Top 10 Fun-to-Read Magic Books

Do most magic books seem dry? Let's look at my top 10 magic books that make you laugh, entertain you, and are just a joy to read. 🤓
🥺 I Wish I Liked These Magic Books ▶️ • Magic Books I Wish I L...
🛒 Shop this week with the sponsor of this episode - Don's Magic & Books. Discover OOP and hard to find magic book on his website: ⭐ bit.ly/DonsMagic ⭐
🪩 Can't get enough Erudite Magic on Sundays? Join our Substack Newsletter server and be part of the conversation as often as you'd like: eruditemagic.substack.com
⏰ Timeline:
0:00 - What is this list?
0:47 - Where can you get these books?
1:42 - #5 (in print)
3:10 - #4 (in print)
4:30 - #3 (in print)
6:03 - #2 (in print)
7:53 - #1 (in print)
9:10 - #5 (OOP)
10:17 - #4 (OOP)
11:31 - #3 (OOP)
12:41 - #2 (OOP)
13:54 - #1 (OOP)
15:07 - So what?

[@EruditeMagic]

🥺 I Wish I Liked These Magic Books ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGalqXmZbLyKq8k

[@pasipiispanen2758]

The Art of Astonishment -serie is very hilarious to read.

[@EruditeMagic]

Yup, true!!

[@Seymourwalls]

As others have mentioned, I find it astonishing (no pun intended) that the art of astonishment trilogy didn’t make the cut here. In 30 years of reading magic books I’ve never had as much fun as I did when I first read those. Always enjoy hearing your thoughts though and there’s a few on this list that I’ve not read yet!

[@EruditeMagic]

They are a hoot!! 😄

[@nancyanderson5320]

Steve Beams series is so entertaining and well organized. A must have.

[@EruditeMagic]

Glad you enjoy it, Nancy!

[@MondoNifty94]

really good choices, i think one of the candidate that i think was one of the most fun magic books to read is David Acer More Power to you. I personally think its one of the funniest and engaging book about magic out there with good materials too

[@duanebitter8409]

A fun episode. Glad to hear The Artful Mentalism books may be reprinted. Impossible to find (at a price I can afford).

[@EruditeMagic]

🤞 I spoke with Charlie Hatch, and he said it should be happening

[@dougclark4146]

@@EruditeMagic Do you mean Charlie Reynolds or Richard Hatch, both of H & R Magic?

[@EruditeMagic]

None of the above - I meant Charlie Randall (putting the 'R' in "H&R Books") 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@dougclark4146]

@EruditeMagic Aargh, I always mix up Charlie Reynolds and Charlie Randall😞

[@outrageous42ne]

Art of Astonishment is a major oversight here 😢 I'll also throw out David Acer's books, though I generally got more out of the humor than I got from the magic itself 🤷‍♂️

[@EruditeMagic]

You're not wrong! Would you classify them as in print or OOP (since one or two of them are no longer available while the other is)?

[@robmagic1018]

I find Chris Kenners Totally Out of control book fun especially with all the puzzles in it. They are quite fun to work out also the fact half if it is printed upside down

[@EruditeMagic]

It certainly one of the most unique magic books ever published!

[@andrecombrinck1454]

I agree with many comments here. The Art of Astonishment is my favorite fun book. Not only a pleasure to read, but contains excellent tricks.

[@EruditeMagic]

Totally!

[@Jim_S.]

Since you managed to pick ten books that I don't own, I'll give some of my favorites. First, Totally Out of Control by Chris Kenner. Everything about the book is fun to read, from the way the layout for every trick is different, to the writing style, to the goofy illustrations thrown in. Second, I'd go with Drawing Room Deceptions by Guy Hollingworth. It's written so formally, but with tongue firmly planted in cheek, as evidenced by the fact that he discusses almost naming one of his moves the "hot chicken alignment". I'd give honorable mentions to Confessions of A Magic Fan by Jeremiah Zuo and Concerning the Palming of Cards by John Galsworthy for hiding most of the humor in footnotes.

[@EruditeMagic]

Good "people's choice" representatives!

[@Jim_S.]

​​@@EruditeMagicYour video inspired me to pull out my honorable mentions, so I thought I'd share a humorous footnote from each that I referred to. From Confessions... 19. As a teenager I thought that I had invented the Diagonal Palm Shift. As we all know it first saw print in 1902...so the likelihood that Erdnase stole my idea is very small. Not nonexistent when considering the hypothetical possibilities of a nonlinear flow of time. But very small. So I will give that one to him. From Concerning... The left index finger is curled underneath, in a position that some^1 might like to think of as 'very John Galsworthy'. 1. None

[@EruditeMagic]

🤣🤣🤣

[@i.m.9381]

Very nice video again. I also really like the books of Simon Lovell, Simon Says and Son of Simon Says. Those books really made me laugh out loud. Give them a try if you don't know them yet. Mostly card tricks I think.

[@EruditeMagic]

He does have a funny writing style! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@miltonfine5216]

In Print 5. Buena Vista Shuffle Club 4. The Book by Gene Anderson 3. The Jinx by Theodeore Annemann 2. Semi-Automatic Card Tricks 1. Handsome Jack, Etc. Out of Print 5. Bairn by Ken Dyne 4. Dear Mr. Fantasy by John Bannon 3. The Approach by Jamie D. Grant 2. The Artful Mentalism of Bob Cassidy 1. What Lies Inside by Florian Severin

[@kalvheps5973]

Yeah I like Bannons stuff.Excellent modern card ideas mixed with humour.

