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Robert P. Special user Kansas 632 Posts |
I have a confession to make. For the longest time I have been hesitant to jump on the e-book bandwagon. It's not that I wanted to avoid them, there is just something about the weight and feel of a real physical book in your hands that has held a special place in my heart, so usually with my available magic funds I opted to fill out my physical library. But there is a lot of great content out there, and some of it is only available in digital form.
The problem is, at least for me, is that I don't really see that they get as much attention. At least not the attention I believe they deserve. I love threads such as the "E-book of the year" thread, but for the most part they are just votes - you don't see the reason why they are praised. So that's is what I'd like to do with this thread, hopefully it can help someone learn about an e-book that really suits them that would have otherwise gone unnoticed to them. So please share some of your favorites. Although not necessary, I would urge you to also list the author, date updated, and if it gets continually updated in addition to the title. But most importantly, please tell us WHY you love it so much. If your recommendation has already been listed, please also tell us why you like it. If we get enough I will probably tabulate the results and add references to the different posts so those interested in learning more can see a list of the favorites along with hyperlinks to the posts describing the e-book. That being said, I will start first: Title: Ask Roberto Giobbi Author: Roberto Giobbi, with essay contributions from Rick Johnsson Jon Racherbaumer, Michael Close, Darwin Ortiz, Harry Lorayne, Simon Aronson and more! Date first published: 2009 Continually updated?: Yes, with the last(?) update in January 2013 Linked table of contents?: Yes Available from: http://www.lybrary.com/ask-roberto-giobbi-p-11669.html Reason why it is recommended: The title itself makes the book interesting, people would send in a question on many different aspects of magic (theory, how to study, favorites, different principles, I could go on and on) and Roberto would answer them up until he got to 52 questions. The price started at a meager $15, with the assumption you were coming in early knowing that the e-book would keep growing and growing, but the price would increase. I came in rather late in the project (I believe I paid the current price of $29), and I'm astonished at the value. Let's take a look at the questions: Injog Overhand Shuffle Presentation Ideas How to Study Staystack Fear of starting to perform Three Card Monte Memorized version of Out of Sight Out of Mind Think Of A Card Routines Magician is only an actor playing the role of a magician Gilbreath Principle Too Perfect Theory How many effects? Creative Process Bottom Deal Applications Philosophy of Magic Trick That Can’t Be Explained Origin of Display Pass In Spectator’s Hands Vernon’s Travellers Effect Categories for Cards Why do Magic? Ten Best Card Effects Practice Best Self-Working Card Trick Starting with Card Magic Tabled Faro/Riffle Shuffle Delayed Setup Program Construction of an Act How to Prepare for a Competition Dirty Cards Constructivism Favorite Card Routine Favorite ESP Card Trick Secret Setup Zarrow Shuffle Escuela Magica de Madrid How to Navigate Information Favorite Non-Card Effects and Books Magician Fooler Notebook and Journal Repertoire Books How to Archive Tricks General Card Deck Switches Stand-up Deck Switch Best Si Stebbins Trick Magic Pizza Audience's Reality Clocking the Deck Performing Opportunities Alternative Sleights Kolossal Killer In addition to the topics above, we also get Roberto's answer on Jon Racherbaumer's 60 page essay collection on "Too Perfect Theory". This also includes contributions by Rick Johnsson, Tomas Blomberg, Magic Christian, Robert Neale, Bob Fitch, Jamy Ian Swiss, John Carney, Michael Close, Darwin Ortiz, Harry Lorayne, Martin Lewis, Patrick Watson and Simon Aronson. Wow. Let's take a look at one of the questions: Roberto's Ten Best Card Effects. To give a little teaser, they are: Ambitious Card Brainwave (Dai Vernon with Paul Fox’s idea of red & blue backs) Card on Wall (Pinetti’s version)/Card on Ceiling Card Stabbing Out of This World (Paul Curry in Worlds Beyond) Rising Cards Rito de Iniciación (Luis Garcia/Juan Tamariz) Slow Motion Ace Assembly (Vernon, Ascanio & Tamariz) Total Coincidence (Tamariz in Sonata) Triumph (Dai Vernon in Stars of Magic) He then devotes 5 pages to going over why he likes the effects. There is then an honorable mention of another trick (“Matching the Cards” by Nate Leipzig) that he wrote about in the November 2005 version of Genii. Don't have that issue? No problem, he includes that article as well! This question alone with all eleven effects had 11 pages devoted to it. Another question is devoted to the Gilbreath Principle, which always has intrigued me. Giobbi offers his thoughts of course, but also how to get into the principle, how to delay the stack before using it, and he even provides html links (a nice feature of e-books) to additional sources to learn more. Think of each of these answers to the 52 questions as mini essays on that topic. What a remarkable resource! I've only begun to scratch the surface, but I shake my head at the amount of thought and time that has been put into this e-book. For example, the question on deck switching Giobbi provides a flow chart showing what he believes are four basic problems that are encountered and then goes into detail on each of them. There's just so much here, and I'm really enjoying what I'm reading. To see the amount of time taken to point out different references and sources (with their own available links to click) is such a blessing. Very highly recommended. |
Chris Inner circle lybrary.com 1177 Posts |
Robert, thank you for a really good description and characterization of "Ask Roberto". We could have never thought that it would turn out that great a publication. Roberto has surprised all of us, and I think even himself a little bit. The variety, depth and breath is staggering.
Lybrary.com preserving magic one book at a time.
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