Reviews: Read What Gregg Webb Is Saying
2 ★★★★★ reviews
GiSulHak: The Art of Conjuring
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 30 May, 2026)
Sometimes I get a book purely out of interest in it from a scholarly perspective. I don't always expect something earth-shattering. This book, though, has some interesting things. Beyond that, I am interested in how ideas in the arts seem to have flowed from China to Okinawa to Japan, and then to Korea. It will take me a while to decide if this pattern happened here, but I can say that if you are a bit of an historian, you may like this for scholarly reasons. If you are new to magic, you might like the tricks more than someone steeped in ancient magic.
Annemann's Test of the Tiber
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 30 May, 2026)
Anything by Annemann always catches my eye. I didn't have this one before, so I immediately wanted it. Besides being by Annemann, his items often have art by Nelson Hahne, who is one of my favorite artists. Finally, when the idea has any Al Baker thinking in it, I want it even more. So, this is a "Win, win, win".
"Outs" Precautions and Challenges
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 12 May, 2026)
While this may seem like a way to protect yourself from a spectator who gives the wrong information, at the end of a trick, as a way of screwing up the magician just to be mean, I noticed something else. Especially useful to young magicians wanting to get into mentalism, the many ploys and procedures outlined here are useful to someone other than just card guys, and girls. I can remember Ricky Jay once did the Signed Bill in Lemon, and the spectator said at the end "That's not my signature" just to be mean. Imagine if Ricky had a nail writer handy, or some impression device. He knew how to forge signatures. He could have come up with an ending that didn't seem like a failure. I highly recommend this book, especially to young mentalists out there.
Nu Way Out Of This World
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 10 May, 2026)
Almost everything by this author is very good. This is one more example of this. I knew this version...someone showed it to me long ago, but I didn't own a copy and now I do and can see all the details as written. I'm glad I got this download.
Card Shark Issue 1
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 10 May, 2026)
Mr. MacNeil is knowledgeable and modern and can teach via the written word. This digital magazine will be a hit if he can sustain it. I don't see why not.
The Discoverie of Witchcraft
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 03 May, 2026)
Probably the original source of a lot of our magic and also the philosophy behind it. Every magician owes it to themselves to ground their knowledge with the background of knowing how it began, what it is all about, and why it exists, and how it works. I can remember David Roth, who was the first one on the scene to get really enthused by this book, telling people when they asked who invented a certain trick, "It's in Scott." There are many parts to the book, from the early explanations of the supernatural, to tricks, to demonology, to how to avoid being hauled before the Inquisition. Students of magic should start at the bottom. The foundation.
Elliott's Last Legacy
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 03 May, 2026)
Somebody might like this, but my impression is that the items described seem like Rube Goldberg inventions to me, and besides the fact that I don't like a lot of apparatus in my magic, I don't think these would actually work in a real-world, practical way. The old magazines called these things "pipe dreams", meaning that if you smoked some opium first, you might like these apparatuses better, or maybe that the person doing the inventing was high on something when they thought of them. In any case, that phrase is not a compliment, and unfortunately, because they need props that don't exist, one can't even try the tricks out without having a working machine shop at hand and the ability to make the odd props. Truth be told, I was expecting more card tricks and practical ones.
Gems of Mental Magic
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 03 May, 2026)
This book is from 1935, so you need to update a few things here and there. For example, carbon paper is used in one trick, but you don't see it around much today, but rest assured there is a very good type in art supply stores for transferring a drawing to the canvas for a painting...in fact it looks like it was drawn with a pencil, so is useful to mentalists, and there are more modern papers to make a copy with no visible method, etc. But in general the book outlines some very good mental feats using some very good mentalism principles, explained very well. There are codes and systems that must be learned, and in fact a whole system for memory taught. Bear in mind that these feats require a real show, and a stage, and at least one assistant required for most of the "experiments". But if doing a big show of a mental nature is for you, you really need to have this download. Arthur Buckley is known for his thinking and explaining, and Mr. Cook brings his own expertise to the mix. Remember...not for walk-around strolling, or close-up, or small groups. Stage-size mentalism.
Come and Go Dice
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 19 March, 2026)
I've certainly gotten my wish for more tricks with dice. It is great to mix things up and not just do cards, cards, cards. Of course, there are coins, and rubber bands, and things, but dice are very cool and fit in especially with gambling themes, which many card effects are about.
Dicesp
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 10 March, 2026)
This is great because we need more dice tricks, I think. So, using them with ESP cards is perfect for a break from cards and coins, for sure.
Hugard's Magic Monthly
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 25 February, 2026)
I acquired several bound volumes of Hugard's, in the 1970's. I was learning magic in those days, and I remember those books were a big part of my education. I wouldn't hesitate to urge anyone to get these at a great deal. Hugard was such a great writer and teacher that you feel like you are getting personal instruction from a real gentleman from magic's golden past.
Legerdemain Explained
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 10 January, 2026)
At that price, it was worth it, and the illustrations are great, but it isn't about Legerdemain; it is about a 2-person code for mentalists.
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.
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.
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.
An Exposure of Mediums' Tricks and Rackets
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 19 August, 2025)
One of the big schools for magic in Las Vegas has added a seance room because there is a comeback of seances going on, seemingly. This book from the 30's is a terrific read and has the bonus of being illustrated by Nelson Hahne, albeit uncredited, who is probably my favorite magic illustrator. This is a great little re-release of a Nelson Enterprises book.
The Complete Gypsy Switch Handbook
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 04 August, 2025)
The Gypsy Switch lends itself to a lot of variety as per the objects used and the effects possible and the stories that can be told along with these. The supposed origin of this technique was used in a way that played the locals for suckers. You (probably) won't use it in that way, but you can learn from it and tell about it in your story that you can tell about the routines in this book, or just keep it clean and use it for a great magic show piece.
The L. W. Mental and Spirit Mysteries
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 03 July, 2025)
I love these guys! I love this period of writing and inventing. I can't get the full T. Page Wright manuscript at the moment but this way I can get some of his thought process into my daily study.
The L. W. Mindreading Mysteries
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 22 June, 2025)
When I first heard of these gentlemen, I was only interested in 4-Ace Tricks. That was a long time ago. Since then, I have developed a respect for mentalism and I would say that I like the works by these men and their minds, and an interest in the writings of this period in mystical entertainment. I am enjoying this book again and again. I admit to being retired, but I read and also write about things magical, and if I had to do over, I'd use this material for sure.
Expert Card Technique
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 18 May, 2025)
Truly one of the great books on cards. It has stood the test of time and there have been so many other texts published in the meantime while this one is still selling. The price for it as an eBook is amazing, and within the budget of students everywhere. I am a professional and a hobbyist at the same time, lucky for me. It is about half a century since I read it the first time, and many years since I read it the last time. We get caught up with keeping up with what's new, and yet now that I'm re-reading it again, it seems new again and I'm re-learning things I forgot I knew.