Fire Eating: A Manual of Instruction [Paperback]

Ben Mack (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Brainstorm Books; Revised edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0917643127
• ISBN-13: 978-0917643125
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,445,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best on topic, November 23, 2000

By 

Tom (Temecula, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire Eating: A Manual of Instruction (Paperback)

I've read this edition and what I think was the first edition from the lecture notes of a Magic Castle lecture when Ben was a Junior. This is the best source for fire eating essentials. It would be nice to have more pictures and some more details on some stunts, but this IS the industry standard for fire eating. The revised fuel section is probably great for regular eaters of fire. I still use Ronsonol. I'm probably killing my liver. Since the twelve years when this book came out, there have been some newfound safety considerations. It is good that Dube has allowed the manual to change as new safety knowledge has become available.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Limited , but the best book available on the subject, September 2, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Morgantown,WV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire Eating A Manual of Instruction (Paperback)

Fire eating is not particularly difficult to do. But like flying an airplane it is absolutely unforgiving of any incompetence.The authors start by stressing such dangers as setting you or your audience on fire, inhaling fire(which is often fatal), or getting burns from contact with the hot metal in fire wands.They mention that all pro fire eaters neeed to periodicaly quit to allow their livers to recover from the toxic fuels used.Then they explain the basic techniques and skills of professional fire eating.The basic stunts are addressed and explained. Combination stunts and routines are discussed.They do this quite well and thoroughly. For supplementary reading find a copy of Houdini's Miracle Mongers and Their Methods.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Basic Information, September 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fire Eating A Manual of Instruction (Paperback)

This book outlines the basics of fire-eating. Essentially, the instructions read: light torch, open mouth, extinguish torch. Although tricks are explained, they are not very clear and do not list many tips. A beginner must learn through trial and error (!). Torches, fuels, and stunts are outlined briefly but without any serious clarity, and left me uncertain of how to proceed. This is the only tutorial available, unfortunately. It, for all its faults, did teach me to eat fire. I do not endorse or recommend fire-eating in any manner.