The Book of Secrets by John Carney

Details: JOHN CARNEY IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED as one of the best magical entertainers and teachers in the world. His last book, Carneycopia, was acclaimed by many as a classic and one of the best books of the decade. The Book of Secrets, his first new work in ten years, includes 25 lessons for stage and close-up, as well as thoughtful essays on presentation, misdirection, timing and management.

Each lesson concludes by giving the student assignments to complete, encouraging them to participate in creating their own magic. Historical essays of some of magic’s greats are also included, not just citing of facts and figures, but explaining what qualities made them great and how you may apply their example.

Stage routines include John’s take on the classic Rising Cards, Egg on Fan, Linking Rings and Miser’s Dream. Close up descriptions include his routines for the Cigars from the Purse, Champagne Glass and Coins, Thimbles and his Color Changing Cards Routine. Also discussed are techniques and psychology for the Classic Pass and Card Palming.

This book is not just a book of tricks, but a comprehensive course of study in the art and psychology of sleight of hand.

Contents:

5 Foreword: by Jim Steinmeyer
6 Introduction: by the Author

10 The Student Begins: An approach to studying magic, and reading recommendations
22 Rubbed Away: Variations on the vanishing of a silk
36 Legends – Bautier de Kolta: A few paragraphs about the man and his impact on magic.
38 Just a Cigar: A routine with a tiny purse and a lot of big cigars.
52 On Palming: A lesson in top palms, bottom palms, and side steals.
82 Up My Sleeve: A deck gradually travels up one sleeve; a selected card travels visibly up one sleeve and down the other.
96 Silver and Glass: Five coins appear, then travel across to a glass.
118 Legends – Dai Vernon: A few paragraphs about the man and his impact on magic.
120 Muscade Magic: A lesson in the cups and balls
138 Legends – Tony Slydini: A few paragraphs about the man and his impact on magic.
140 Dissolving Steel: Two old and little-known moves for the Linking Rings.
146 Hidden Gifts: Essays on the creative process, originality, perfectionism, and more.
166 Creation of Life: a torn piece of a magazine page visibly turns into a real egg.
178 Legends – Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin: A few paragraphs about the man and his impact on magic.
180 Mercurial Cards: A flurry of color changes and deck transformations, ending with the entire deck being examinable.
198 Art…In Magic?: An essay about art, meaning, emotion, and purpose in performance.
206 Leipzig-Skinner Surprise: An ambitious card effect using two selections.
220 Legends – Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser: A few paragraphs about the man and his impact on magic.
222 Forgotten Recollection: Three selected card revelations, followed by the three cards transforming into three other selected cards.
232 The Classic Pass and Other Myths: Instruction in the Pass and how its principles apply to performance in general.
248 Off the Vine: A series of manipulations done with grapes incorporating, in part, one-in-the-pocket, two-in-the-hand.
258 Legends – David Devant: A few paragraphs about the man and his impact on magic.
260 Verbeck’s Envelopes: A routine encompassing coins, nested envelopes, and torn-and-restored effects.
276 Multiple Slip: A multiple card control taught in the context of a four-ace effect.
286 Legends – Fred Kaps: A few paragraphs about the man and his impact on magic.
288 Tools of the Trade: “Approaches to practice, effect, affectations, and the advantages of the southpaw.”
300 Ascension: Methods, variations, and approaches to the rising card effect
322 Legends – Al Baker: A few paragraphs about the man and his impact on magic.
324 Swing Blade: The knife-and-paper trick, with work on the paddle move.
334 Money for Nothing: Instruction in the Miser’s Dream.
348 Legends – John Ramsay: A few paragraphs about the man and his impact on magic.
350 Thimble Collection: A thimble routine with extensive instruction in the necessary sleights
364 The Final Lesson: Brief words on learning magic, and a “post-graduate” assignment

• Publisher: CarneyMagic
• Pages: 367
• Location: Canada
• Edited by: John Lovick
• Dimensions: 6″x9″
• Date: 2002
• Binding: hardbound

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