Reviews: Read What Others Are Saying
169 ★★★★★ reviews
120 ★★★★★ reviews
78 ★★★★★ reviews
123 ★★★★★ reviews
ESP Card Magic Vol. 2: Nick Trost Part 2
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 04 May, 2024)
This is exactly what I was looking for. Nick Trost was a great name in ideas with regular cards, but also here with ESP cards. And Aldo Colombini is a great name in magic and it is he who delivers the little video teach-ins in this package. This stuff is doable. You'll want this one if you like ESP card routines.
UF Grant Instruction Sheets 1
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bill Palmer (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 04 May, 2024)
This is a handy collection of instruction sheets for classic U.F. Grant products. When you run across a set of "Chink Cans," and you can't figure out how to make them work, these are what to order. There is also a nice bill in lemon version that works very nicely. There are eleven tricks in all, including a version of Mental Epic that uses an ungaffed slate.
They aren't fancy. There are numerous misspellings and hand corrections. But all in all, they have historical importance. They were originally published in 1946.
Indian Conjuring
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Robin Dawes
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 01 May, 2024)
I'm sorry to submit a strongly negative review of this book, but it really is awful. If it were possible to give negative stars then this appalling little smudge of racist, colonialist, condescending excrement would earn a full -5 from me.
In addition to unrelenting denigration and mockery of the traditional repertoire, accouterments, skill and general deportment of itinerant Indian magicians (with gratuitous comments regarding the trustworthiness of people of mixed heritage), Branson paints "comedic" scenes of Indian magicians attempting to present European-style magic ... something which Branson clearly considers to be outside their capabilities. He then reassures his readers - who he explicitly expects to be members, like himself, of the British colonial population of India - that they can develop all the skills necessary to become performing magicians with minimal effort and practice.
Branson claims that amongst magicians there exists a code of conduct that prohibits explaining other magicians' methods to the public. He clearly indicates that European magicians - whom he places at the acme of perfection in skill, creativity and morality - would never do such a thing. He then justifies the fact that he is doing exactly that in this book - explaining in detail the secrets of all the Indian magic effects that he has seen - by the "logic" that he is actually doing a favour to the itinerant magicians because once people know how the tricks are done, they will actually be more willing to pay to see them performed. I believe the actual reason for his disregard for professional courtesy is much simpler: he is European, they are Indian.
Branson concludes his book with an anecdote which he clearly considers to be very amusing. At some point during his residence in India a bundle of leaves was left in his yard with the apparent intent of invoking a curse upon him. Shortly thereafter the wife of one of his Indian servants died in childbirth. The punchline is that the servant concluded that the curse had been effective because his wife had never died in childbirth before. In just a few short lines Branson ties together racist digs at the gullibility of his servants, their illogicality, their inability to experience grief, and his own complete lack of empathy over a tragic event in his own household.
Frankly, both Branson and his book are sh*t.
ESP Card Magic Vol. 2: Nick Trost Part 2
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Seth Beeler (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 27 April, 2024)
It's not difficult finding books/DVD's/downloads for effects using an ESP, there just aren't a lot. This is Volume 2 of a much larger series of effects using the Zener deck. This is one of those "I hope nobody else finds out about this" kinds of instruction with this collection that features Aldo Colombini. In this volume, we learn some amazing effects from Nick Trost via Aldo using only the ESP deck. This is just what you need if you are looking to add any sort of ESP effects using the standard Zener deck - every single effect is just as great as the next. I immediately added two as a go to for a fast close-up test. I'm not good with cards and you don't have to be with these. Again and again, a great set of effects with ESP cards.
Stage Illusions
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Frederic Clement (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 22 April, 2024)
There are the good old illusion books, like the ones of U.F. Grant, which are full of good ideas that are, for the most, still accurate and usable today, and there are other old illusion books, like this one, which have become completely useless for today's performers. Save your money for better books. Even for 6$, you probably won't get any valuable information in this book, for which almost every illusion uses a very complicated setup with trapdoors in the floor, big wire rigs with pulleys passing under the stage, etc. Almost all the methods used would make no sense for today's stage conditions and anyway, today, we have hundreds of better methods to have better effects without all the trouble of those nonsense enormities. Usually, I like reading old illusion books to get inspired for new ideas, but to be honest, I didn't find anything inspiring in this book. Plus, the explanations in a very old English style are often hard to understand and the blurry illustrations, scanned in very low definition, are hard to decrypt and often times, it's even impossible to read the words, letters and numbers written on them. This is the second worst illusion book I have ever read, just to give you an idea of how bad it is...
