1. Magic and showmanship Book by Henning Nelms
2. Stars of Magic
3. Close-Up Card Magic - Lorayne
4. Carneycopia
5. Modern Coin Magic - Bobo

1. The Art of Astonishment - Paul Harris
2. Strong Magic - Darwin Ortiz
3. The Books of Wonder - Tommy Wonder
4. Workers - Michael Close
5. Card College - Roberto Giobbi

Mark Wilson's complete course in magic
Tarbell
AOA
Dominatricks
Sexy Magic (because it's a limited edition)

This is a great thread. For me, it would be:

1. Close-Up Card Magic -- Harry Lorayne
2. Pasteboard Presentations -- Terry LaGerould
3. Stars of Magic
4. Modern Coin Magic -- Bobo
5. Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic

I just picked up "Lint" and am looking forward to it. It that on anybody's list? Also, I'd love to get a copy of Bannon's Impossibilia, but it doesn't seem like there are any copies in existence!

Very though call... I try my best this time, if only 5 books were allow to keep:

1. The Magic of Ascanio Vol 1 - Structural Conception of Magic
2. The Magic Way - Juan Tamariz
3. Books of Wonder - Tommy Wonder
4. Dear Mister Fantasy - John Bannon
5. TIED of following books, cannot decide: Sonata (Tamariz) / Mnemonica (Tamariz) / Williaonson Wonders (David Williamson) / Books of Sercert (John Carney) / Carneycopia (John Carney)/ Card Fictions (Pit Hartling)/ What lies inside (Florian Severin)

So can it be eleven books at least please???

I'd keep 5 DVDs (and associated props):

1) Complete Card Magic (Gerry Griffin)
2) Fibre Optics Extended
3) Patrick Page Spongeballs
4) Messado Rings
5) Turbostick

Hmm. Tough one! I guess going for quality and quantity it would have to be:

The jinx
Mind myth and magick
Psychological subtleties
Full facts of cold reading
Principles of mentalism

Simon

The Book of Secrets - John Carney,
Carneycopia - John Carney,
Think like a Conjurer Series - Ron Bauer,
Williamson's Wonders - Richard Kaufman,
The Conjuring Anthology - Jim Steinmeyer.

21st Century Coin Mechanics by Larry Barnowksy
Rice's Encycl of Silk Magic
Bobo's New Modern Coin Magic
Phil Goldstein's Focus
New Animations by Mike Ching.

Doug

[quote]On Jan 24, 2003, James Washer wrote:
If you could only keep 5 books on magic which ones would they be? [/quote

A very interesting question I have to say. If I were to choose 5 absolutes, would go Tarbell, Bobo, Royal Road, Expert, then maybe Carnycopia. I can honestly credit any of these books for the magic I do.

But then theres also 13 steps as well in fact no insult to John Carney I think I'll trade the 2 off as much as I love Caneycopia I feel 13 steps should be in my 5th position when talking absolutes.

Royal Road
Mnemonica
Try The Impossible
Bobo
Simply Simon

Magic of Ascanio all volume
Juan Tamariz Trilogy
Apocalypse all volume
Card College all volume
Tarbell Course all volume

Tough one as I have several thousand books on magic alone that no one would ever make me get rid of lol.

But just for fun:

Tarbell Course
Apocalypse
Magic Menu
The Magical Arts Journal
The Amatuer Magician's Handbook (Because that book was my first magic book at age 7.)

But I also love all my other books especially the magic theory ones a lot. So I must have them ALL!

James it has been 12 years since you updated the list.

1. Robert-Houdin's Secrets of Conjuring and Magic
2. Sachs' Sleight-of-Hand
3. The Royal Road to Card Magic
4. The Stars of Magic
5. Bobo's New Modern Coin Magic

But I'd give up all 5 for the Ron Bauer Private Studies Series...

Master Notebook of Magic by Bob Wagner
Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber
The Magic Book by Harry Lorayne
Tarbell #1
Book of Secrets by John Carney

As I have a rather modest collection at this point, I wouldn't have to do much cutting:

1. Card College 1 & 2 (and I assume the rest when I complete the series)
2. Amateur Magician's Handbook
3. Focus
4. Royal Road
5. Bobo

Edit: Dang...I forgot Tarbell...substitute that for Bobo...maybe...

The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings

Paul Curry's Worlds Beyond

Derek Dingle's Complete Works

Carnycopia

Close-up Card Magic