Customer Reviews

Self-Working Table Magic: 97 Foolproof Tricks with Everyday Objects (Dover Magic Books)

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If you're reading this, you've probably already experienced the dreadful feeling of opening your new tricks' book... and discovering that the most stupid move requires years of training, expensive props and monk-like dedication.

Well... it appears that this book is in fact just the opposite. The tricks are very simple to perform (ok, you'll need some limited legerdemain nonetheless), require no props at all and, most of all, they aren't common or stupid at all.

The approach is very down-to-earth and sincere in pointing out the good and the bad parts of each trick, and this book alone will allow you to spice a dinner with dozens of nice magic tricks within a week's practice.

Be warned: this is NOT David Copperfield material. It's more "So, uncle Jim, can you do another magic?" type of stuff. But then again, you'll probably won't perform onstage as often as you'll be dining at a bored table. So...

Many beginners to magic (and others who should know better) are of the opinion that a magic effect has to be difficult in order to be worthwhile. While there are many killer effects that take months or years of practice, there are equally wonderful tricks that rely on psychology, subtlety, and/or advance preparation. The Self Working series of books are a treasure trove of great magic. This book is no exception. Many of the included tricks are used by successful professional magicians. Admittedly, these are best used in a program with other, more elaborate tricks, but for those moments in your act where you need a short, sweet effect, something in this book might just fill the bill. And as you get more proficient in magic you will find ways to further embellish these tricks and make them your own private miracles.

I purchased this book thinking that it would be a good beginning magic book for a group of middle schoolers interested in learning magic tricks. It seems that even though the objects are everyday, the tricks are not. This is a great book if you are willing to do the practice to master the tricks, but if you are looking for a quick trick, then keep looking.

This book has lots of great, fresh illusions, carefully explained. Many can be done totally cold. Wonderful ideas for up-and-coming, out-of-the pocket magicians.

This book is amusing but not spectacular, I would go for the street magic, Mindfreak and blaine books for something more espectacular. Decent for beginers.

Some of the illustrations are just plain wrong. The depictions cannot be reproduced in reality. Impossible. Jumping rubber bands is one example. Making a simple twist in a rubber band, something's off here. Either the illustration or the description of the technique. Even-length fingers, no such thing. Flip your hand and catch the end of the handkerchief - you'd need a handkerchief weighing a pound. Quick and easy tricks with easily available things. Maybe a couple. For many, you'll need to be wearing a suit jacket. (Things go down your sleeve, of course.) Doing a lot of entertaining of the kids while wearing your suit? And ladies, who knows? I'm searching for a better introductory book.

Karl Fulves has been putting out these kinds of books for what seems like an eternity. They are good books for kids and even a skilled performer can pull some good material from these books.
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If you see a book written by Karl Fulves on magic that has the words Self-Working in the title then buy it. There is a wealth of knowledge in each of these books. -Diamond Jim Tyler

i think that this is a great book and it rocks my socks