Description
How Magicians Think: Misdirection, Deception, and Why Magic Matters by Joshua Jay
The door to the world of magic is closed, but it’s not locked.
And now Joshua Jay, one of the world’s most accomplished magicians, not only opens that door, but he brings us inside to reveal the art, the obsession, the esoteric history and traditions of a subject shrouded in mystery.
And he goes one step further: Joshua Jay takes us inside the mind of a magician – how they develop their skills, conjure illusions, and leave the audience in awe time and time again. Along the way, Jay reveals another kind of secret that all readers will find meaningful, even if they never want to perform sleight of hand themselves: what does it take to follow your heart and achieve excellence?
In 52 short, almost unputdownable essays, Jay describes how he does what he does, whether it’s creating illusions, the psychology behind them, or the way technology affects the world of magic. He considers the aesthetics of a show, discusses contemporary masters including David Copperfield, Penn & Teller and David Blaine, and describes how magicians hone their craft. And answers questions like: Can a magic trick be too good? How do you saw a person in half? Is there real magic in the universe? The answers, like so much in magic and life, depend on you.
The book is in English.