Abracadabra

Secret Methods Magicians and Others Use to Deceive Their Audience

By: Nathaniel Schiffman

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Paperback | 1 February 2005 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
442 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
20.7 x 14.1 x 2.3

Paperback

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Magicians use more than just mirrors, string, and sleight of hand to deceive their audience. Those who are masters at this trade have developed an arsenal of techniques to manipulate people. Every action and utterance on stage and off is precisely planned to achieve a specific effect.

Abracadabra! is an insider's look at what goes on at a magic show, behind-the-scenes, and in the mind of the magician. Nathaniel Schiffman explains the principles of deception, exposing those innocent-seeming motions that conceal vital actions from onlookers; how the conjurer uses misdirection of space and time to mislead the audience; how silly and simple optical illusions can fool us, and what to look for during a magic show.

Also explored in detail is the world of off-stage magic. Some "magicians" use various techniques in life to deceive and influence you, yet these magicians don't boast of their magic talent, because they are advertisers, politicians, army commanders, spies, con artists, computer programmers, movie directors, faith healers, psychics, and others. These "magicians" work to make you buy their product, believe in their cause, and influence your thinking from the time you get up in the morning, until you go to bed at night.

This is not a "how to" book for aspiring magicians, but a layperson's guide to methods used to mislead or fool you. Lighthearted and informal, Abracadabra! will fascinate anyone interested in knowing how one person can control many. Included are hands-on experiments, magic tricks, and reader participation segments. You'll soon see that magicians don't just manipulate playing cards and animals; they manipulate you.

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Hobbies, Games & Puzzles Indoor Games Psychology States of Consciousness Hypnosis Society & Culture Popular Beliefs & Controversial Knowledge Hoaxes & Deceptions Arts & Entertainment Film, TV & Radio Philosophy

Ethics & Moral Philosophy Dance & Other Performing Arts

Foreword	p. 3
Preface to Paperback Edition	p. 5
What Is Magic...Really?	p. 13
The Foundations of Deception	p. 15
A Magician's Dozen	p. 40
What Is Magic Made Of?	p. 78
What Are Illusions Made Of?	p. 93
The Art of Chicanery	p. 95
Analyzing the Action	p. 135
Things to Look for When Watching a Magic Show	p. 160
Crashing the Clan	p. 200
People, Places, and Things	p. 211
The Audience	p. 213
The Stage and the People on It	p. 233
Grrrrrrrowlll!!! The Animals in Magic	p. 255
Props and Gimmicks	p. 261
Off Stage and Out of the Theater	p. 303
Illusion Outside of Magic	p. 305
Translating Magic into Desires	p. 312
The Use of Fakery and Magicians' Psychology Out of the Theater	p. 318
Misdirection Magic in Everyday Life	p. 341
Magic in Selling and Advertising	p. 371
When the Curtain Closes	p. 397
Glossary: Magician Jargon	p. 405
Bibliography	p. 411
Endnotes	p. 425
Index	p. 435
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Abracadabra

Secret Methods Magicians and Others Use to Deceive Their Audience

At a Glance

Paperback

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How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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