How Magicians Think
Misdirection, Deception, and Why Magic Matters
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Narrated by:
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Joshua Jay
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By:
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Joshua Jay
About this listen
The door to magic is closed, but it’s not locked.
And now Joshua Jay, one of the world’s most accomplished magicians, not only opens that door but brings us inside to reveal the artistry and obsessiveness, esoteric history, and long-whispered-about traditions of a subject shrouded in mystery.
And he goes one step further: Joshua Jay brings us right into the mind of a magician—how they develop their other worldly skills, conjure up illusions, and leave the rest of us slack-jawed with delight time after time. Along the way, Jay reveals another kind of secret, one all listeners will find meaningful even if they never aspire to perform sleight of hand: What does it take to follow your heart and achieve excellence?
In 52 short, compulsively listenable essays, Jay describes how he does it, whether it’s through the making of illusions, the psychology behind them, or the way technology influences the world of magic. He considers the aesthetics of performance, discusses contemporary masters, including David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, and David Blaine, and details how magicians hone their craft. And answers questions like: Can a magic trick be too good? How do you saw a person in half? Is there real magic in the universe? The answers, like so much in magic and life, depend on you.
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Critic reviews
"[How Magicians Think] is delightful in being both a how-to book for aspiring artists and an in-depth view of the world of magic and its artisans. Jay is refreshingly candid in how he views his work, often self-deprecating, but always serious about his passion for his trade. An entertaining book from start to finish."—Booklist
“How Magicians Think is fascinating, beautiful, and can't-put-down shocking. It will inspire awe in its depiction of the secretive world of magicians and is a must-read for anyone passionate about pursuing excellence.” —Uri Geller
“How Magicians Think is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read! Joshua Jay is a genius storyteller who has distilled a life’s worth of insights into a single book, and the result is magical.” —Steven Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics
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As You Wish
- Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
- By: Cary Elwes, Joe Layden, Rob Reiner - foreword
- Narrated by: Cary Elwes, Christopher Guest, Carol Kane, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner.
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I don't normally write reviews but...
- By Anonymous on 10-18-14
By: Cary Elwes, and others
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Failing Up
- How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning
- By: Leslie Odom Jr.
- Narrated by: Leslie Odom Jr.
- Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Leslie Odom Jr. burst on the scene in 2015, originating the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical phenomenon Hamilton. Since then he has performed for sold-out audiences, sung for the Obamas at the White House, and won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. But before he landed the role of a lifetime in one of the biggest musicals of all time, Odom put in years of hard work as a singer and an actor.
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When you take one step, the universe takes two
- By Amy Aguilar on 04-11-18
By: Leslie Odom Jr.
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100 Things the Simpsons Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
- By: Allie Goertz, Julia Prescott
- Narrated by: Pete Cross, Angie Kane
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Most fans of The Simpsons can distinguish Lenny from Carl without checking their hands. But only real fans recall the Eastern European equivalent of The Itchy & Scratchy Show, know the name of Barney Gumble's submission to the Springfield Film Festival, and have road tripped to the World's Fair in Knoxville. 100 Things The Simpsons Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the ultimate resource for true fans, whether you comprehend at a Ralph Wiggum or Lisa Simpson level.
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BEST BOOK EVER!!😁
- By Kathleen on 11-22-20
By: Allie Goertz, and others
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Art & Soul, Reloaded
- By: Pam Grout
- Narrated by: Pam Grout
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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With her trademark humor, enthusiasm, and no-nonsense guidance, Pam Grout, the number-one New York Times best-selling author of E-Squared, invites you on a yearlong "apprenticeship" to recognize and unleash your innate creativity. Making art does not necessarily mean painting a gallery-worthy still life or belting out a Grammy-winning song. It simply means finding a way to give your inner muse a voice in this world.
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A firestarter!
- By ATC on 11-03-17
By: Pam Grout
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It Takes Two
- Our Story
- By: Jonathan Scott, Drew Scott
- Narrated by: Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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It Takes Two: Our Story shares never-before-revealed tales of the Scott brothers' childhood and rise to fame - from starting their first business at seven years old and their years modeling and acting to their first house purchase at the impressive young age of 18. They soon found their true passion in life, combining their natural gifts for entertaining with the skills they learned from buying, renovating, and selling homes.
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Not Worth the Time or $2.95
- By Sharlotte on 03-06-18
By: Jonathan Scott, and others
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Manhood for Amateurs
- The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son
- By: Michael Chabon
- Narrated by: Michael Chabon
- Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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As a devoted son, as a passionate husband, and above all as a father, Chabon's memories of childhood, of his parents' marriage and divorce, of moments of painful adolescent comedy and giddy encounters with the popular art and literature of his own youth, are like a theme played by the mad quartet of which he now finds himself co-conductor. At once dazzling, hilarious, and moving, Manhood for Amateurs is destined to become a classic.
