I like Penguinmagic.com

I just got Mark Wilson's CCIM and I love it. I'm more of a visual person so I was struggling a bit with Royal Road. The directions in CCIM are so clearly written that I am learning faster than before.

I do still plan on going through RRTCM, but after I get the basics from Wilson's book down first.

I just wanted to thank everyone who suggested 'Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic'.
I actually found it at Barnes & Noble today for $20. It looks to be 500 pages of magical goodness. It even has sponge ball stuff in it that I was in desperate need of.

I flipped through the 'Dummies' and 'Idiots' guides which were about the same price, but they didn't come close to what Mark Wilson's had.

In reading this thread a thought has also crossed my mind... I recall as a kid going to Tannen's in NYC in the mid 70's, and being lucky enough to run into folks like Frank Garcia and Harry Lorayne (among others, Tony and Irv included) who were kind enough to actually teach us things while we were there being awed by all of the "sessioning" going on in the midst of sales.

Point of this post is, back then, there was no home VCR nor DVD (and of course, no instant downloads) and all we had were books and the kindness of these experts. I find (in hindsight) that learning from books, while perhaps a little more tedious than just seeing it on DVD, leads one (me, anyway) to making things my own because I can interpret it as my mind sees the writing, not as the performer does on video. That led me to come up with subtle improvements (or perhaps just little things that made them easier for me, or allowed me to tailor the routine to my own persona) rather than learn it how (whoever) does it.

I found it a much richer learning experience. My early magic book list included:

Amateur magician's Handbook
Bobo (the big one, not the Dover edition)
Royal Road to Card Magic
Expert Card Technique
Close Up Card Magic
David Ginn's Comedy Linking Rings
Frank Garcia's Sponge Balls Book (can't find it and can't recall the exact title)

And a book recently recommended to me by a fantastic young card worker is "Outs, Precautions and Challenges", by Charles Hopkins

While still relatively new to magic myself, I've found myself most drawn toward mentalism. I don't see much in the way of mentalism mentioned in this particular thread so I thought I might have a little to contribute. With regards to mentalism, the classics that are most commonly recommended as starting places are the 13 Steps to Mentalism or Practical Mental Magic. Of these two, I prefer the 13 Steps as a starting place because this book seems to be organized a little better than Practical Mental Magic; however, you should definitely check out both. After working your way through these tomes, you're best bet is to then check out Mind, Myth and Magick and Psychological Subtleties. Once completing these two books, Paramiracles and Theater of the Mind are a great next step. Then above getting some books on presentation, you should continue based on what types of effects you found most interesting.

I don't usually "me too" post...

But a STRONG me too. I got this book when I was about 12 and it moved me from all gimmics to a heavy dose of slights in my acts. The second volume is a great one to get ocne you've worked nadpracticed everything you like from the first.

In many ways it "made me a magician" as ever since then I've been ready to perform at a moments notice so long as I had a pocket full of change.

The first 'real' magic book I got was "Now you see it, now you don't."
That book got me interested in Bobo, which has been my bible for the past two years (and I'm only half way through it.)
But since I am trying to broaden my focus to get more business, I have been delving into Tarbell. I intend starting on RRCM after that, though cards aren't my favorite.
I also recommend Milbourne Christophers 'Illustrated History of Magic'
and Amazing Randi's magic history book too. It is important to know your roots.
I also read a lot of stuff about Barnum to help with showmanship and such.

Thanks for the recommendation of Wlson’s books. I bought the Complete Course in Magic and the Cyclopedia of Magic. Both look to be out standing. I don’t know if I should start at the front and just read or pick out the sections that interest me the most. I will most likely just jump a round

I bought them both used thought Amazon. The CCIM is a hard copy that most likely was never opened. I paid 1.02 plus shipping. The Cyclopedia soft cover I paid 28 cents plus shipping

It looks like there is a lot of shared information between the two books, but with an investment of less than 2 dollars I couldn’t go wrong.

Anyone who doesn't have the Wilson Complete Course yet... here's a great deal on it.

http://www.funtymemagic.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=213

At the time I posted this link,it's on sale for under $10, but that will probably not last long. I have no affiliation with this retailer (other than I have purchased a few things from them and always been satisfied), but I thought I would pass along this find to anyone who's interested.

Could anyone suggest 'SWITCH - Unfolding The $100 Bill Change - John Lovick' ?
Saw it and thaught it looked good for a beginner in paper money magic! Its £35 so I don't want to buy it if I open it up and realise its far to advanced for me!
Thanks
Spider

Switch is a great book. The $100 dollar bill change is something many pro's use in different routines. The bill switch is as easy or easier to learn than many other sleights, so I don't think it would be necessarily to advanced. The book has contributions and routines from many top performers and thinkers. It's an excellent book, but as it states in the title, it's focus is on the $100 dollar bill change, not tricks with paper money in general. Hope this was of some help to you.

Glenn

Yeah, I'm english so 100 dolla bills don't come round easyily from audiances! but yeah will definatly get it, sounds like a vital book to have in my libary!
Thanks Glenn

Spiderxi,

I don't get $100 bills very easily either, but the "$100 dollar bill switch" is just the name given to the switch. It works equally as well with any denomination of U.S. Currency.

I'm not sure if your currency varies much in size from one denomination to the other, and whether this might affect the value of learning this method or not.

You may want to pose that question in another post before spending the money. I'm sure you will get a quick and helpful response.

All the best,
Glenn

There's a new contender for best magic book for a beginner: Joshua Jay's complete course in magic. Its avery well thought out and illustrated book, which comes with a 2 hour dvd as well. At 20 bucks its good enough that more experienced magicians will want to pick it up as well.

-Rob

Joshua Jay's book is great for everyone. The DVD is also a nice feature seeing Josh perform some of his favorites from the book. I also like Mark Wilson's book as well. That and Now You See It Now You Don't are the first two books I started with.

For german beginners I can recommend the book "Handbuch der Magie" of Jochen Zmeck.

Gerrit

Hi....just wondering if there's an official website that catalogues Harry Lorayne's magic material?

I noticed his official website only has memory stuff....thanks!

You can get all the information you need about my books, dvds, etc., by emailing me at my personal email address listed below this post. You might even ask about LORAYNE: THE CLASSIC COLLECTION, Vol. 1, probably the best book for beginners around today - MY (and so many others) opinion, folks. HL.

I just checked out Joshua Jay's book at Barry's Magic shop. Excellent gift to a young or old aspiring magician.

Jay stopped by Fox 5 in D.C. and did a few tricks. here's a link current as of today (5 Dec 08). He did a great job!

myfoxdc.com

As many have already said Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic and Magic for Dummies are both most have books for any magician. I will check out Joshua Jay's book since I have not heard of it before.