Reviews: Read What Others Are Saying: page 9
207 ★★★★★ reviews
143 ★★★★★ reviews
87 ★★★★★ reviews
130 ★★★★★ reviews
Swami Theory 101
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ken Archer (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 07 October, 2024)
This is a good primer for beginners on the Swami. A lot of essential ground is covered with a wide range of useful inputs. Of course, success with the Swami can come only with sustained practice. My only minor quibble here is the accompanying 38-page PDF has almost 15 pages of ads not related to Swami.
Secrets of a Psychic Reader
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Karen King (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 07 October, 2024)
This was an interesting read. Somewhat like a fictional novel. I read it in about a couple of hours. But that's it. As a student of the esoteric arts, the core learning for me was not much. A little gem here and there. More interesting than it was informative. Nothing in terms of actual tools of the trade. And a lot of general advice. The list of books for further reading at the end of the manuscript is a good one. I find Richard Webster to be a far better resource.
The Grow Devils Principle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Erik Corbett (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 06 October, 2024)
The two other reviews seem to be helping to hype this work. Read the description again. It says you will be able to whittle down choices from a list of potentially 100 items. Do you think it's that easy? It takes memory work to accomplish and if you hate anagrams, you're really going to dislike this.
I like the principle. Use it myself for an effect to garner an important piece of info that will help me generate much more content in the work I do. So, for me, I find it useful. You could go all lame mentalist and pull a long list out of your pocket or utilize your phone and have your audience wondering why you need a crib sheet to mind read....or how ever you are using this material.
I gave it three stars for the fact that half the people who buy this will hate it, find it a waste of money, and not use it due to ignorance and laziness. Others that can see its potential, most likely will not use any of the routines and just start applying it to their own ideas.
It says the work is already done for you to use it right away.....and it is. So pull out that crib sheet Mr. Super mind reader.
Propless Name and Place in 45 Seconds
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by hal barlow (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 05 October, 2024)
This is not really like advertised. It uses a very contrived process that is nothing I would use. Not worth the money. The only deceptive thing about it is the way it's advertised.
Faro Concepts
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Zach Connolly (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 September, 2024)
I've been into faro work for years, and I don't know where this has been all my life. This is an absolute gold mine of information for anyone interested in the behavior of faro shuffles and the math behind them. Faro shuffles can get very complicated. But if you have the patience, Bonfeld manages to walk you through everything in a digestible way. Some pretty neat effects are included, but the tools he gives you in this book are priceless for someone interested in developing your own effects with faro work.
Pre-Deck-Ability
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Robert Merrill (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 September, 2024)
One of the best $10 I've ever spent. Simon's trick 'Shuffleboard', is great and Colombini's approach is clear and easy to understand. The download is less than 9 minutes in length, short and to the point with no fluff.
Controlled Miracles
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Phillip Ziegler (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 September, 2024)
Not simply photocopy. Well done.
Masq Stack
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Paul Warren (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 27 September, 2024)
Recently acquired the unknown mentalist's "MASQ" pdf download from
lybrary.com and I am NOT disappointed! It's exactly what I hoped for. Great little PDF booklet - which does what it says.
Lessons in Scripture
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Dr David Williamson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 27 September, 2024)
If you have been doing gospel magic for very long, you will have noticed that the majority of effects focus on only a handful of narrative presentations. The value in this work is not so much in its repetition, but in its presentation of the effects that are most common in this field. Be confident that even if you are a seasoned professional in this field of magic that you will find at least a few golden nuggets of value that will help you not only entertain your audiences, but that will assist you in pointing those in attendance to the truths of Scripture. At a minimum, after reading Rev. Bodley’s approach and nuances you should at least be provided with food for thought in creating new routines and subtleties in handling, and at this price … you can’t go wrong.
Thimble Magic
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Dr David Williamson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 27 September, 2024)
While only one somewhat thorough treatise on thimble magic should suffice, the avid performer or purveyor of everything “thimble” will find something of value in each of the books/manuscripts on the topic of thimble-flicking. This one is no different, and for the price, you cannot go wrong. The nuances of handling are explained either in written and/or in pictorial form.
The question that I felt was left unanswered is, “Do people really care anymore about the appearance, vanish, and change of thimbles?” Stated another way, “Is the pursuit of thimble dexterity solely for my own enjoyment or for the purpose of showing off in front of my magi friends?”
To summarize: Know WHY you desire to become proficient in thimble manipulations before tackling this nearly lost art form. With this as your foundation, you’ll quickly see the value in having a multitude of works on everything thimble, for each of those that lybrary.com offers is worthy of your money … and your time.
Mentalism Masterclass 9: astrological/zodiac based mindreading
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Steve Sanders (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 21 September, 2024)
Mentalism Masterclass 9 is an encyclopaedia of how to divine your audiences’ astrological signs (and more!) It contains everything and anything that you would want to know on the subject. Definitely a worthwhile tome to get, if you’re into that stuff!
One small bugbear though, it appears to be if the PDF was typed one huge roll of paper. The material, although very, very good, has no index or definable headings, thus making it difficult to find items or particular effects.