The Secret Edge For Children's Entertainers
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joe Libby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 21 April, 2024)
This short ebook covers a very important topic. And while it is primarily written for children's entertainers, it can apply to performers in other markets too. If you are serious about being a professional entertainer, you owe it to yourself to get this ebook and act on its information.
How to Answer Questions for Crystal Gazing and Mind Reading Acts
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 14 April, 2024)
Along with the Bob Cassidy books, and Paul Voodini books I've been reading lately, this book is a very interesting way to take questions and word your answer so that you are giving for your answer something that was hidden in the way the question was worded. Realize that if working for a large audience, as this method was intended, that the vast majority of people won't know exactly how the question was worded. I knew of Hull from his book on billiard balls, and also some card tricks, but this work for mentalists is very well worked out.
Think Link
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Burmeister (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 13 April, 2024)
All I can say is that this is AMAZING!!! I pretty much guessed how this would work because I have bought plenty of other items from THE UNKNOWN MENTALIST but again, THIS EFFECT IS AMAZING. You need to memorize the script by heart which shouldn't be too difficult. When you are done doing that you will definitely floor the sceptics because there doesn't seem like they have given you any information (WHICH THEY HAVEN'T), and yet, you come up with the country they are thinking of. My own thinking is to do this anywhere with people and then later time you can scribble down your thoughts on a clipboard with a prompter list and pull off one of the effects in the GROW DEVILS effect. Since you do this effect propless and a person might witness it they won't think you're cheating in any way with that effect either. I give this A 10 + RATING !!!
Not to change the subject, but, if you do any type of stage or parlor or stage mentalism, BUY the index / PEEK WALLET, THE UNKNOWN MENTALIST IS SELLING. I personally don't have it, but I do have two LARY BECKER's VERSADEX WALLETS at home. When I did shows, years ago before retiring, I used these wallets. They were and are GREAT!!! Imagine a person simply thinks of a word and it's definition in a dictionary and the mentalist writes down his thoughts and they are identical...OR, imagine a spectator thinking of their STAR SIGN, and selects a playing card and the mentalist actually has a prediction on a billet which is 100 % accurate. I have had people actually GASP, when I did either of these effects and I'm sure THE UNKNOWN MENTALIST has equal effects with his BILLET INDEX WALLET. Also, if you still want more effects with THE UNKNOWN MENTALISTS' WALLET, BUY LARRY BECKERS STUNNERS EBOOK from LYBRARY.COM, It will have all the effects that Larry Becker produced, along with their instructions for his products, including the VERSADEX WALLET and many others. Also many other great effects are in the STUNNERS EBOOK. It is worth having. Sorry for this lengthy lecture but I hate to see someone NOT to have this material. It is a GOLDMINE of wealthy INFORMATION!!!
WELL DONE UNKNOWN MENTALIST!!!
Propless Cartomancy
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ray Jack (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 12 April, 2024)
I was on a flight from Dusseldorf to Dubai when I read this manuscript. And as soon as I finished reading, I tried the first routine (Propless Cartomancy) on my co-passenger who was seated adjacent to me. And I revealed to her that she was thinking of herself as being "Sympathetic". She freaked out and I loved it. I will be keeping this in my go to arsenal of quick propless effects for repeated use.
Jinx
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Dominik Dlabacek (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 12 April, 2024)
Worth every penny.
Propless Chronologue
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ray Jack (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 12 April, 2024)
I have been performing a version of Bob Cassidy's Chronologue with my own set of handwritten diaries for the past several years. So I was intrigued how Chronologue can be made 'Propless' and picked this up - and happy that I did. Using his own birthday, a helper arrives at a playing card - this process is basic and brilliant. Nothing is spoken or written down - everything is done in his head by the helper. And you can reveal the lucky card directly without fishing. I will be using this. Especially as a follow up to my regular Chronologue routine.
Jinx
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by John Yost (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 11 April, 2024)
I was interested in a few items and not the card tricks so much. There is A LOT to read and I haven't looked at it all but what I have read is interesting. Having a bit of trouble re-locating index after finding it initially. My fault I'm sure. I am not a pro magician.
Think Link
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ray Jack (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 11 April, 2024)
Usually, I tend to forget the process in propless routines if I do not perform that routine regularly. But this one is an exception, I feel. The process here is simple, direct and difficult to forget once you understand the underlying principle. The theme of travel and countries is both interesting and relatable. I tried the first routine (Argentina) on a colleague today and it worked like a charm.
