How Magicians Think: Misdirection, Deception, and Why Magic Matters

If you want to know how magicians’ tricks are done, this isn’t the book for you. Magicians, after all, don’t reveal their tricks. At least, ethical magicians don’t reveal other magicians’ tricks; they are free to reveal their own as they wish. This is one of the many interesting tidbits encountered in this delightful book about magic and magicians by world-renowned magician Joshua Jay, who shares his musings on honing his craft, the evolving state of magic, and so much more. His writing is personal and engaging, giving you a glimpse into his endlessly curious, inventive mind and drive. Essays address questions ranging from the psychological (“How are we fooled exactly?”) to the sociological (“Why is magic still so male-dominated?”) to the practical (“Seriously, how do you saw someone in half?”) (He still won’t tell you!) No matter the theme, all are extremely personal. The answer to “Who is the hardest audience to fool?” delivers a set of musings on the wonder of childhood and how magic seeks to recreate the sense of possibility we lose as we age, in an essay both funny and poignant. Perhaps the idea that magic is purely superficial entertainment is truly its greatest illusion.