Hi guys,

I am not really used to this forum here as I everyday on the Magic Cafe which involved lots of American and other countries of magicians.

I just would like to know more about you guys here, do you like to read magic 'books' or prefer to watch 'DVDs' to learn magic???

I know and have to admit that reading magic book is very frustrating but trust me, it's rewarding and you are more knowledgeble.

If you don't know a particular card sleight, then it's difficult for you. If the author is kind enough, he will briefly explain the particular card sleight used in his book. (Sometimes, not adequate) :(

Otherwise, you will come to the annoying and frustrating stage where the author request you to find and refer the card sleight in the particular book which if you want to learn more.

To be honest, when I first to read card magic book when I was 15, it's very horrible and a NIGHTMARE for me as I think I have been reading a 'rubbish' or crap book.

After that, I keep on reading and adapt to myself of reading the book, and I feel that the task become esier actually there is no difficulty only you just have to master and have some foundations in magic we called 'sleights'.

Sleights are tiny bits of elements that you need to accumulate up then you will become efficient. Whatever books you read, you will not feel difficult anymore. :)

Hope to hear from you all guys!

Best Wishes,
Andrew Loh

Yeah, I went to the magic cafe everyday too, and still visiting. But finally I found this forum. Hope this will be the place for Malaysian magicians to gather and hang out. Anyway, back to the topic, I prefer learning from books. They're much cheaper and the contents are also more than a DVD.

i started off with books, then moved to vids/dvds and now trying to appreciate books back as some of the greatest effects are from books....

and when u read.. i think u tend to remember the routine better....

thats just my opinion. B)

I started off on books. My first book on card magic was "the royal road to Card Magic" It was a very simple but comprehensive book. Highly recommended even to advance card magicians.

However, for similar reasons given by Andrew, I found it harder to learn advance sleights from books. Hence, I turn now to DVDs. Makes learning easier. Of cos, the teaching style has to be good, otherwise it would be the same as reading a book on advance techniques with no pictures and purely worded explanations.

As of today, i still prefer to read books on therioes, such as Strong Magic, Absolute Magic and Psychologic Subtuties.

For sleights, i usually turn to DVDs now.

B)

My first book was The Amateur Magicians Handbook by Henry Hay, lots and lots of good stuff in there. The book is mainly for beginners because it does teaches sleights, but I think it is also good for advanced magician cause of the effects offered in the book. This book contains all introduction to magic, like cards, coins, thimbles, cigarettes, and hankerchief as well. I've had no problem learning card sleights from there, in fact I learned the Classic Pass, palming and many more from here. This book introduce me the card sleights.

Anyway DVD is ok too, but there are some effects not available in DVD. They are only available in print, so that's why I prefer books. Tricks that I'm looking for like Reformation is not available in DVD. But the book is so expensive as well.. Argghh..

I think it's difficult to compare the 2 media. There are somethings books are suited for and there are something DVDs are suited for.

No matter how detail a description a book has, it is difficult to match the clarity of watching a DVD.
But there are somethings in books that are simply not very appropriate to put in DVDs, e.g. theories and commentries.

That's why dispite the advancement of super big budget and high tech movies, novels are still available and appealing. Because somethings can only be expressed written.

Here's a review of an excellent book that I've been reading recently.