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Whether you’ve always had a passion for magic tricks or you’re looking to get started, you’ll find a book that suits you on the list. Below are 4 of the best card trick books to help you increase the number of tricks you have up your sleeve.
Our Top 4 Picks for the Best Card Trick Books
You probably wouldn’t become the next Houdini with those books, but you’ll surely blow away whoever you meet.
Budget Pick: Royal Road Card Magic
Back in 1949 Jean Hugard and Frederick Brauѐ collaborated on writing this book for beginners. Since it was made over 60 years ago, you may face some trouble with the wording. If that’s inconvenient for you, there may be other modern alternatives written in modern fashion.
Things We Like
- Over 120 helpful illustrations
- Budget-friendly
- A wide variety of tricks
Things We Don’t Like
- The old writing style may make it hard to understand sometimes
Advanced Techniques: Expert Card Technique
This is another card trick book published by Jean Hugard and Frederick Brauѐ in 1940. It’s mainly for people with at least a little bit of background on card tricks. That’s why it includes only a few illustrations, considering you’re already experienced.
Things We Like
- Step-by-step instructions
- Goes over simple and complex tricks
- Detailed descriptions
Things We Don’t Like
- You may take some time to fully understand complex tricks
- It may be hard to read for visual learners
Best for Beginners: Self Working Tricks
Karl Fulves compiled this list of tricks back in 1974. They’re self-working tricks that are great for amateurs since they require no experience from the magician. So, no hand sleights or trickery are involved. This is because the tricks are based on mathematical calculations, which make them foolproof.
Things We Like
- Fixed procedures make it easy for anyone to execute
- Detailed explanation
- Budget-friendly
Things We Don’t Like
- Few illustrations
Editor’s Pick: Joshua Jay’s Amazing Book Cards
Did you think we wouldn’t include a book made in the 2000s?
As you can tell, this is a more modern book. Apparently, the book was written by Joshua Jay, a world-renowned magician, who was named the ‘magician of the year’ in 2012. His book offers 53 tricks all explained in detail, allowing you to learn the tricks quickly and easily.
Things We Like
- DVD included for a video explanation
- Easy to follow directions
- Detailed instructions
- Variety of tricks
- Budget-friendly.
Things We Don’t Like
- Experienced magicians may not benefit as much as beginners
The History of Card Tricks
Playing cards themselves originated from Europe in countries like Spain, Italy, and France. With them, came card tricks, which were used by gamblers to increase their chances of winning. The earliest mention of card tricks was in 1408 somewhere in Paris in unofficial records. While the first actual written record of performance was in the 15th Century.
By the time the 18th century rolled around, Giovanni Giuseppe Joseph Pinetti introduced card trick magic into theaters and brought the art to life with vibrant performances. He toured many countries, amazing audiences all over the world. By doing so, he introduced card trick magic around the globe.
By the 19th century, the world was struck by two of the most influential magicians, namely, Jean Eugene Robert Houdin and Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser. They contributed greatly to the rise of card magic and other famous forms of trickery today.
The number of magicians grew massively over the years and the dangers of the stunts pulled were amplified. That’s because to shine in this competitive world, you need original ideas that will have the audiences on the edge of their seats.
A modern Magician, Criss Angel, does just that. He performs extremely dangerous stunts for audiences in public. These stunts were filmed on his TV show ‘Criss Angel Mindfreak’.
Technology and Magic
Technology is great, there’s no denying that, but when it comes to magic, technology may not be of great help.
Televisions, cameras, and satellites give us the opportunity to watch magic tricks from the comfort of our own homes, sure. However, do you ever stop and wonder if what you’re watching on TV is fabricated? There are many ways in which the magician could manipulate technology to his own benefit.
The easiest of all is camera angles. By controlling the angle, he controls what you see too. To avoid this, a magician won’t be alone on screen. To increase their authenticity, they surround themselves with audiences to show you, the viewer, that camera angles aren’t part of the trick at all.
At the end of the day, they’re tricksters. So don’t put it past magicians to use any means necessary to trick you into believing what they want you to believe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Easiest Way to Learn Card Tricks?
There is no easy way to learn card tricks. Each person learns efficiently in a different way. You may prefer to watch videos, or if you’re a reader you should check out some of the books we’ve mentioned.
However, having someone physically present teach you, could be very beneficial. You could always ask them to repeat and explain in a different way for more clarity.
What Is the Easiest Card Trick?
Again, this is subjective. You may find that self-working tricks are easier if you’re more into mathematics and strict procedures. While if you have slick hands, you may find tricks that rely on sleights of the hand easier for you. This doesn’t mean that there are no easy tricks that everyone can do, though.
Wrap Up
Most of us have a trick or two up our sleeves to impress family and friends. But, when you’re done with them you have nothing else to offer.
We think that Joshua Jay’s Amazing Book Cards will enable you to keep the show going as much as you want. This book is great not only because of its easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions but also because of the included DVD.
Another budget-friendly option could be the Royal Road Card Magic. It’s great for beginners and offers a great variety of tricks.
Magic is art, and art needs practice. Be patient with your skills and they’ll grow eventually.