Reviews: Read What Others Are Saying
215 ★★★★★ reviews
148 ★★★★★ reviews
91 ★★★★★ reviews
134 ★★★★★ reviews
Dancing Handkerchief
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Peter Heß (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 04 December, 2025)
I’m disappointed with the video. It’s extremely short. It only looks at four gimmicks and offers no guidance on how to incorporate them into an actual routine. The handkerchief is not a “normal” one — it’s a prepared handkerchief. You could certainly do this with an ordinary cloth as well. In a video like this, I would at least expect them to show a few ideas on how to turn a “dead” cloth into a living creature — in other words, how to handle the introduction.
It’s a pity; this was a missed opportunity to present some nice ideas properly.
The video starts immediately without any introduction.
A good idea, but poorly executed. A bit more love for detail would have been appropriate for the price.
Tricks not Spirits
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 02 December, 2025)
I actually liked a different book better, that is on the same subject. An Exposure of Mediums' Tricks and Rackets by C. Samuel Campbell is a book I really liked, and this one I feel was holding back a lot.
Equirock
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 02 December, 2025)
I love this routine. I'm a fan of Michael Daniels' ideas, and he hasn't let me down with this one. I'll include it in my any time - any where...category of feats that are really practical. It isn't new, but I didn't have it, so it is new to me.
Totally Impossible Location
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Wesley Schield
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 01 December, 2025)
For most this is a new concept and simply gaining the knowledge is worth the price of the trick as you can use it to create your own miracles. This trick is guaranteed to fool anyone who has never heard of the method. Personally, I think you’ll love it, I know that I do.
Theatrical Magic Omnibus Edition: Turning Tricks into Theater
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jason Rippetoe (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 28 November, 2025)
Three books for the price of one, and all three books are worth reading. Lots of great information on the world of live theater and the nuts and bolts behind producing a successful show. The main book is about Pyka's magical revue and includes details about the structure of the show and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories and challenges. The two other books are about the planning of a show, from the lingo to potential pitfalls, with detailed tips and advice on how to sell a show as well, from someone who has been there. I paid $5, and it's a very, very good investment at that price.
How To Produce Your Own Theater Show
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jason Rippetoe (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 28 November, 2025)
This book is included as an appendix in Theatrical Magic Omnibus Edition: Turning Tricks into Theater by John B. Pyka, also sold here on Lybrary. Both are $5, so just buy the other book if you want the full experience. This was disclosed in the description, but I overlooked it and paid twice. Very useful and detailed information, no matter what version you get. You may never put together a theater show, but if you read Pyka's books, you'll be well situated to know the lingo, the process, potential pitfalls, and both the rewards and challenges.
The Grind: How to Make Sideshow Gaffs
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jason Rippetoe (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 28 November, 2025)
This is a quick-and-dirty primer for the DIY gaff maker. It gives some guidelines on methods and materials, but it's not particularly in-depth. That said, there is some useful information in a field where information is hard to find. Wish there were more detail and depth.
The $1000 Dollar A Day Show Plan
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jason Rippetoe (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 28 November, 2025)
This volume has a good deal of solid information on how to make money working with high school fundraising groups. It's a good blueprint on how to approach, how to get buy-in, how to structure an agreement so you will never lose money, and what groups in a high school work best. There's also some good info on how to help the high school market your show for best results, as well as ways the high school could increase their returns.
Although peppered with Devin's typical overly optimistic projections of what you can earn, this is no pie-in-the-sky approach. If you live in a well-populated area with numerous high schools, it is conceivable that you could add 20 or 30 shows a year in a niche market with little to no competition, and if handled well, could easily top the $1000 a day shown in the book's title. It's a win-win for the performer and the school group and even opens the door for repeat performances the next year. While you might not meet Devin's 100 shows a year prediction, I would estimate that adding $30,000 to $40,000 a year to your bottom line for doing some extra footwork is a completely reasonable expectation.
This approach is for a performer with a stage show suitable for a large crowd, and that can fill 70 to 90 minutes. Recommended.
Dark Matter Secrets: 80 Years of Spooky Magic
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jason Rippetoe (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 27 November, 2025)
This is a fun collection of effects in a hefty volume. I felt the value for the price was very high. If you're not the DIY kind, you'll still find a variety of effects you can do, but the true value is if you're in the mood to do a little construction. Although many of the effects have a spooky theme, there's little gore and they could be easily adapted to new themes.
