Customer Reviews

Self-Working Card Tricks (Dover Magic Books)

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

 

 

If you're looking for negative comments, read the first paragraph. If you're looking for positive comments, read the second. If you're looking for an all around opinion, read the whole thing.

This book is for the VERY amateur magician. I used to consider myself a VERY amateur magician until I bought this book. Very few of these tricks are very good, and almost all of the descriptions and illustrations could be described as nothing less than clouded and unclear. While a limited number of "self-working" tricks are acceptable in a magician's repetoire, ALL of them being "self-working" is, at the very least, unprofessional. In my opinion, it sort of subtracts from the actual "magic."

If, conversely, you're looking for a book with which to just have a little fun, this is the book for you. Again, while I must reiterate that some of the explanations and illustrations are unclear, it seems to be written for someone who has never tried any magic before, and would be good for just getting used to pulling a few stunts here and there.

So if you're just trying card magic for the very first time, you might want to give this one a shot, but there are some others which might prove to be more beneficial in the long run.

The "main" trick in this book (the one "advertised" on the cover) is absolutely mind-boggling. The first time I saw this routine it was done to me by a "resident magician" in this magic store I was shopping at. I thought I had to get some kind of elaborate card deck. This book is all the magician said I needed. Any books by this author is great. I also recommend his rope book.

I have finally found a card trick book that actually presented entertaining illusions without hours of practice trying to master multiple sleight of hand techniques. In fact, I picked up a half-dozen card tricks in about a half hour.

Three ingredients would have made this book a ten: 1) More ideas on presentation and patter. 2) Better illustrations. 3) Some of the explanations could have been a bit clearer.

All an a good book for amateur magicians of all ages looking to add quality card feats to their bag of tricks.

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

Got this book for my 11 years old son and figured out that descriptions for the tricks a little to complicated and not illustrated enough. The Klutz would be a better recommendation.

THIS IS THE MAGIC CARD TRICK BOOK TO GET!!! I have had this book for a couple weeks now, and I LOVE the tricks! All the tricks are easy to do, you just have to follow the directions in the trick you are doing and it works out great! There are tons of different types of tricks, including a few tricks to do on two people at one time which I love. If you are a beginner this is DEFIANTLY the book I recommend for you.

On the other hand, if you are looking to build up your skill with sly cuts, shuffles, ect. This is not the book for you. But, If you want to learn fun, easy, card tricks this is the book to get!!

I have been doing the card tricks I have gotten out of this book along with tricks from "THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MAGIC ( which is a great book, has great instructions, photos and coin, rope, card, string magic ) and the tricks are great. I do tricks to my whole family, my cousins, my aunt, my friends, everybody and everybody loves them and are amazed!!

THIS IS DEFIANTLY THE BOOK TO GET!!! 10 OUT OF 10!!

Karl Fulves is a wonderful writer. He has a concise, clear, and laconic style that I find refreshing. If you need a break from struggling with the serious, heavy tomes of card magic, this book will be an easy read. I must admit to a bias: I don't really like the majority of self-working card tricks. Unless they are abetted with some rudimentary sleights such as false shuffles, they come off as exactly what they are--self-working card tricks. That said, the serious card worker will easily be able to add sleights to the slick tricks presented here and make them really outstanding. For that Fulves deserves his four stars. It's a great book and value for the beginner and expert.

The book is well written. Explanations are really good but, the tricks are for BEGINNER! Some of them are so evident that I wouldn't even do them in front of my 6 years old nephew. But still, you have some (maybe 2 or 3) good tricks. So for the price, it's still good if you want to get into card tricks.

The book is just what I was looking for. It was recommended by a professional friend of mine, and I went to Amazon, found the book, great price and quick shipping. Life is good.

I bought this for my husband, who loves learning card tricks on the internet. He has NOT put this book down, has learned all the tricks, cover to cover and they are quite amazing. I highly recommend this book for all ages.