My Top 10 Favorite Magic Books

[@MexieMex]

When I saw the title of this video I though "Oh dear, this may be an expensive video!" fortuanatly everything listed is already either on my bookshelf, or my 'look out for' list LOL

[@DavidDellman]

Great books can be expensive especially if they are limited edition and you missed the release and now have to buy it with a second-hand markup but most of the great books of magic are still in print because the publishers know the demand is there.

[@MexieMex]

@Miles Wesson Nope, nobody does care about your spam, now begone!

[@julianbullmagic]

I really appreciate this channel, learning alot from it. Your enthusiasm is infectious.

[@DavidDellman]

Thank you so much. I appreciate the encouragement

[@DANNY-jq5hq]

I think Every magician should watch your channel.

[@DavidDellman]

Thank you so much, Danny. That is very kind of you to say.

[@gerardheaney8415]

couldnt agree more 👍

[@jonahberg9280]

Prism is such an underrated book people don’t understand how max maven simplicity and to the point routines are so powerful. One of my five favourite books

[@DavidDellman]

@@jonahberg9280 I agree. I love Prism

[@jonahberg9280]

personally think switchcraft by elliot bressler is where you should start for mentalism that way you have a great foundation in billet handling.

[@DavidDellman]

Thanks for the recommendation

[@leehollman8939]

Hi, David! Might I ask you to please list the books in a posting? That way, I can look them up one by one with whatever free time I can find and mull them over. Thanks!

[@DavidDellman]

So sorry for the late reply Lee. Here are my top ten: Easy to Master Mental Miracles by Richard Osterlind Prism by Max Maven Masters of Mystery: The Strange Friendship of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini by Christopher Sandford 13 Steps to Mentalism by Corinda The Show Doctor by Jeff McBride Tarbell Course in Magic The Conjuring Anthology by Jim Steinmeyer The Secret History of Magic by Jim Steinmeyer Carter the Great by Mike Caveney or any biography of a famous magician The Mark Wilson Course in Magic

[@andrewsilverstein6186]

Good stuff, thanks

[@DavidDellman]

I am glad you like it. Thank you so much for commenting

[@audiemuniz6445]

Great video! You forgot Paul Harris books,there are AMAZING!

[@DavidDellman]

You are so right. Paul Harris books are master works for the serious magician

[@audiemuniz6445]

@@DavidDellman thanks you! I try to get all 3 books astonishment.

[@jonahberg9280]

i need to get the tarbell course.

[@DavidDellman]

If you love reading magic books, go for it, but if you enjoy video instruction, take a look at Dan Harlan's work over at Penguin: www.penguinmagic.com/s/Tarbell+Dan+Harlan

[@BlazeLeeDragon]

7:55 one of the hardest thing for most beginner magicians. I've tried many times and always feel like I'm slapping a coat of paint (so to speak) on someone else's trick. Great video but I still have so many books to go through still. Sadly I feel like I was learning tricks easier and faster when I was younger :D I think part of this is time dedication but also after you get the basics the more advanced or odd techniques seem to be harder to master for me. 10:52 lol here here 13:04 not I, as you well know :D

[@RobertBallMagician]

Nice lists of books 👍👍

[@lancewhiteeagle3203]

Thanks for the video. Might have to check out the Maven book. The Wilson course is what I recommend to anyone really interested in learning.

[@DavidDellman]

Some of the most original and creative material for mentalism I have ever seen is in that Max Maven book

[@lancewhiteeagle3203]

@@DavidDellman I mostly do cards, but never hurts to add in some mentalism.

[@DavidDellman]

@@lancewhiteeagle3203 Some of the best mentalism is done with cards for example Brainwave or the Tossed Out Deck

[@gerardheaney8415]

hey david , still loving all the vids in this sombre time,, was wondering would you consider creating a video on your approach to practice and tips on how best to practice and keeping on track if one is say working through tarbell or wilsons course or card college ??, hope all is well with you and your family ,, my best from belfast ireland

[@DavidDellman]

Hi Gerard! I love your suggestion and I will get to work on it. It may take a few weeks to get it posted but I will let you know once I have it up. Thanks for asking. I appreciate it.

[@deanallent4831]

You have mentioned the Mark Wilson “Complete” Course in Magic a few times now. Do you know if there is a difference from the original Mark Wilson Course in Magic? I purchased mine in 1977. It has a very different dust jacket and does not have “Complete” in the title. I have always wondered if the new edition has added anything besides the cover art and the title. Thank you!

[@DavidDellman]

I am going strictly by memory. I had one of the first books/kit put out. I bought it from Phil Thomas at the Yogi Magic Mart because of Phil's suggestion that I should. It had a blue vinyl cover and it was spiral bound so it could sit flat on a surface for study and it came with all the necessary props. I, unfortunately, sold that one so I don't have it on hand for comparison but from what I recall, the contents are exactly the same.

