Penn and Teller's How to Play with Your Food (Paperback)

by Penn Jillette (Author) "Now that's a title, huh?..." (more)
Key Phrases: fake sugar packet, prepared spoon, card force, Three of Clubs, David Letterman, James Bond (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Comic duo Penn & Teller (200,000 copies sold of Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends ) share a wealth of characteristically twisted tricks involving edibles in this maliciously funny book. Anyone wishing to tie a cherry stem with one's tongue or surreptitiously steal an appetizer from a dining companion's plate would do well to study this invaluable text. Written in the voice of the large, ponytailed Penn--the smaller, balder Teller never speaks--this volume divulges bizarre uses for coffee-creamer containers; offers a fake recipe for "Swedish Lemon Angels" that creates a frothing "volcano" by blending reactive ingredients; and debunks a popular magician's ploy by explaining how to bend spoons and move plates through "psychokinesis." Several card tricks here require the collusion of restaurant staff, and thus may be hard to achieve without shelling out healthy tips. Not to worry, though--plenty of other sick games await those who prefer affordable (not to say cheap) gags. Step-by-step photos show the authors hamming and scamming, and props such as a phony fortune cookie message ("The chef spit in your food") are included. The primary lessons here: keep your eyes on your plate, and always request separate checks. 100,000 first printing; BOMC selection; author tour.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
What kid of any age can resist a book guaranteed to make fellow diners blanch at restaurants or at the family dinner table? Mean, disgusting, vile, hilarious. The book that makes CRUEL TRICKS look like an etiquette guide. 35 black-and-white photos.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Villard (November 18, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679743111
• ISBN-13: 978-0679743118
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #369,679 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a useful book on magic and table manners, December 3, 1999

By	Al Kihano (Iskandria) - See all my reviews

Penn & Teller take their stage personas to the print medium, and it works superbly. Penn is just as loud as ever, and Teller (seen in many of the photos) wears his trademark blank smile.

Most books on magic and ``tricks'' tend to be frustratingly dull, but the lively prose, scrumptious humour and fine photos and illustration make this one a pleasure to read.

This magic book also has the virtue of presenting several tricks that are easy to perform--if you want to learn two or three very funny and fun tricks table gags that require almost zero practice, this is the book to get.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of awesome tricks and gimmicks., November 1, 1998

By	Jason Hill ([e-mail]) (Tooele, Utah U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

Everything from de-bunking spoon bending to "The parsley game" ( you need to read to know..). Highly recommended for those interested in magic or just want to poke their eye out with a fork. I couldn't put this book down and laughed my wife awake.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sick, twisted, and absolutely hilarious, May 18, 1999

By A Customer

everybody loves humor, everybody loves food, and, well, there are creeps who don't like penn & teller, but this if one of the funniest things i've ever read, i learned every trick in the book and life is neeeeeever boring. the two best parts, in my opinion: teller's bit on the great egg drop and penn's story of a milkshake as self-defense. worth every penny.