Modern Coin Magic: 116 Coin Sleights and 236 Coin Tricks [Paperback]

J. B. Bobo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1982

The most complete treatise on sleight-of-hand coin conjuring, including best traditional methods and modern innovations. Guides you systematically from basic techniques, through integrated tricks to complete routined acts, 18 in all. 510 clear illustrations by Nelson C. Hahne. The best manual for amateurs, an encyclopedic source for professionals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 367 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (February 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486242587
• ISBN-13: 978-0486242583
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Magic
  • #65 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Magic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Bobo book", April 4, 2000

By 

Bill Wisch (Hackettstown,, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Modern Coin Magic: 116 Coin Sleights and 236 Coin Tricks (Paperback)

This book is one of the true classics of magic. It contains the basics for almost all of coin magic. In other words you wouldn't have to read any other book and you could still be a top-notch coin magician.

MCM contains everything you need to know concerning concealment, production and alteration of coins. It has outstanding plots and routines and patter suggestions. It gives detailed accounts of some of the most cherished and "pet" tricks and routines of some of the finest "coin-men" in history. It is laid out very well with a fine index. It also has a history of coin magic. There is so much here that no matter where you start reading, you'll find yourself saying, "hey, I would really like to learn this!". Even though it is a fascinating read and fun to just glance through and dream over, I contend that if you decide to pick an effect, sleight or routine out of MCM and are determined to make it yours NO MATTER WHAT, you will be rewarded with the true wonder of magical study...RESULTS! Many magic books contain great items but lack good explanation which leads to frustration and lack of fulfillment. MCM has a unique quality about it. I think that is what I like most. It really provides the necessary explanation and instruction to actually teach you...if you let it and stay at it. But you have to want to read and study this book if you want the results. Self-working coin tricks are very rare.

While lecturing over the years I had the pleasure to meet many of the contributors of MCM. This was like magic in itself for me. One quick story. I was running the booth for Sasco Magic about 10 years ago at the St. Louis, IBM convention. Needless to say I was demonstrating coin effects, day after day...all day. A number of the true legends of coin magic were at the convention, many of which had effects in the "Bobo Book" (the generic name for MCM). It was a real treat to actually meet them and have them show me the same effects I had read about for years. But the biggest surprise was when Jim Buffaloe, after showing me his phenomenal items, told me that Bobo himself was there and that if I'd like, he'd bring him over to meet me. I could go on and on about the lengthy session that I, along with many other lucky magicians, witnessed that day, but let me say that J.B. Bobo was absolutely no fluke! He could do EVERYTHING in his book to perfection! That was the highlight of the whole convention as far as I was concerned. It was like one of those rare, surreal times we all experience once in a great while. What a trip!

I guess I could go on and on but let me just mention a few of the items I enjoy the most ( it's tough because I could say the whole book!).

Guess which Hand p134

Coin through Ring p171

The Bent Penny p186

Silver Extraction p187

Rattle Box Routine page 207

Presto Chango p245

Stack of Halves p255

Routine #4 p342

You haven't lived until you've curled up with Modern Coin Magic (The "Bobo Book").

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grand-daddy of all coin magic books, July 15, 2004

By 

Bartender Sam "Bartender Sam" (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Coin Magic: 116 Coin Sleights and 236 Coin Tricks (Paperback)

This book is older than Joan Rivers but has aged much more gracefully. Slieght of hand coin magic just really doesn't change over time and this is the motherload for learning coin magic. If this is a side of magic that interests you than do yourself a favor, read and learn. You can learn these tricks just from this book because of the excellent drawings but it will take practice like any skill.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for Bobos, October 15, 2000

By 

Jose Berlin (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Coin Magic: 116 Coin Sleights and 236 Coin Tricks (Paperback)

There's no word to describe this book other than fantabulous. It is the one book every coin prestidigitator must have. It has everything you could ever possibly want to know about coing manipulation from simple passes and vanishes to spectacular routines and seemingly impossible flourishes. It starts from the very beginning so anybody can learn from this book, and finishes where few masters of the art tread. Completely comprehensive, if you so much as master the first couple chapters of the book, you can amaze almost anybody and if you master a couple more, you can amaze the rest. Eveything is clearly explained with many detailed diagrams. It has been the bible for coin magic ever since it came out and I doubt it will be replaced anytime soon. This is a classic that you cannot do without.