrations, this book is a feast for anyone interested in the history of the conjuring arts.
- The Tarbell Course in Magic (Vol. 1 - 8) by Harlan Tarbell : The most respected course in magic. These classic volumes cover every aspect and interest in the art of magic performance - with more than 100 detailed lessons over the course of eight volumes.
- The Expert at the Card Table by S. W. Erdnase : The classic treatise on card manipulation (known as the Bible to many). For almost a century, this book has been considered indispensable to attaining the highest level of card mastery. The most famous, carefully studied book ever published on the art of manipulating cards.
- Thirteen Steps to Mentalism by Tony Corinda : Considered the Bible for mentalists and magicians interested in "mental magic" - written by Tony Corinda. I reference this book regularly... and by regularly I mean all the time. Essential reading.
- The Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue : Required reading for anyone looking to study card magic seriously.
- Practical Mental Magic by Theodore Annemann : The step-by-step detail, clarity and inclusiveness of this collection, along with the author's intimate knowledge of the art of mentalism and magic, make this a volume that you should definitely have on your bookshelf - no question.
- Art and Artifice by Jim Steinmeyer : A collection of five essays that shows how the great stage illusions were integrally products of their time, based on the traditions and fashions of the people, and the offspring of the incredible, inventive personalities who brought them to the stage. Like no other author, Jim Steinmeyer gives us insight into the timeless appeal of magic. (Suggested by Chase Goforth)
- Hiding The Elephant by Jim Steinmeyer : A thorough journey through the rich history of magicians, their creations, and their quest for the impossible. (Suggested by Chase Goforth)
- The Discoverie of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot : Written by Reginald Scot in 1584, this book was intended as an exposé of medieval witchcraft - and also contained a small section that is considered the first published material on magic, intended to show how the public were fooled by charlatans. (Suggested by Phil)
- Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic : One of the most referenced and comprehensive magic teach-in's ever assembled. The secrets to more than 300 classic tricks - from sleight of hand to levitation - are carefully explained in this 503-page volume. (Suggested by Ian)

: : MAGIC THEORY + TECHNIQUE
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- Absolute Magic by Derren Brown
- Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz
- Designing Miracles by Darwin Ortiz
- Five Points in Magic by Juan Tamariz
- Tangled Web by Eric Mead
- Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber
- Scripting Magic by Pete McCabe
- The Fitzkee Trilogy by Dariel Fitzkee
- Books of Wonder (Vol. 1 - 2) by Tommy Wonder
- Magic and Meaning (Expanded) by Eugene Burger and Robert Neale (Suggested by Chase Goforth)