Customer Reviews

Scarne on Card Tricks (Signet)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Scarne is today perhaps best remembered as a leading authority on gambling scams and card cheats. However, in his prime, he was one of the best magicians in America. In the late 40s, as stated in the Introduction, Scarne decided to gather for magicians a set of card tricks involving no sleight-of-hand. The result is "Scarne on Card Tricks". The 155 effects in the book range from quick tricks and puzzlers to more elaborate card demonstrations. All of the effects are attributed to either the originator of the effect or to a magician who used the effect frequently. The book clearly bears Scarne's unique genius not only in the selection and variety of effects, but in Scarne's improvements of the original effects. There is no doubt that anyone can put together a most entertaining routine with the material in this book. Two words of caution. First, the copyright of the book is 1950 and so some of the patter is clearly dated and needs to be revised for contemporary audiences. (Patter is the words or story that accompany the effect.) Second, because the effects are easy to do when practiced, there is a tendency to perform the effects before fully thought out. For every hour learning the basic effect itself, two hours should be spent on how to present it in an entertaining and interesting manner. The book itself, however, remains one of the very best in card magic. Scarne's work clearly stands the test of time. Frankly, the book is a steal at the published price. I bought two copies because I knew I'd wear one book out. I did. The book is that useful.

Many magicians own the Classic book "Scarne on Card Tricks." But it is said if you want to keep a trick a secret, put it in print! Most of what's in Scarne on Card Tricks is no doubt a complete mystery to most laymen--and many magicians! Its a great book for the card beginner.

On the other hand, there's a lot of boring and tedious count-down stuff in there as well.

The book is BIG--over 300 pages of carefully detailed effects. It can be a little overwhelming to someone the first time he picks it up. How do you separate the wheat from the chaff?

Best, in my view, are the tricks that can be done TOTALLY impromptu, with very little or no stacking, when a deck is shoved into your hands and somebody says "Do a trick!".

Here are some of the effects that I have judged to be best, based on the above criteria:

The Upside down Deck by Francis Carlyle
Hit the Deck
Scarne's Follow the Leader
Cardini's Color Discernment
Card on the Ceiling
Card through the Handkerchief

Of course, You Do as I Do is also a classic, though it is fairly well known among magicians.

In short, a little work digging out the best tricks will make you a true card magician in most people's eyes, with enough practice and performing experience.

This is the definitive collection of non sleight-of-hand (you don't have to be quick with your hands) card tricks. I bought my first paperback copy in 1974 when I was still a schoolboy. Some of the tricks are easy but astounding, such that I've memorised two of them and have amazed my friends over the years until now. Since then, there hasn't been any other card trick manual that can beat this one, to the best of my knowledge.

I own the original 1950 hard-backed copy of Scarne on Card Tricks. John was a dear old friend of our family. For years, I have been doing his great tricks and astounding everyone without having to use any slight of hand. That's what makes this book so great. If you want to entertain your friends or bring some life to a party, this is a great way to do it. They're clever, simple, yet always impossible to figure out! I strongly suggest everyone get it!! Johnalways was, and always will be the greatest magician and authority on gambling that ever lived!

I really like the thoroughness of this book and the enormous amount of tricks. Just one thing--there aren't enough illustrations that kept me up with the tricks. Instead, I am still a little confused about some of the more difficult card tricks.

This is one of the finest books in magic with cards. As an expert magician and cardician I highly recomend this book to beginners and professionals of the "Quin Art"

a "MUST HAVE" book if you are interested in card tricks that do not involve any sleight-of-hand. The tricks are very well explained and easy to learn, even for children. With over 150 tricks in one book. If one were to learn them all, then friends will be amazed at the depth of tricks that a performer knows at any one setting.

The book arrived fast & in great shape. My nephew loves it! He loves it so much that he had to have the Scarne book on magic.

I've been fooling millions of people with Scarne's sensational non-sleight of hand card tricks from this book. It doesn't take much practice to master these tricks yet the effect on your spectators face is- how the hell did you do that? As a cardician, I think every card trick enthusiast should have it

I can only rate the service of the delivery and the accuracy of the description of the book. I haven't had a chance to read it yet.