As the title implies, Bill Goldman’s book is small and may be read in less than half-an-hour. On the other hand, the collection of meandering essays, while entertaining to read, generally fail to deliver the inside scoop on what makes a magician of Goldman’s caliber so successful.
To understand the book’s promise, perhaps it’s best to simply state part of the ad:
“Bill strives to give practical, real world tips and techniques that will allow you to win the hearts, minds, and imaginations of paying crowds. Bill tells you in plain and simple terms how to become the great magician and performer you have always wanted to be. Bill maintains that it is not the effects or the routines, but the way a performer affects the audience that makes a Lance Burton or a David Copperfield.”
The language is indeed plain and simple and easy to read, and Goldman touches on aspects of how magicians should be addressing and relating to their audiences. While some essays do offer points to consider and think about, many tend to wander. I even read the book twice to see if I might gain some insights that I missed the first time. My first impression was only verified.
Had Goldman offered this book as one that featured his thoughts and experiences, it would have simply been an entertaining read. But promising that you, the reader, will be able “to become the great magician and performer you have always wanted to be” is mostly a stretch.
I loved Goldman’s Bar & Grill, a fantastic collection of Goldman’s tricks and thoughts, but his Little Book of Big Secrets simply pales in comparison. Goldman as a performer and entertainer is obviously doing a lot of things right. But if the valuable tips and insights that made him successful are to be found in the pages of this little book, it’s a considerable secret to me.
-Wayne N. Kawamoto
Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