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Terrible
- By Ken on 10-14-09
By: Michael Chabon
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Letters to a Young Artist
- By: Anna Deavere Smith
- Narrated by: Anna Deavere Smith
- Length: 4 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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From "the most exciting individual in American theater" ( Newsweek), here is Anna Deavere Smith's brass-tacks advice to aspiring artists of all stripes. In the manner of Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, Deavere Smith mentors her young artist over a period of five years, sharing her hard-won wisdom about the challenges and rewards of the artistic life.
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Great advice for artists of any age.
- By S. Barker on 10-30-17
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The Humor Code
- A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny
- By: Peter McGraw, Joel Warner
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Dr. Peter McGraw, founder of the Humor Research Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, teamed up with journalist Joel Warner on a far-reaching search for the secret behind humor. Their journey spanned the globe, from New York to Japan, from Palestine to the Amazon. Meanwhile, the duo conducted their own humor experiments along the way-to wince-worthy, hilarious, and illuminating results.
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Real research and a scientific theory of humor!
- By Dianne on 05-22-15
By: Peter McGraw, and others
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Street Gang
- The Complete History of Sesame Street
- By: Michael Davis
- Narrated by: Caroll Spinney
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Abridged
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When the first episode aired on Nov. 10, 1969, Sesame Street revolutionized the way education was presented to children on television. It has since become the longest-running children's show in history, and today reaches 8 million pre-schoolers on 350 PBS stations and airs in 120 countries. Street Gang is the compelling and often comical story of the creation and history of this media masterpiece and pop culture landmark.
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An important subject, but hardly gripping
- By Scott T. Hards on 09-24-10
By: Michael Davis
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Life, Animated
- A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism
- By: Ron Suskind
- Narrated by: Ron Suskind
- Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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This is the real-life story of Owen Suskind, the son of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind and his wife, Cornelia. An autistic boy who couldn't speak for years, Owen memorized dozens of Disney movies, turned them into a language to express love and loss, kinship, brotherhood. The family was forced to become animated characters, communicating with him in Disney dialogue and song; until they all emerge, together, revealing how, in darkness, we all literally need stories to survive.
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Life, Animated ... is Love, Animated *****
- By Tom T. Rumble on 04-12-14
By: Ron Suskind
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I'll Never Change My Name
- An Immigrant's American Dream from Ukraine to the USA to Dancing with the Stars
- By: Valentin Chmerkovskiy
- Narrated by: Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Maks Chmerkovskiy
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Valentin Chmerkovskiy, the world championship-winning and beloved Dancing with the Stars ballroom dancer invites fans into his life as never before, sharing the experiences, including the failures and successes, that have shaped him, from his early childhood in Ukraine to growing up as an immigrant in the US to his rise to international fame.
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A Must for Dancing with the Stars fans
- By Rana I O on 03-10-18
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The Collaborative Habit
- Life Lessons for Working Together
- By: Twyla Tharp
- Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 4 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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In a career that has spanned four decades, choreographer Twyla Tharp has collaborated with great musicians, designers, thousands of dancers, and almost a hundred companies. She's experienced the thrill of shared achievement and has seen what happens when group efforts fizzle. Her professional life has been - and continues to be - one collaboration after another. In this practical sequel to her national best seller The Creative Habit, Tharp explains why collaboration is important to her - and can be for you.
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Awful narration
- By Anastasia Lattanand on 05-14-16
By: Twyla Tharp
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Dying of Politeness
- A Memoir
- By: Geena Davis
- Narrated by: Geena Davis
- Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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From two-time Academy Award winner and screen icon Geena Davis, the surprising tale of her “journey to badassery”—from her epically polite childhood to roles that loaned her the strength to become a powerhouse in Hollywood.
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so perfect
- By Kimber on 10-16-22
By: Geena Davis
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Magic Is Dead
- My Journey into the World's Most Secretive Society of Magicians
- By: Ian Frisch
- Narrated by: Charlie Thurston
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
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In the vein of Neil Strauss’ The Game and Joshua Foer’s Moonwalking with Einstein comes the fascinating story of one man’s colorful, mysterious, and personal journey into the world of magic and his unlikely invitation into an underground secret society of revolutionary magicians from around the world.
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Not for me.