[@deanallent4831]

@@DavidDellman I remember those. Mine is hard back, 472 pages.

[@CharlesAyrtonBlakeCobb]

another great video and great commentary. I would usually ask other magicians instead of asking their top tens, "what books you had when you started out that you still turn to up to this day" and I would get amazing and often unheard of books from them.

[@DavidDellman]

"what books you had when you started out that you still turn to up to this day" The Mark Wilson Course and Tarbell

[@mathieu6441]

That was very interesting ! My 5 would be the Card College serie, the Tarbell Course in Magic, the Books of wonder, Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz and Card Fictions by Pit Hartling

[@DavidDellman]

Goes to show anyone's top reads will be heavily influenced by the kind of magic they gravitate to as it should be. Those are awesome picks by the way.

[@mathieu6441]

@@DavidDellman I agree with that ! When I discovered mem deck my top 5 was complety different.

[@BlazeLeeDragon]

25:48 only reason I can think of is HPB has it for $10 cheaper with shipping. I went to your ebay and put it on my watch list, I looked up some reviews and on the fence but might buy it from you :)

[@georgeyounts9391]

Haven't seen somebody demonstrate how to open up a new book since elementary school. It made me giggle. But TBH everyone should be doing it. Thanks for your posting.

[@DavidDellman]

I see books with damaged spines all the time and it drives me crazy. I guess it's my OCD showing.

[@twatmunro9563]

I'd want some Ricky Jay and Jim Steynmeyer books on my list. Ah, nice to see Jim on there. I don't have the Conjuring Anthology (and I own most of his work -- all his mass market stuff for sure). I'll have to dig that out. Caveney's books would definitely be among my favourites as well. Also David Regal's books would warrant a mention.

[@DavidDellman]

I have a good many Ricky Jay in my collection and David Regal is really establishing himself as a magician's magical. His work is excellent.

[@kalvinhepple5975]

Hi David,What an Absolutely inspirational presentation!!!!!I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart.I asked you to say what your top ten books are of all time and wow,what an awesome set of beautiful books you came up with!I was totally blown away!Beautiful,beautiful books!(Stunning DVD’s also).I could sense the passion you have for your books,it came through the tv,so to speak,wonderful.The fantastic knowledge you have is amazing.You are an absolute credit to your profession.Fantastic advice and amazing stories.Thank you again for responding,it was riveting.Superb sir.I love every aspect of magic so your presentation was perfect.Again,sincere thanks.

[@DavidDellman]

Hi Kalvin. Thank you so much for commenting. Your words inspire and encourage me. Much appreciated.

[@BlazeLeeDragon]

34:00 love this book, own it, use it, so worth it

[@DavidDellman]

Bought it when I was a kid, still use it.

[@liberalguy513]

"Osterlind" .. not "Osterlund"

[@DavidDellman]

Thanks

[@Solvetcoagula]

I want to perform magic. I came across this from getting into spiritualism and eventually came to realize some of these magicians are real. I want to learn to levitate things, mind read , elemental magic, anything I can imagine. I think I’m starting to appreciate the theater side of it the more I realize truth can be mixed with storytelling.

[@DavidDellman]

I believe in real magic and I consider myself a Spiritualist while also a Christian. I am also a theatrical magician. For me, it is important to keep a separation between performance magic and real magic, or any other religion. If you are looking for sources for the study of real magic and/or Spiritualism I may be able to help you but this vlog is devoted to performance magic as a performing art. Thanks so much for commenting.

[@Solvetcoagula]

@@DavidDellman yes I would love the help! So far I’m not too sure which books are focused on the real magic and it’s been tough for me to figure out.

[@DavidDellman]

@@Solvetcoagula There are many different approaches or "schools" of real magic. There are also seminaries you can enroll in if you wish to be formally taught but if you've never read anything about real magic before you might want to start with a book called Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham. I am a fan of Scott's work. I think his work is a good starting point for someone interested in the real thing.

[@Solvetcoagula]

@@DavidDellman I’ve read it. I like it. A friend of mine who practices telekinesis recently suggested to me ormond mcgills hypnotism and mysticism of India. In the book he not only explains how trickery is done but also how real feats of magic are done as well. Do you know of other books like that? In one of your videos you spoke of mentalism and esp. any books you could recommended for these techniques? I prefer they be from the perspective of stage magicians as this is an area of magic I havent read.

[@Solvetcoagula]

After watching more of your videos I think I understand you mean that magic is the art of illusion and mentalism is the real stuff. What books on mentalism would you recommend?