Get More Gigs the Easy Way
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jason Rippetoe (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 27 November, 2025)
I've purchased several of Devin's products and found some value in most of them. But I feel like a sucker for buying this one. Better than a website! People will flock to you! Most are qualified buyers! One of the cleverest marketing ideas! One of his best booking secrets!
I won't give away the "secret," but it's essentially walking around parks, malls, festivals, and down busy streets with a novelty gimmick to attract attention and get people to approach and engage with you, doing a magic trick and passing on your business card. Could it get you bookings? Devin claims he has booked "many" people on the spot and using this method has booked "tons" of Christmas shows. But this is not going to add much to your bottom line and will involve a good time investment - it can't be automated, you have to be physically in these locations.
In the preface of the book, he denigrates traditional ways of booking, such as websites, yellow pages, and newspaper ads, and since this is an older book (2016), we know he's right about the yellow pages and newspaper ads. But websites?
Devin writes: "The unfortunate fact is if your website does not show up on the first page of Google or Bing searches, then people won’t find it. Statistics have shown that few people go beyond the first page of results when doing a web search. If your website is not on the first page, then you are not going to get calls! It’s that simple. Sad but true." And this is from the author of "Rank Your Act on Google's First Page in 24 Hours" and "One Simple Step to Higher Web Rankings," sold here on Lybrary, published two years earlier! He supposedly has the answer to getting more calls without having to use cheap (and dare I say - goofy) attraction methods, yet here he is hyping this ebook with hyperbole like it's an incredibly great idea and honestly this makes me hesitate to ever buy anything by him again because the difference between the hype and the actual content is so extreme that I feel I can't trust him to either give an accurate description or provide true value.
A Sweet and Simple Swindle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by paul greene (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 27 November, 2025)
Very good if you don’t already know it, but this is an old swindle that is similar to stuff in Karl Fulves books. So if you know your Fulves material, you don’t need this really. However, it does cover the odds involved, which are good to know. It should be a 5 out of 5, but I marked it as a 3 as I already knew it so was a bit annoyed. The ad didn’t really cover what it was about so I was a bit annoyed. Basically, without giving anything away, the rough effect is that 3 cards are drawn from a deck, and as long as they are not picture cards, the bet is won/lost.
The Modern Conjurer
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 25 November, 2025)
I had this book many years ago and sold it at a convention when I was in college and needed money. So nice I can get this download and revisit this wonderful book.
The Close-Up Magic of Aldo Colombini
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 22 November, 2025)
I've always loved everything I ever got of Aldo Colombini's and this book is no exception. Actually this is one of his earliest books. I think it was the first in America, but I never had it till now. Another bonus is the intro was written by Bob Elliott, who I knew well, back when. A huge amount of great material is here for your enjoyment.
A Number For Fast Cut
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Marc Rehula (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 18 November, 2025)
First of all, let me make clear that the explanation is subtitled as well as the demo. Not a real issue. The explanation and the method are pretty straightforward. (Unfortunately for me, it uses a technique I have some difficulty with - but that is MY problem!) A nice routine for impromptu situations - start clean, end clean. Recommended.
8 Effects and a Sleight
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Pablo Varela
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 15 November, 2025)
Great book with cool effects that are going into my repertoire.
Double Double ACAAN
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gianluigi Sordellini (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 13 November, 2025)
A truly remarkable idea.
Marmaduke the Wonder Mouse
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Robert Merrill (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 12 November, 2025)
Mark is the master of the Wonder Mouse, a very entertaining effect and routine. I bought this years ago from lybrary.com, but only recently realized there was also a video download included of Mark performing his pitch. Fantastic, and a classic of pitchmen.
Push Off One-Handed Bottom Deal
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by hal barlow (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 05 November, 2025)
This deal was not covered in enough detail to clearly see how the move is done.
The Art of Close-Up Magic Volume 1
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Sean Klein (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 31 October, 2025)
This book is an absolute classic, with material that can play as well today as it did fifty years ago. Some of the props discussed are now a bit more difficult to find, but we still have cards and dice and coins lying around. (Keep in mind this book was written in England, so the pennies mentioned are the big British pre-decimal ones we know and love.)
