Book 'em, Dan-O

One time our magic club had a "Discuss Your Favorite Magic Book" night.

I was able to narrow it down to 17.

I love books. I love the feel, and the smell, and the look of books. I also love language. I enjoy reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, and playing word games. And, being a magician, I especially love magic books.

I have magic books in my living room, in a bookcase in my hall, in my bedroom, in the spare bedroom, in my car, and, frequently, in my bathroom. I have titles from the 18th century (reprints, alas) and ones released last month, and most years in between. I've read every one at least once.

I have books on card magic, coin magic, and mentalism. I have books on stage magic, general magic and the history of magic. I have performer biographies, books on magical philosophy, and things so odd I really can't classify them. I have hardbacks, paperbacks, pamphlets, handwritten notes and various combinations of the above.

Contrary to what a number of today's younger magic set say, I learn better from books. Don't get me wrong; I have DVDs and tapes, and I think they have their place. I just think that books are superior for most of what magicians need to learn. Want to know how much content is on the average DVD? Equivalent to two column inches in a newspaper. That's it - two column inches. A little surprising, huh?

And what do books put in all that extra space that DVDs don't have? Many times, in the best books, they put the things that make a good trick a great one, and a good magician a great one. The author will go into the thinking behind an effect: why "this" and not "that." He or she will go into the thinking behind an effect - the precedents, the false starts, the breakthroughs. Being able to get inside the head of an author like that allows us to really understand an effect. We know where it came from, and why it is the way it is. That allows us to be more thoughtful if we wish to make changes to the effect.

So what are some of my favorite books? Email me with your interests and I'll try to get inside your head a little, and make you think a little about my choices.

The way only good writing can.