Hi all! Not sure if this is the right place to post but after clearing out some old family things this Christmas, I came across these two books and wondered if anyone had any thoughts on if they're good for someone just finding their feet with card magic? I have tried to attach photos but not sure if it's worked (I think my internet connection is too rubbish) so they are, "The Royal Road to Card Magic" by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue, and "Esp Card Magic" by Nick Trost.

Interested to hear any opinions and other recommendations. Thanks!

_The Royal Road to Card Magic_ is considered a classic text on the subject. The summary at the GENII Magicpedia says:
-----quote-----
Royal Road to Card Magic is a book by Frederick Braue and Jean Hugard to provide a stepping stone to the more advanced and less accessible Expert Card Technique
---unquote-----
Retrieved from
http://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php?......rd_Magic

It is a great introduction to card magic. It is so highly respected among magicians that it has been adapted twice to video/DVD by two different magicians:
http://dennymagic.com/store/catalogsearc......yal+road

The reviews at amazon.com average out to four stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Road-Card-M......rd+magic

Forty years ago, I recommended RRTCM to a young lad whom I was mentoring. He bought it, he read it, AND, he used what he learned from it to help make a iiving for thirty years.

Unfortunately, he died of a diabetes complication at 51, but, he always considered his investment in RRTCM, a "good one".

That's really encouraging, thanks guys. I know it's a bit lazy and I am trying to read as much as possible but with work and other things time slips away sometimes! So, I really want to try to read the good stuff! Any other good recommendations?

Here is an excellent essay by Jamy Ian Swiss about this subject:
http://conjuror.community/jamy-ian-swiss-creativity/

Thanks Steve! There are some really good suggestions in that link. I have a few more books and things thaty were my Grandad's that I have to get through first but after that, I will definitely start working through ones in that article. It's also really cool that he has put down a non-magic book that all magicians should read (the Werner Herzog one). It actually begs another question: are there books/films/anything (!) that are a must for all magicians?

I think RRTCM IS A great book it's what got me started but once card college was written it got superceeded. However I would suggest reading card collage first as otherwise the first book is frustrating as you know it all but I did it because of its brilliance.

Thanks rgemagic. I have just sourced a copy of Card College on Amazon, well, quite a few actually! I guess I start with volume 1?!

Start with volume 1 as it covers "the basics" and is a good introduction. Volume 2 is quite good as well (All of them are!)

Carter