The Luck of the Tarot
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Sean Klein (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 31 October, 2025)
This routine is based on an old method, probably dug out of a Professor Hoffman or Fulves book that is almost self-working. For what you are getting, I feel that $15 is a bit excessive. If it was a $5 download, I'd feel a bit more satisfied with my purchase. That said, it is adaptable to cards other than tarot, and I like the idea of using other types of cards, perhaps something appropriate from a kids' game or that you found in a vintage shop.
Pinky Countdown
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by bruce badke (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 30 October, 2025)
If you struggle with pinky counts and are wishing to learn all of the details that will allow you to learn the intricate nature that opens the door to understanding this sleight, you will not find it here. It in no way discusses or teaches anything other than who may or may not invented the pinky count and also only provides quotes on particular magicians feelings on the pinky count. The following quote ends the text and essentially provides everything you need to know. This one quote truly sums up the entire text. You will learn nothing more than this other than the author having considerably more to say of no consequence.
"The Pinky Count is undeniably a clean way to obtain a fairly quick “get- ready” using only one hand. The deck remains squared and the action is (as Steranko pointed out) concealed from the front. What more is there to say?"
The Impossible Card Discovery
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Musa Awais (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 27 October, 2025)
I am very disappointed with this purchase. This was my first purchase from Dustin, and it’s a case of misleading advertising.
The effect as described in the ad copy is this:
Imagine this from your spectator's perspective. You are handed a deck of cards. You inspect it and shuffle the deck. When you are satisfied, the magician turns his back. You place the deck into a Crown Royal bag. You reach in, withdraw a single card from the middle and place it under your leg. The magician has not seen, touched, or asked a question. He turns to face you. He simply looks you in the eye and names your card: the Four of Spades.
However, in reality this is the effect (I am rewriting what the spectator actually experiences without exposing the method):
Imagine this from your spectator’s perspective. You are handed a deck of cards. You inspect it and shuffle the deck. When you are satisfied, the magician takes the deck from you and gives you a demo in regards to what he wants you to do. As part of this demo, the magician places the deck in a Crown Royal bag and takes the bag under the table, and after the demo, he brings the bag back out. The magician then removes the deck from the bag and gives it to you. The magician only now turns his back. You place the deck into the Crown Royal bag. You reach in, withdraw a single card from the middle and place it under your leg. The magician has not seen, touched, or asked a question. He turns to face you. He simply looks you in the eye and names your card: the Four of Spades.
It is not my place to expose the method here, but I think an accurate description is important so that people know exactly what they’re getting. If an accurate description - like my rewritten one above - had been provided, I wouldn’t have purchased the effect as I would’ve known how it was done. The only reason I purchased it is because an inaccurate description was provided with some very key moments missing.
The method isn’t bad, and it would definitely fool the vast majority of lay people. My only issue is the false advertising.
Downfall
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Doug Jave (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 27 October, 2025)
Very good, recommended it's a jewel...
202 Methods of Forcing
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Cosmin Doroftei (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 26 October, 2025)
Good book, lots of info.
The Systematic Seer
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 19 October, 2025)
This is one of the best ways to add more keywords to your readings for people, and you won't be at a loss groping for where to start or thinking of the perfect words to use. This is another book you can keep returning to to improve your readings.
More Mind Magic
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 19 October, 2025)
Michael Daniels consistently comes up with terrific stuff. There is a lot to like here. I'm retired, but still like to read good books. You'll keep coming back to this, I think.
Mind Divination
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 19 October, 2025)
Bob Nelson's books are terrific. Although there are some new trends in mentalism, making this somewhat "old school", nevertheless it adds to your overall understanding of this category of feat.
Scripted #4: The 21 Card Trick
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 19 October, 2025)
Most people know the trick, which is still a good trick. Larry added a script with some gags you might want to use and some you might not. What I think helps the trick is the addition of some moves during the process, and the use of some coins as markers, which adds a gambling theme. The ending gag is offbeat and probably useful. You might rewrite the script after seeing how it helps elevate the trick. You don't have to use his gags, which are personal. Having an ending helps.
Karl Fulves' Epilogue
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bill Miller (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 13 October, 2025)
Back flip, alone, to me is well worth the price.
Premonition
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bill Miller (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 13 October, 2025)
It’s a lot but if you can pull it off you’ll kill em’!
Thought of Card Miracle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by hal barlow (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 12 October, 2025)
I feel this was overpriced for what it was.
