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Explore our curated selection of classic magic books, available through the resources at the Internet Archive and Google Books. Each volume is a worthwhile investment of your time and attention, offering downloads in various formats (EPUB, PDF, etc.) for convenience on your preferred device.
This course was originally distributed as a weekly mail order instructional and this pdf comprises the 60 lessons taught. "Every trick in the book" is here. Tarbell also provides good magic history and strong theory. If this were the only magic book you ever read, you'd be fine. Required reading.
Widely considered as 'The Bible' of card magic, this elegant tome has some of the most detailed descriptions of sleight of hand ever put to the printed page. Read it here.
New Era Card Tricks, Roterberg
This book was published a few years prior to "Expert at the Card Table" and it's easy to see how this volume could have inspired Erdnase. I feel this book may be better for beginners (than EATCC) as the descriptions are more succinct and easier to digest. Highly Recommended
This book is probably the best 'all around primer' on this list. Cards, Coins, Cups & Balls, Impromptu Magic and more. If you work your way through these lessons you'll have a firm understanding of the art. Educate yourself here.
Our last two titles are focused on magic theory & this subject is one worth studying. This title will challenge you to be a better performer. I encourage you to find faults and arguments with his teachings and in doing so, YOUR showmanship will be even stronger. Read it now.
I mentioned this book in a recent lesson on the paddle move. Edward Victor's "More Magic of the Hands" is an amazing tome with chapters on a wide variety of sleight of hand magic. It's a must-read for anyone looking to expand their repertoire and deepen their understanding of classic techniques. Dive into this classic here.
I firmly believe competence in coin magic provides a strong backbone for good sleight of hand and Bobo's "Modern Coin Magic" is a coin encyclopedia. Dozens of chapters on everything coins. *I'm partial to this one as it was my first 'real' magic book. Required reading.
Coin Magic, Jean Hugard
Hugard's "Coin Magic" book is a bit more succinct than Bobo's and the novice may have an easier time finding the most pertinent info. Check it out here.
This collection contains an unbelievable amount of information on conjuring with rope. Restorations, Penetrations, Knots & Escapes and More...
Learn the Ropes here!
A surprising amount of sleight of hand is used in the mental arts and Ted Annemann lays the groundwork in this seminal volume. You'll learn switches, glimpses, steals and more. Get your ESP on Here.
This might be the most valuable and versatile stack ever devised (and it's one of the oldest!). This little manuscript is gold, and all of the effects in it are worth your attention. As a bonus, this stack is relatively easy to get into from a new deck. For these reasons and more, we highly recommend you study it!
"Art, Theory & Practice of Magic" The subtitle sums up this book well, it's a deep classic and for good reason. And it's another book on this list that will challenge you to digest the material. Are you up to the task? If nothing else, read the first chapter.
Here's a few more titles available to borrow from the internet archive and we think all of these titles are worth your attention
This is probably the best single resource for beginners sleight of hand techniques. Bill Tarr does an excellent job of describing the methods and Barry Ross' illustrations make the subject matter leap off the page. This one gets our highest recommendation
This book is a comprehensive guide for beginners, covering all the basics of card magic needed for a solid foundation in. It’s a classic in the field, offering timeless techniques and insights. You can start your journey to mastering card magic by reading it here.
Widely regarded as one of the best textbooks for general magic and for good reason. This volume contains an immense amount of information on all things magic and while you should own a copy, you can borrow this one here.
Dariel Fitzkee covers this subject wonderfully in this volume. Along with "Showmanship for Magicians" and "The Trick Brain," the Fitzkee Trilogy offers a comprehensive course in the presentation of magic. You can read this one on Google Books
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