[@EruditeMagic]

Yes, and a different way of presenting the material than your standard "effect, method, and afterthoughts."

[@georgeyounts9391]

Got the Anderson book & it is really well done. One of the best Legacy Books ever :) Also, got The Approach which is really like a Bible to that work. Also wouldn't mind spending a few days perusing the Jinxs but not enough to own it. Thanks again for your education. Happily my library has grown due to you over these few years. Plus watching your videos has released me of (which I think all who are part of magic may have) being overwhelmed by how much is out there. You the man!

[@EruditeMagic]

Thanks for watching and taking time to comment, George! Glad the channel has helped you 👍

[@antonlinder4399]

Great video as always Jeff! As a non native english speaker I always find it muuuch easier to finish a book that's not dry all the time 😅 So I'll definitely check these out!

[@EruditeMagic]

Awesome!

[@jimkl0]

Loved this session. Nice list. I saw one on your list that I do not own, so I ordered it from Don.

[@EruditeMagic]

Woohoo! Which one, if you don't mind my asking?

[@jimkl0]

Buena Vista Shuffle Club - I passed on it when it came out because it was heavy on card tricks, but you inspired me to go forth and enjoy the read.

[@RobertBallMagician]

A wonderful list of books 👍🤜🤛👍😀

[@EruditeMagic]

Thanks, Robert 👍

[@DellWolfensparger]

I will get the Gene Anderson book. Looks good.

[@EruditeMagic]

It's great!

[@Davlavi]

Love books.

[@twatmunro]

His work is extremely vulgar but if that's your thing, Jerry Sadowitz's The Crimp is the best magic periodical ever. All Bob Farmer's books are a lot of fun to read as well. As are Derren Brown's books. He has an extremely dry sense of humour and his earlier work was also prone to vulgarity, but very fun to read IMO. Also, David Regal's a hugely entertaining writer.

[@EruditeMagic]

All good suggestions!

[@pyratemage]

Regarding the OOP books that may be back in print soon... I wonder if Jeff has some Insider information? He probably saw it appear written in "Inc" that has a habit of Vanishing by Magic.😉

[@dgoldberg2008]

The Fitzkee Trilogy has some very funny lines in it. Dariel Fitzkee had a very acerbic wit.

[@EruditeMagic]

True, but much of it is very dry 🤷🏻

[@bakerb845]

Great stuff as always, Jeff. Just going to add one more John Lovick book in the comments for anyone who wants another card magic book - What Women Want.

[@EruditeMagic]

Mayhew, right? Never read it, but I've heard it's funny 🤷🏻

[@jonahberg9280]

Can you do a video just on the Tarbell course

[@EruditeMagic]

We'll see, but it's not in the cards right now

[@alexsaxon-]

The Steve Mayhew book written by John Lovick is hilarious. More crude though.

[@EruditeMagic]

That's what I've heard...

[@jonahberg9280]

can you review the definitive sankey now that its reprinted

[@RJFoster..]

Hi Jeff. Greetings from the U.K.

[@EruditeMagic]

Hi Richard! Thanks for joining today 👍

[@GilbergFortenberry]

Hi Jeff, I don’t see Handsome Jack in stock anywhere. Dons didn’t have a copy. Any idea where we can find it?

[@EruditeMagic]

When I was doing my research for this episode, I noticed that Tannen's had copies

[@jonahberg9280]

What are your thoughts on the magic menu by Jim sisti

[@EruditeMagic]

Great source for walk-around or strolling magic

[@jonahberg9280]

are the tarbell books a must have ?

[@EruditeMagic]

Yes, but they don't qualify for the most fun-to-read 😄

[@91ibba]

Unlock! from Mark Elsdon is quite entertaining and especially interactive for there are some riddles to solve to gain some extra material

[@EruditeMagic]

Haven't read it, but glad you like it 👍

[@91ibba]

@@EruditeMagic I really liked to see a review of it on your channel

[@EruditeMagic]

It doesn't look very likely right now, since I don't own a copy. But, I'll let you know if that changes

[@dgoldberg2008]

Ahead Of The Pack by Jack Avis is a hilarious OOP book.

[@EruditeMagic]

Maybe someday I can track down a copy to check it out 👍

[@vicvay]

MY ANSWERS: 1.Eraser 2.Mango 3.Cursed son 4.Computer 5.Math

[@arielsfr]

Did I catch a glimpse of "Performing Magic for Children" at 00:46 ? Check the publisher and the translator :)

[@EruditeMagic]

Nope, I don't believe I own that 🤷🏻

[@arielsfr]

Ah, must be Don's bookcase.@@EruditeMagic

[@EruditeMagic]

Yes, of course!! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@jerryRp90x]

Before I watch, Scripting magic and what lies inside

[@EruditeMagic]

50% isn't bad, depending on the sport! 😉

[@twatmunro]

I've just started reading What Lies Inside (curse you, Jeff. I'd watched your review of Asi Wind's book on pre-show work and you do a great job of selling What Lies Inside as the better buy.) I'm utterly struck by how funny and clever it is. I've no idea why I never picked it up earlier. It could only be because I'm unfamiliar with his work due to his being German?

[@EruditeMagic]

It could be. I was not familiar with his name before this book. Did you see the note at the beginning about the original German title? Translated into English, it's 13 Steps to Vandalism 😄