- By Jason P Aylward on 03-17-19
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The Secret History of Magic
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- Narrated by: Rory Barnett
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If you read a standard history of magic, you learn that it begins in ancient Egypt with the resurrection of a goose in front of the Pharaoh. You discover how magicians were tortured and killed during the age of witchcraft. You are told how conjuring tricks were used to quell rebellious colonial natives. The history of magic is full of such stories, which turn out not to be true. Behind the smoke and mirrors, however, lies the real story of magic.
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Snoozefest
- By Eric Myers on 06-22-19
By: Peter Lamont, and others
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Fooling Houdini
- Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind
- By: Alex Stone
- Narrated by: Alex Stone
- Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
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When Alex Stone was five years old, his father bought him a magic kit - a gift that would spark a lifelong love. Years later, while living in New York City, he discovered a vibrant underground magic scene exploding with creativity and innovation and populated by a fascinating cast of characters: from his gruff mentor, who holds court in the back of a rundown pizza shop, to one of the world's greatest card cheats, who also happens to be blind. Captivated, he plunged headlong into this mysterious world.
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I suppose the author thinks he's clever
- By Joe on 11-01-12
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Showmanship for Magicians
- By: Dariel Fitzkee
- Narrated by: Dennis Rowley
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
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Showmanship for Magicians is a 1943 work by semi-professional magician and author Dariel Fitzkee. It is the first in the Fitzkee Trilogy, a classic collection that is still read widely by magicians, conjurors, and illusionists alike.
By: Dariel Fitzkee
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The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini
- By: Joe Posnanski
- Narrated by: Jacques Roy
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
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Award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Joe Posnanski enters the world of Harry Houdini and his legions of devoted fans in an immersive, entertaining, and magical work on the illusionist’s impact on American culture - and why his legacy endures to this day.
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Very much less than average
- By Kevin on 07-08-21
By: Joe Posnanski
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David Copperfield's History of Magic
- By: David Copperfield, Richard Wiseman, David Britland
- Narrated by: Feodor Chin, David Copperfield
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In this personal journey through a unique performing art, David Copperfield profiles some of the world’s most groundbreaking magicians. From the 16th-century magistrate who wrote an early book on conjuring, to the Roaring Twenties and the man who fooled Houdini, to the woman who levitated, vanished, and caught bullets in her bare hands, David Copperfield’s History of Magic takes you on a wild journey through the remarkable feats of some of the greatest magicians in history.
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Interesting stories / bland reading
- By Salman Qureshi on 03-01-22
By: David Copperfield, and others
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Magic Is Dead
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- By: Ian Frisch
- Narrated by: Charlie Thurston
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
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Overall
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Performance
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In the vein of Neil Strauss’ The Game and Joshua Foer’s Moonwalking with Einstein comes the fascinating story of one man’s colorful, mysterious, and personal journey into the world of magic and his unlikely invitation into an underground secret society of revolutionary magicians from around the world.
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Not for me.
- By Jason P Aylward on 03-17-19
By: Ian Frisch
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The Secret History of Magic
- The True Story of the Deceptive Art
- By: Peter Lamont, Jim Steinmeyer
- Narrated by: Rory Barnett
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
If you read a standard history of magic, you learn that it begins in ancient Egypt with the resurrection of a goose in front of the Pharaoh. You discover how magicians were tortured and killed during the age of witchcraft. You are told how conjuring tricks were used to quell rebellious colonial natives. The history of magic is full of such stories, which turn out not to be true. Behind the smoke and mirrors, however, lies the real story of magic.
-
-
Snoozefest
- By Eric Myers on 06-22-19
By: Peter Lamont, and others
-
Fooling Houdini
- Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind
- By: Alex Stone
- Narrated by: Alex Stone
- Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Alex Stone was five years old, his father bought him a magic kit - a gift that would spark a lifelong love. Years later, while living in New York City, he discovered a vibrant underground magic scene exploding with creativity and innovation and populated by a fascinating cast of characters: from his gruff mentor, who holds court in the back of a rundown pizza shop, to one of the world's greatest card cheats, who also happens to be blind. Captivated, he plunged headlong into this mysterious world.
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I suppose the author thinks he's clever
- By Joe on 11-01-12
By: Alex Stone
-
Showmanship for Magicians
- By: Dariel Fitzkee
- Narrated by: Dennis Rowley
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Showmanship for Magicians is a 1943 work by semi-professional magician and author Dariel Fitzkee. It is the first in the Fitzkee Trilogy, a classic collection that is still read widely by magicians, conjurors, and illusionists alike.
