Nicholas Einhorn

Einhorn teaches 120 tricks in 256 pages. Beginning with an interesting, though brief, history of magic, the remainder of his book is devoted almost entirely to impromptu and close-up magic with cards, matches, strings, ropes, silks, thimbles, paper, money, and items from the dinner table. All but a dozen or so of the tricks can be done without gimmicks or fakes using items that can be carried in your pocket or that you have at hand. When gimmicks or fakes are required, Einhorn teaches his readers how to make them. No expensive purchases are necessary.

My copy of the book was purchased at a book store and came packed in a Magic Kit along with several props: Pack of Playing Cards, Magic Scarf, Magic Rope, Dice, Plastic Coins, and Thimble.

Included in the book is the trick that fooled Houdini when he saw it performed way back in the 1920s. A watch is borrowed from a spectator and placed under the center of a handkerchief. Several people are asked to reach underneath to verify that the watch is indeed still there. The magician then makes a magical gesture and whips the handkerchief away, showing that the watch is gone!

The most spectacular trick in the book is Snowstorm in China, an illusion that is performed by professional magicians around the world as a sensational closing routine for their shows. This trick is done with tissue paper, first torn into strips, then dipped in a glass of water, removed, rolled into a ball, and squeezed dry. To aid the drying process, the magician picks up a Chinese fan. As the ball of wet tissue paper is being fanned, the tissue paper begins to turn into confetti, creating a miniature snowstorm that fills the air and covers the stage.

This book is beautifully illustrated with 1,000 full color photographs. There is an elaborate table of contents in front and a detailed index in back, along with a brief glossary and a helpful international list of magic shops with their street addresses and Internet URLs, but no bibliography.

Einhorn's book contains much of value for the budding magician from junior high age on up. More seasoned magicians, whether amateur or professional, will also find items in this book which can be added to their repertoire.… (plus d'informations)

When I purchased this magic book, I was led to believe from a convincing review that this book would do for the present generation of magical newbies what Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic (1975) did for the previous generation and The Amateur Magician's Handbook (1950) by Henry Hay did for the generation before that.

Ere dealing with Einhorn's book in particular, let's compare it with the books by Wilson and Hay. (1) Wilson's book rates 5 Stars at Amazon and 4.31 Stars at LibraryThing. He teaches more than 300 tricks in 472 pages. His tricks range from close-up magic to big stage illusions. His book is profusely illustrated with line drawings. There is a detailed table of contents, but no index, no glossary, and no bibliography. (2) Hay's book rates 5 Stars at Amazon and 4.71 Stars at LibraryThing. He teaches more than 300 tricks in 331 pages. His tricks range from hand magic to platform magic with apparatus. His book is sparsely illustrated with black and white photographs. The table of contents is topical only, but there is an informative glossary followed by an extensive bibliography and index. (3) Einhorn's book rates 5 Stars at Amazon and 4.5 Stars at LibraryThing. He teaches 120 tricks in 256 pages. His tricks can be done without gimmicks or fakes using items that can be carried in your pocket or that you have at hand. His book is beautifully illustrated with 1,000 full color photographs. There is a detailed table of contents in front and a detailed index in back, along with a brief glossary and a helpful international list of magic shops with their street addresses and Internet URLs, but no bibliography.

Each of these books gets a 5 Star rating from me. However, if I were asked to rank them 1-2-3, I would put Hay's Amateur Magician's Handbook in first place, Wilson's Complete Course in Magic in second place, and Einhorn's Practical Encyclopedia of Magic in third place.

My review of Einhorn's book can be told in few words. Einhorn begins his book with an interesting, though brief, history of magic. The remainder of his book is devoted almost entirely to impromptu and close-up magic with cards, matches, strings, ropes, silks, thimbles, paper, money, and items from the dinner table. Einhorn's book contains much of value for the budding magician but less of value for the developing platform performer or illusionist.… (plus d'informations)