Don’t let that put you off though, a definite good buy!
TCF: Tarot Counting Feint
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 21 September, 2024)
Bob Farmer is on fire. This package is very good, and the force is known but nicely hidden. The presentations are very good with some nice supplied help. I also enjoyed the bonus material. At this price you can't go wrong even if you are the hard to please type.
Power of the Svengali
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jacob Johnson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 16 September, 2024)
I admit that I am a big fan of Gerald Edmundson and his "Ostrich Factor", so this was a no-brainer for me to get! Gerald has put together a very nice set of ideas for using the Svengali deck. I especially liked the chapter on deck switches! (Now if Gerald would only agree to putting the "Ostrich Factor" on lybrary.com!)
The Svengali Pitch: The Real Work
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jacob Johnson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 16 September, 2024)
This video is great for those wanting to learn a pitch! The video is old, but the sound and video quality are very acceptable.
The Long and the Short of it
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jacob Johnson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 16 September, 2024)
Fantastic! I really enjoyed the content and the way it was presented. Don't sit on the fence, just get it!
Perfect Table Faro Shuffle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jacob Johnson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 16 September, 2024)
This is a short video, but incredibly valuable! The technique is the best I've seen.
4 Most
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jacob Johnson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 16 September, 2024)
Nice effect, well explained. Enjoyed!
Digital Book Test
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ray Jack (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 16 September, 2024)
Got this just a couple of hours back. Read the instructions in my lunch break. And performed to a couple of my colleagues. It went very well. Firstly, a digital or soft book test is the future, I think. Especially for informal occasions. And this one packs a punch. I did the first n last paragraphs. The "letter ploy" employed here is brilliant. The method is so clean and flexible with multiple approaches. This one earned a permanent place on my phone.
Pocket Word Game
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ray Jack (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 16 September, 2024)
Long set up. Long process. But for the price it's ok.
"Outs" Precautions and Challenges
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jacob Johnson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 14 September, 2024)
This is such a fantastic book! I don't understand why it isn't recommended all the time. This book is absolutely chocked full of useful information.
33 Rope Ties and Chain Releases
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher M. Reynolds (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 13 September, 2024)
I'm an indiscriminate junky when it comes to buying old magic books. It's an addiction. Sometimes, I need a quick, affordable fix to get the monkey off my back.
My latest dopamine hit is 33 Rope Escapes and Chain Releases by Burling Hull. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the workable material within the average person's reach.
When I was five, I saw the movie Houdini with Tony Curtis. Like many other kids, I became a Houdini fanatic. I forget how many hours I spent playing escape artist with my toy handcuffs in my room.
That Christmas, I received a cheap, plastic Adams Co. magic set. It came with classic tricks like the cups and balls, two-card monte, and, to my excitement, the Siberian chain escape.
If you'll only learn one escape trick in your lifetime, make it the Siberian chain escape. It's fast, easy, flashy, and a proven hit amongst audiences for over 100 years.
In Burling Hull's 33 Rope Escapes and Chain Releases, he shares the secret behind that and other escape classics.
First published in 1915, it remains a reliable source for the methods behind simple, workable escapes like the Ten-Ichi thumb tie, the Excelsior tie, and scams used by bogus spirit mediums.
In his book Wiseguy, the late Harry Anderson lists it as the source material for his comedy escape act. Henry Hay also mentions it in the Amateur Magician's Handbook as essential reading for any budding escapologist.
Hull (the self-styled Thomas Edison of magic) also gives practical advice on the staging and showmanship needed to pull off an effective escapology stunt.
After reading this, anyone (even clumsy old me) could create a 10-to-15-minute escape act. Remember: Escapology is like WWE wrestling: 75% hype and 25% spectacle.
This book proves once again that when it comes to performing magic or any of the allied arts, it's not what you do that counts but how you do it.
Jardine Ellis Ring on Stick and Ring on Rope Routines
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Benji Milanowski (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 September, 2024)
Provides a few variations on the Jardine Ellis ring on stick and ring on rope/ribbon routine. It is a nice primer to using the Jardine Ellis ring.
Tricks with the Jardine Ellis Ring
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Benji Milanowski (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 September, 2024)
Good effects with the seldom used Jardine Ellis ring; however, the photos leave a lot to be desired in clarity.
4 Minutes of Fame
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Benji Milanowski (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 September, 2024)
If you are in love with your current cups & balls routine, then you can skip this. Otherwise this is a great routine that makes a volunteer the star. It is easy and entertaining. The instructions and photos are clear. There are link outs to short video clips to provide further clarification on moves and phases.
Ted Lesley's Working Performer's Marked Deck Manual
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Elijah Williams (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 06 September, 2024)
Let me start by saying how overwhelmed I feel trying to tell others about this system without exposure. I'll just say the following:
We are all SO blessed that Chris (whom I've never met) would go to great lengths to allow us to have access to something truly special AND making it affordable. I'll never forget how big an explosion went off at the Magic Castle when this became available. The ability to mark ANY card or .... well. I'll just say the product you will receive will allow you so many decks to make and the way you want them.
Lastly, do yourself a favor and buy the booklet too. You'll be glad you did.