Top 5 Beginner Magic Books to Try, Without Breaking the Bank!
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As a magician, I’m often asked where the real secrets come from. The answer? Books!
Many people are fascinated by the art of magic and want to learn how to perform their own tricks, and I am often asked how I got started and where I learned my tricks. Most of the tricks of my trade come from reading books. Nothing beats sitting down with a good book and a deck of cards. (Geek alert!)
So to celebrate the glory that is reading, I’ve put together a list of what I think are the top 5 magic books. These will teach you everything you need to know to impress your friends and family. These books are easy to understand, especially for a complete beginner.
Now, you might be thinking, “Why books? Aren’t they outdated?” But trust me, books are the foundation of magic, and you can’t go wrong with these classics. Plus, they’re super affordable, so you won’t have to break the bank either. Some of these books have been around for decades, and the information is still golden.
Whether you’re curious about magic or want to become a magician one day, these books are an excellent place to start. They cover everything from cards and coin magic to tricks you can perform on stage and everything in between. So grab a copy and let the magic begin! PS: I’ve included Amazon links for your convenience, but they’re not affiliate links. Happy reading and trick-making!
Mark Wilson’s Complete Course in Magic – Mark Wilson
This monster book is widely regarded as a classic among beginner magic books, having been in print since 1975, and is written by Mark Wilson. Born in 1929, he is considered one of the first, if not the first, TV magician starting in 1955! This book covers everything from card tricks and rope magic to theory and building basic illusions. This is a magician’s Bible.
Magic – The Complete Course – Joshua Jay
Joshua Jay is well known in the magic community for his skill and is now more widely known for fooling Penn & Teller, setting a Guinness World Record for finding cards in a shuffled deck, and performing for past presidents in private. Not bad for someone my age. Jealous? A bit, maybe! He has now written some magic books for the general population, and this is one of them. No need for a top hat and rabbit, this book will help you become a real modern magician, with not just tricks but resources and how to perform five complete shows.
The Royal Road to Card Magic – Frederick Braue & Jean Hugard
Another classic book from way back… First published in 1949 by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue, this book concentrates on, as the title gives away, card magic. Step by step, from basics such as shuffling the deck to an extensive collection of simple card tricks. This is rightly so a classic and should be read by those seriously wanting to amaze with a pack of cards.
Card College Collection – Roberto Giobbi
Like the last book, this series concentrates on cards. As with Joshua Jay’s book, this is a more modern book and could maybe be seen as the successor to the Royal Road. Split over 5 volumes, this colossal course takes you from total beginner to expert! Though it is a little pricier, it may put off people from buying it. Maybe a good one to read after you have read the other books
Modern Coin Magic – J.B. Bobo
A step away from cards now with a book about coin magic… If I do end up teaching a trick to someone who asks for something quick, then a coin vanish is one of the first things I show them. Just think how many people have a coin on them at any time of the day? Coin magic, I find, is a particularly tricky beast to master, so it takes a fair amount of time and dedication. With this book, though, you have everything you need. I myself prefer to use American half-dollar coins or old English pennies for their size and visual impact.
Ok, this list is not exhaustive, but some good beginner magic books will help you see what kind of world I live in and, hopefully, foster an interest in magic as a hobby. A lot of magic is now taught through online video downloads, replacing DVDs (oh, how old I feel now). I still feel that with a book, you get something you don’t with a video.
Learning from a video can be a frustrating experience, requiring constant pauses and rewinds. It also produces an effect you see in magicians, in which they adopt the performing persona of the magician they see perform the trick, becoming essentially a carbon copy or a tribute act to that performer. A book teaches you how to perform the trick, then you can perform it your own way, in your own style.
Anyway, that’s enough for now. I hope this inspires even one person to have a go and keep the magical art alive for the future. Get in touch if you want any hints or tips on starting out.
Away from the stage, Adrian holds a Master's degree in Early Modern History from the University of York and occasionally volunteers at York Castle Museum in Victorian costume. When he's not performing magic, you'll usually find him building models, reading, gaming, or exploring his passion for history.
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