Sawing Illusion Secrets
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Frederic Clement (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 09 April, 2024)
A little quick booklet to give you a brief idea of many different techniques to cut someone in two. For 3 bucks, you have enough for your money but don't expect to have any details on how to build these illusions yourself. This is more like a decision maker document, so you can then investigate further on the methods somewhere else after you made your choice of method...
Tops Treasury of Illusions
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Frederic Clement (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 09 April, 2024)
Wow! What a great and generous illusion book for inspiration! So many effects are explained in good detail, for a reasonable price! You will find at least 5 illusions that you will want to include in your show and tons of inspiration to create your own! Of course, this is an old book and of course, some material in there is outdated, but you have to read it as a history book, full of seeds for planting ideas in your mind that will grow in various directions! The best illusion book I found on Lybrary.com yet...
ZIP: zodiac prediction
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ray Jack
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 09 April, 2024)
A convoluted method that turns a simple method into a complex one and you cannot even give out your card as a souvenir. Disappointing.
Month ID
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ray Jack
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 09 April, 2024)
This is a lengthy math process. I found it quite complex. After trying to wrap my head around it for a full day, I gave up. It seemed a lot of hard work just to reveal the month of birth.
Zodiac Oracle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ray Jack (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 09 April, 2024)
This is a smart idea in principle. A very clever application of the classic clock trick. But the downside is the laborious counting procedure. It is almost like dealing two full deck of playing cards. Although a shortcut is given, it makes the process a little suspicious. But overall a good idea to have in your arsenal.
Pure Q and A
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 09 April, 2024)
I found this to be the most audacious method and presentation for a Q&A act I've yet read. To pull this off, you'd have to be steeped in this kind of work so as to be able to come up with something to say. The thing is, you are doing just what you claim to be doing...saying what you think and not making any claims that you have to back up. Certain questions you refuse to answer and you tell why...medical issues or lotto numbers etc. The act is divided into 4 parts if I'm not mistaken. Certainly tough to learn, but if you already have the ability to do readings, this is really easier than all the gaffed methods for getting info. And, if you don't know an answer, you just say so, and since you are not claiming true powers, the audience is said to go along with you on this, and don't turn against you. I plan on rereading this and Paul's other books regularly because he has hit upon a very unusual style.
Card Kinetics
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jonathan LOUCHART (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 08 April, 2024)
Since reading "Angel card rise plus" I discovered the work of David Britland and I am a fan! Card Kinetics is the natural extension of "Angel card rise plus", it will allow you to expand your elastic and invisible thread routines.
Just Five!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Randy Hill (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 07 April, 2024)
Nice Variations of card effects, but probably nothing that would fit with what I normally do.
Hat-A-Rama
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joe Libby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 06 April, 2024)
This bit of business is a natural for kid show performers. Congratulations to Devin for seeing the potential in this. Currently, it appears the honeycomb hats are brightly colored on all sides, so the plunger bit probably won't work. But you can do the alternate setup of a vase with a flower in it. As I write this, you can buy one or two hats, reasonably priced, from some eBay dealers and from AliExpress. Just use the search term Devin mentions and you should be able to find them. Keep the kiddos laughing!
Hex
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jeff Chandler (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 06 April, 2024)
I haven't had a chance to thoroughly explore this. But I know I won't be disappointed.
Slydini Fan Steal
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jeff Chandler (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 06 April, 2024)
It's short and to the point. For $2 it was a bargain as this was a sleight I didn't know. And it's the great Allan Ackerman teaching it.
27 Illusions
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Frederic Clement (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 05 April, 2024)
If you are looking for a good illusion book, this one is not for you. The project was surely original and cool for the architecture students, but these "illusions" have been totally thought by amateurs, in an amateur way, for amateurs. Most methods are so simplistic that anyone in the audience will figure them out immediately. But the worst is that all the pictures are about 1 inch by 1 inch and are blurry and taken from 75 feet away, so you can't see anything. And the plans are hard to understand without good explanations to come with them. If the price was set at $3, then, maybe it would deserve 2 stars, but at $20, it is a big waste of money!
Levitation Secrets
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Frederic Clement (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 03 April, 2024)
Not too bad little compilation list to have in your repertoire, just to remind you all the possibilities you have in terms of levitations. However, I was disappointed to see how poor the texts and drawings are! Ok, the very low price partially compensates for the lack of any details and explanations. This booklet certainly won't help you to know how to build illusions yourself, but it is a good little notebook to serve as a decision maker, to choose what method you want before investigating yourself to find out how to build it yourself or where to buy it... Worth your 3$, but not a penny more!