Is it worth buying or not with that price?
Advice please...

I just got this book like 3 days ago, I've been really busy lately and only been able to read the first 3 chapters but I'm enjoying it so far. The price was like $38 Canadian so probably like $25 or so US.
And if you enjoying using your brain, this book has like a treasure hunt also where you could get $100,000 if you figure out all the clues and puzzles throughout the book.

Great Book!! I suggest everyone buy it including the people who dont seem to understand why Mr Blaine does what he does and what thought went into developing his charecter or lack there of.
He has changed the face of modern magic and reading this book thouroughly will help you understand why and how.
Just my thoughts,
Brent Braun
http://www.braunmagic.com
P.S. Paul Harris had alot to do with Blaines character, and if you read The Gourmet Mystery show in Pauls books it may give you some insite. Its all about the "Moments of Astonishment" not the performer or the trick but that small moment in time when the impossible actually seems possible.

I got the book at Wal-Mart for 17 bucks. It has a good overview of magic history, including names like Houdini, Houdin, Malini, etc. My guess is that this historical part is chiefly ghost-written.

The reader must also keep in mind that like T. Nelson Downs' book, the real purpose is not teach the reader how the magic is done, but to build the performer's rep.

I know there are huge numbers of magicians who despise Blaine, but it is worthwhile to ask yourself, "Why is this guy such a success?" This book covers a lot of why Blaine has gone as far as he has --the bottom line is spectator reaction, not an evaluation by other magicians. David's idea of the raw reactions of spectators of all ages, colors, and social strata, was unique, and proved to be very successful.

If you shop around at Non-magic stores you'll generally find the Blaine book cheaper. I got mine at BJ Club ( similar to COSCO or Sam's Club) for $14.22.
Beautiful book, great color poster pics, and well written. Truly something for your magic library.

I think this is a book for the general public, rather than a "magic book" (an observation rather than a criticism).

love the guy, love the book, love watching jealous magicians having a fit over it all!

It isn't necessarily jealousy, Donmarco.

Isn't the title an oxymoron? Aren't ALL strangers mysterious?
And, reading this thread, I see the price keeps dropping.
My question is:
How many posts do you have to read before the book is free?

HEH! Peter, I was beginnig to think that too...couldnt have asked better myself....I give it till Thursday before they pay us for the book!
plumbz

I got it as a Birthday present.....big 22 and I have 6 tornadoes blow away my firends and neighbors houses the night before.....ANYWAY....I actually like it. I especially liked the telephone trick.

Jakks

Actually, I believe Eric Mead wrote the essay you refer to. It's in Pauls book, but I believe he wasn't the author of it...

Its a great book i got it from david blaine himself at a barnes & Nobles in Manhatten when he came for a autograph signing. He is a nice man and he told us to go to page 50 and on page 50 there was a 50 dollar bill. he did the same to like 50 kids. now i have 2 books autographed by him.

its a great book. i dont read tht much but i read like 80 pages in a row and it reveales many secrets.

This is one of the best magic books that I have ever read. I could not put it down. I am an AVID reader, so I read constantly. I have never had so much fun reading a magic book before. I am not that big of a Blaine fan. In fact, I find him rather dull, but his book is TERRIFIC!!!! BRAVO!

Peter,
Your old-school frustration with Blaine is showing.
The title isn't an oxymoron. An oxymoron is an apparent contradiction like: "Jumbo Shrimp" or "Military Intelligence". You can find a great list of these at:
http://www.atlantamortgagegroup.com/oxymoronlist.htm
I think you meant you thought it was redundant but I don't think it's that either. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the two words as follows:
Stranger:
1. One who is neither a friend nor an acquaintance.
Mystery
1. One that is not fully understood or that baffles or eludes the understanding; an enigma.
These don't seem to mean the same thing to me, and I doubt anyone thought so when Mark Twain used it as a title for one of his books. And please don't knock Blaine for using the same title as a literary classic... titles are not copywritten so many books, poems, songs, and films have the same titles. Besides, it's not like he took his stage name from a Dicken's character, or based his whole act on a copywritten young boy wizard character.
As to the price range - you will find the same range on any new book.
List price $24.95 USD $37.95 CAD
knock off %30 at Amazon
and a little over %40 at Costco

Maybe you should have bought 50 copies, lol.
I have no doubt he will have at least 50 fans for life

Paul.