More Than Expected

I purchased this book thinking that it would be a good beginning magic book for a group of middle schoolers interested in learning magic tricks. It seems that even though the objects are everyday, the tricks are not. This is a great book if you are willing to do the practice to master the tricks, but if you are looking for a quick trick, then keep looking.

Any of the Self Working titles are gold mines

Many beginners to magic (and others who should know better) are of the opinion that a magic effect has to be difficult in order to be worthwhile. While there are many killer effects that take months or years of practice, there are equally wonderful tricks that rely on psychology, subtlety, and/or advance preparation. The Self Working series of books are a treasure trove of great magic. This book is no exception. Many of the included tricks are used by successful professional magicians. Admittedly, these are best used in a program with other, more elaborate tricks, but for those moments in your act where you need a short, sweet effect, something in this book might just fill the bill. And as you get more proficient in magic you will find ways to further embellish these tricks and make them your own private miracles.

VERY useful for beginners and amateurs

If you're reading this, you've probably already experienced the dreadful feeling of opening your new tricks' book... and discovering that the most stupid move requires years of training, expensive props and monk-like dedication.Well... it appears that this book is in fact just the opposite. The tricks are very simple to perform (ok, you'll need some limited legerdemain nonetheless), require no props at all and, most of all, they aren't common or stupid at all.The approach is very down-to-earth and sincere in pointing out the good and the bad parts of each trick, and this book alone will allow you to spice a dinner with dozens of nice magic tricks within a week's practice.Be warned: this is NOT David Copperfield material. It's more "So, uncle Jim, can you do another magic?" type of stuff. But then again, you'll probably won't perform onstage as often as you'll be dining at a bored table. So...