By: Dariel Fitzkee
-
The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini
- By: Joe Posnanski
- Narrated by: Jacques Roy
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Joe Posnanski enters the world of Harry Houdini and his legions of devoted fans in an immersive, entertaining, and magical work on the illusionist’s impact on American culture - and why his legacy endures to this day.
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-
Very much less than average
- By Kevin on 07-08-21
By: Joe Posnanski
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David Copperfield's History of Magic
- By: David Copperfield, Richard Wiseman, David Britland
- Narrated by: Feodor Chin, David Copperfield
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this personal journey through a unique performing art, David Copperfield profiles some of the world’s most groundbreaking magicians. From the 16th-century magistrate who wrote an early book on conjuring, to the Roaring Twenties and the man who fooled Houdini, to the woman who levitated, vanished, and caught bullets in her bare hands, David Copperfield’s History of Magic takes you on a wild journey through the remarkable feats of some of the greatest magicians in history.
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Interesting stories / bland reading
- By Salman Qureshi on 03-01-22
By: David Copperfield, and others
What listeners say about How Magicians Think
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- J. R.
- 01-04-23
Great for Magicians and Muggles Alike!
I've been performing close-up magic for about 20 years. I've met Josh and have attended his lectures. This is a great book for the insight into the psychology of magic as well as a good historical look into the art. If you're a magician, this book will give you some things to think about and will likely inspire some new thinking about your effects and performances.
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- Virginia Grandadady
- 05-07-23
feels like author is sitting beside me -Recommend!
I'm a new student of learning. I felt like Jay was sitting beside me in the living room reading this to me personally. The perspectives on performing kids and adults were "ah ha" moments for me. I did my first kids' show and felt somewhat disillusioned. "kids are trying to figure stuff out, and the connection is most important. One boy figured out the trick and I was stumped. My brain froze, and I didn't know what to do. I have since learned several ways to deal with this - you caught me, and redesign the ending to surprise and disarm, This wasn't exactly in the book, but his book inspired me to look at it differently.
Joshua Jay, thank you for taking the unknown hours and days to research, connect and write this jewel.
He enlightens me about magic and the different ways magicians think. More than that - insight into the world of magicians. blew a number of my "bubbles" (beliefs) about magic in a good way. This book (audio & print) is mesmerizing; couldn't put it down. I'm a "newbie" and many "subtle" and not-so-subtle insights make me a better magician. It came to me at an ideal time, as I'm starting to perform for my neighbors & friends.
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- Michael Randazzo
- 01-04-22
You have no idea why we Magicians take it so seriously.
I am a magician. I have known of Josh since he was a little kid. So that’s my honest reveal. If you love Fool Us, Penn&Teller, David Copperfield, Marshal Brodeen or even the 21 card trick you will enjoy this book. His hopes for the next great magician alone is why you should listen to this book.
Josh has a gentle style and it comes through in this book. A wonderful peek into the mind of people like me. A must read for anyone young or old. Thank you Josh for putting into words what most magicians are thinking.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-28-22
fantastic listen brilliant book!
As an at best amatuer in the craft Joshua Jay paints a very vivid picture of how to take in and digest the art and wonder of his profession. I can not thank you enough Joshua!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Possum Bean
- 12-23-22
Fascinating
A wonderful book on human psychology as well as many great stories interwoven. Very much worth a credit.
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- Rich
- 12-26-22
Great listen
If you’re expecting magic, tricks revealed, don’t buy this, but if you’re expecting a great insight to the world of magic, this is a great book. Well done.
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- Lisa
- 11-16-21
Mystery and magic is for you
This is one of the magic greatest book I have ever read and heard but it does not tell me how to do a single trick. Maybe that is the most magical part!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Lynn Maudlin
- 01-22-23
Magic!
I'm not a magician, but my older brother was - he and a friend made a good business doing magic shows for birthday parties and church gatherings, and his sleight of hand was really good - I could stand right with him and *not* see what he was doing.
So I've got a bit a personal connection here, and this book didn't disappoint me. It's modern and contemporary and mentions a lot of magicians I've never heard of ...it's also interesting because Jay (who narrates the book himself) uses "she" as his default pronoun: he would really like to see more female magicians and magicians "of color," and his choice of pronoun is perhaps his way of orienting his readers to the future he imagines.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-27-22
Great Perspective to Share
I’ve followed magic for years and have enjoyed Joshua Jay’s viewpoint from his years as a professional. My efforts on it has mostly been used to get youth Sunday school classes going.
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- Mr. Kenley C. Vogt
- 06-16-23
Great audio book
I enjoyed the thinking of the author and the performance of the book. It was a most enjoyable “read” that is listen. It gives the the back story of the author/ magician.
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