Spectator's False Shuffle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Yuan Liu (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 06 October, 2025)
NOTICE: this is not a full-deck false shuffle!
Willane's Wizardry
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Laurence Kirby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 01 October, 2025)
Some tricks I remember and a few I forgot, some that time may now prevent them from happening. On the whole, there are tricks that I'm able to teach my grandson and lots to choose from. Really enjoyed the book.
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The Faro Shuffle: but were afraid to ask
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gianluigi Sordellini (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 29 September, 2025)
If you love Faro Shuffle, this ebook is for you.
Jaysee Silk Color Change Supreme
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brian Catlin (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 25 September, 2025)
Superb routine, recommended by Ken Brooke when he published his Sucker Colour Changing Silk routine way back. I purchased mine in 1955. At 3 Dollars, this is a giveaway.
Linking Ring Routine
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Donald Pudliner (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 23 September, 2025)
Great to have this available at such a reasonable price.
Playing Canasta
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Dan Sherer (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 18 September, 2025)
This is mostly good, though it has some copy-editing problems here and there. Worth a look if you like the sort of effect described.
The Systematic Seer
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Hughes (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 15 September, 2025)
It's short, but the concept it teaches really makes cold reading easier.
Mind Control
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Hughes (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 15 September, 2025)
This is a really good look at the way we get equivoque wrong. Great advice in here.
Jinx
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Hughes (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 15 September, 2025)
It's hard not to love this collection. There are a lot of great effects in here, and the writing is really good too. Even if you just read it for historical reasons, I think this is worth the price of admission.
DIY I-Pad: Do It Yourself Impression Pad
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Hughes (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 15 September, 2025)
I'm giving this 3 stars only because the gimmick is very hard to find (locally and online) in 2025. I think it would work well if I could locate the most important piece or figure out how to make my own. I have no doubt that this would work really well as an I-pad, but it's frustrating that the gimmick is so hard to find now.
Trip Mentale
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Niccolo Sancrotti (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 07 September, 2025)
Tenete d'occhio questo promettente mentalista, specialmente se adorate gli effetti improptu e propless: sono curati tutti i minimi dettagli e crea la vera illusione della lettura del pensiero.
Aspetto altri lavori!
Collenddon Aces
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Koko B (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 02 September, 2025)
This is so brilliant! We need more Paul Gordon downloads!
Adamathica
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Eddie Mukai (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 24 August, 2025)
Fantastic routine! 5 stars to Chris and Lybrary!
Street Conjuror's Coins Across
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Iredale (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 23 August, 2025)
As someone who has very dry skin, I find most coin slights impossible to perform and have to rely on subtleties rather than sleights. This routine would fit nicely into other routines using a C/S coin.
Street Conjuror's Coins Across
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Rick Sandberg (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 22 August, 2025)
This is a terrific entry-level effect that can be performed right away - simple, clean, easy. Four stars because it looks to me to be too simple to be a standalone effect, but good for a transition between effects, or a quick change of pace filler. It obviously requires a copper-silver. I've been performing coin effects daily for about a year and wish I had something as easy and impactful when I first took up coin work. Note that I haven't performed this since I don't have a copper-silver, but this is clearly as easy as it gets. And it's free!
Encyclopedia of Card Tricks
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jens Woinowski (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 22 August, 2025)
The content of this book does not need yet another review. I am still writing one because the Lybrary version is the best legally available electronic version I have encountered yet. For my purposes, a true text PDF with proper links beats a facsimile any time. It is only four stars because an e-book reader-friendly format like EPUB would be even better.
Emily v2
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Michael Broussard (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 21 August, 2025)
Emily V2 is fantastic. I'd say in the right hands (if one has a basic knowledge of the effects and techniques used in Bizarre Magic and Storytelling) it's an extremely well-orchestrated and powerful piece of theatre. Theatrical seances can be challenging to perform well, especially when dealing with subject matter as somber as child abuse, and striking the right balance of emotion and entertainment is definitely something that can really only be learned by performing. That being said, Emily is a piece that would probably be best suited for a more seasoned practitioner but even beginners could benefit quite a bit from studying it and learning about how to structure and present an excellent, solid piece of storytelling magic.
All That Jazz
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brian Marks (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 20 August, 2025)
This is one of my favorite effects, and I get several versions in one place.