Magic: the Science of Illusion

Magic for Dummies

By David Pogue. IDG Books, 1998. I almost don't want to recommend this book for beginners, because there is stuff in here that is fantastic! Many professional magicians contributed tricks to this book, and it is well written, with lots of photographs to help you figure out the instructions. This book is very user-friendly, and with some practice, you will be able to do some dynamite magic!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Magic Tricks

By Tom Ogden. This is a great choice for a magic beginner. You can learn tricks with cards, money, things you find around the house, even food.

Mark Wilson's Cyclopedia of Magic: A Complete Course

By Mark Wilson. 1996. This is a good book for beginners or for those looking for the next step. There is a lot of magic in here, from simple tricks with everyday objects to large stage magic you can build at home.

Give a Magic Show!

By Burton & Rita Marks. Lothrop, 1977. This was the first magic book I read. It is a great book for kids. It takes them through all the steps to put on a magic show for their friends and family. I still have the sock bunny I made from these instructions.

Our Resourceress would also like to recommend any of the magic books written by Bill Severn or Karl Fulves. Each of them has produced several great books for aspiring magicians.

Magic: A Picture History

By Milbourne Christopher. Dover, 1991. This is a wonderful book that gives an overview of the history of magic with an emphasis on photographs, posters and images of all sorts. Christopher owned a fantastic collection of magic images, and it shows in this book, which even includes some color posters.

The Illustrated History of Magic

By Milbourne Christopher. This is a big book for those who want much more depth. Want to learn about human fountains, where the magic words "hocus pocus" come from and how Houdini really died? It also includes tons of wonderful black and white images and a handful of color plates. When I need to look something up, this is the first place I check.

The Great Illusionists

By Edwin Dawes. This book is the scholar's dream. It is the best referenced history of magic I have ever seen (and that's a lot!). Although it does not cover as wide a timeperiod as Christopher's Illustrated History, it is more reliable and a wonderful read.

This is Magic: Secrets of the Conjuror's Craft

By Will Dexter. Citadel, 1958. This is one of the most charming books about magic I have ever seen. In a friendly, chatty style, Dexter tells a series of stories about magic, including chapters on The Legend of Houdini, The Trick that Never Was (the Indian Rope Trick), and one called Up in the Middle of the Air about the illusion of flight.

By Mark Setteducati, and Anne Beenkovitz. Workman Publishing, 2000. This is a magic show in book form. You can try the tricks yourself and be amazed or show them to other people. This is a beautiful book for anyone who likes magic.

Exploring Science Through Magic

By Jim Wiese . John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1998.

Magic Science Series Kit

By Bob Friedhoffer. Educational Design, Inc., New York. An educational science kit with a magical slant.

Science of Magic

A video hosted by Harry Anderson. Discovery Channel Productions (52 minutes).

Light and Light Magic

Simple Science Says: Take One Mirror

By Melvin Berger. Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1989.

Light! Action! Amazing Experiments with Optics

By Vicki Cobb & Josh Cobb. Harper Collins, 1993.

The Magic Wand & Other Bright Experiments on Light and Color

By Paul Doherty, Don Rathjen, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. The Exploratorium Science Snackbook Series. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1995.

Science Magic with Light

By Chris Oxlade. Barron's Educational Series, 1994.

By Jason Cooper. Rourke Corporation, 1992.

by Shar Levine. Sterling Publishing Co., New York, 1997.

by Glen Vecchione. Sterling Publishing Co., New York, 1996.

By Raymond Blum. Sterling Publishing Co., New York, 1992.

Mathematics, Magic and Mystery

by Martin Gardner. Dover Publications, USA, 1956.

Magical Math Book

by Bob Longe. Sterling Publishing, Co., New York, 1998.

Optical Illusions

How to Make Optical Illusion Tricks and Toys

By E. Richard Churchill. Sterling Publishing Co., New York, 1989.

The World's Best Optical Illusions

by Charles Paraquin. Sterling Publishing Co., New York, 1987.

by Pentagram Design, Inc. Fireside/Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, 1992.

The Science Book of Machines

By Neil Ardley. Gulliver Books, 1992.

The New Way Things Work

by David Macauley. Houghton-Mifflin Co., 1998.

Simple Machines Made Simple

by Ralph St. Andre. Teacher Ideas Press, 1993.

Jr. Boom Academy

Wild Goose Co., Salt Lake City, UT, 1992.