How Magicians Think

There’s a saying: the door to magic is closed, but it’s not locked. In How Magicians Think, professional magician and bestselling author Joshua Jay not only opens that door, he brings us inside and turns on the light, revealing the artistry, inside history, and fascinating traditions of a subject long shrouded in mystery. But above all, he reveals the mindset behind the magic – what it’s like to practice an art that so many love yet so few understand.

This is not a how-to book, nor a how-do-they-do-it expose. Written as a series of short, lively essays, How Magicians Think describes the making of illusions, the psychology behind them, and the characters who create them. He writes about how technology influences the world of magic; the aesthetics of performance; his contemporaries, including David Copperfield, Penn & Teller, and David Blaine; and how magicians hone their craft (Jay spends countless hours in absolute darkness to perfect his sleights of hand). And answers questions like, Can a magic trick be too good? And how do you saw a person in half? (It depends…)

Compelling, thoughtful, and written by an insider, How Magicians Think is a rare excursion into a truly secret world.
 


 

“"Joshua Jay is a superb, innovative conjurer with an unrelenting love of the art. This captivating book is proof of that passion." --David Copperfield "A loving, behind-the-scenes map of the world of magic, by someone who knows and lives the art. Swift, funny, honest, and alive with enthusiasm. And he has the good sense to quote me a lot." --Teller (of Penn & Teller) "Joshua Jay has proven to be an important voice in magic. How Magicians Think is a thoughtful, engaging look into the secretive world of magicians. This book will excite anybody with a curiosity of love for magic." --David Blaine "How Magicians Think is fascinating, beautiful, and can't-put-down shocking. It will inspire awe in its depiction of the secretive world of magicians and is a must-read for anyone passionate about pursuing excellence." --Uri Geller "In How Magicians Think , the great Joshua Jay reveals a magician's greatest secret--not a secret shuffle or how they kept a dove alive in their pants for four hours --but how they think. The answer? Differently, creatively, and beautifully. I mean, how can you not love someone who's devoted their life to making you feel wonder?" --Pete Holmes, comedian and author of Comedy Sex God "How Magicians Think is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read! Joshua Jay is a genius storyteller who has distilled a life's worth of insights into a single book, and the result is magical." --Steven Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics "A must-read for anyone who loves magic. Joshua Jay is not only a world class performer, but he is a thought-leader in magic. Whatever your passion, you'll find inspiration and motivation in these pages. I couldn't put it down." --Jon Dorenbos, NFL Superbowl champion and best-selling author”

"[How Magicians Think] is delightful in being both a how-to book for aspiring artists and an in-depth view of the world of magic and its artisans. Jay is refreshingly candid in how he views his work, often self-deprecating, but always serious about his passion for his trade. An entertaining book from start to finish."—Booklist

“Joshua Jay is a superb, innovative conjurer with an unrelenting love of the art. This captivating book is proof of that passion.” —David Copperfield
 
“A loving, behind-the-scenes map of the world of magic, by someone who knows and lives the art. Swift, funny, honest, and alive with enthusiasm.    And he has the good sense to quote me a lot.” —Teller (of Penn Teller)
 
“Joshua Jay has proven to be an important voice in magic. How Magicians Think is a thoughtful, engaging look into the secretive world of magicians. This book will excite anybody with a curiosity of love for magic.” —David Blaine
 
“How Magicians Think is fascinating, beautiful, and can't-put-down shocking. It will inspire awe in its depiction of the secretive world of magicians and is a must-read for anyone passionate about pursuing excellence.” —Uri Geller
 
“In How Magicians Think, the great Joshua Jay reveals a magician's greatest secret—not a secret shuffle or how they kept a dove alive in their pants for four hours —but how they think. The answer? Differently, creatively, and beautifully. I mean, how can you not love someone who's devoted their life to making you feel wonder?” —Pete Holmes, comedian and author of Comedy Sex God
 
“How Magicians Think is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read! Joshua Jay is a genius storyteller who has distilled a life’s worth of insights into a single book, and the result is magical.” —Steven Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics
 
“A must-read for anyone who loves magic. Joshua Jay is not only a world class performer, but he is a thought-leader in magic. Whatever your passion, you'll find inspiration and motivation in these pages. I couldn't put it down.” —Jon Dorenbos, NFL Superbowl champion and best-selling author
 

Joshua Jay, bestselling author of Magic and other books, has performed on stages in over 100 countries, fooled Penn & Teller on their hit show, Fool Us, and holds a Guinness World Record in card magic. He has designed illusions for stage and screen, including a recent collaboration with HBO’s Game of Thrones. In 2018, he was recognized by the Society of American Magicians with their highest proclamation, for his contribution to the art of magic.  He lives in New York City.
 

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