The Bottom Line
- Great overview of beginning magic
- None
Description
- The book offers a good foundation in card sleight of hand and basics.
- The book then goes into magic with ropes and handkerchiefs.
- There's even a section on building stage illusions.
Guide Review - Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic
The next section offers money magic with two sections, one for coins and the second for bills. Here you’ll learn basic sleights with coins and some good tricks with currency.
The book then goes into magic with ropes and handkerchiefs. Most of the rope tricks are of the cut & restored variety with some knot tying tricks (knots seemingly dissolve or tie themselves) and a few releases and escapes. A section on “impromptu magic” offers effects with rubberbands, paper clips, finger rings and matches. Still another section covers mentalism and explains some great fundamental methods.
A section called “Make at Home Magic” offers a series of varied tricks with objects that you can make at home using basic materials and some that require professionally built props. If you’re looking to put together a stand-up show, you’re bound to find some material here.
The next portion of the book deals with balls and offers sections on sponge balls, billiard balls and cups & balls. Of note, there’s an entire beginner’s cups & balls routine that will give you a strong start, as well as a billiard ball routine. The last chapter offers stage illusions that you can build that includes a basic suspension, yes, floating someone in air.
Anyone who is starting in magic will do well to invest in a copy of “Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic.” It’s got enough material to keep even the most enthusiastic newcomer to magic studying for months. If there’s any one book that I recommend to beginners, this is it.
-Wayne N. Kawamoto
