Experiencing the Impossible: The Science of Magic (Mit Press) - Hardcover

Kuhn, Gustav

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 026203946X ISBN 13: 9780262039468

Publisher: The MIT Press, 2019

Synopsis

How the scientific study of magic reveals intriguing―and often unsettling―insights into the mysteries of the human mind.

What do we see when we watch a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat or read a person's mind? We are captivated by an illusion; we applaud the fact that we have been fooled. Why do we enjoy experiencing what seems clearly impossible, or at least beyond our powers of explanation? In Experiencing the Impossible, Gustav Kuhn examines the psychological processes that underpin our experience of magic. Kuhn, a psychologist and a magician, reveals the intriguing―and often unsettling―insights into the human mind that the scientific study of magic provides.

Magic, Kuhn explains, creates a cognitive conflict between what we believe to be true (for example, a rabbit could not be in that hat) and what we experience (a rabbit has just come out of that hat!). Drawing on the latest psychological, neurological, and philosophical research, he suggests that misdirection is at the heart of all magic tricks, and he offers a scientific theory of misdirection. He explores, among other topics, our propensity for magical thinking, the malleability of our perceptual experiences, forgetting and misremembering, free will and mind control, and how magic is applied outside entertaiment―the use of illusion in human-computer interaction, politics, warfare, and elsewhere.

We may be surprised to learn how little of the world we actually perceive, how little we can trust what we see and remember, and how little we are in charge of our thoughts and actions. Exploring magic, Kuhn illuminates the complex―and almost magical―mechanisms underlying our daily activities.

About this title

About the Author

Gustav Kuhn is Reader in Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, and a member of the Magic Circle.

Review

"Whether you are someone who is captivated by magic tricks or not, if you care about the human mind, you'll like Experiencing the Impossible. Psychologist Gustav Kuhn takes us on a fascinating trip around the mysterious world of deception and illusion. This book is a wonderful journey that teaches us much about the science behind the experience of magic."

―Elisabeth Loftus, Distinguished Professor, University of California, Irvine, and author of Eyewitness Testimony

"In Experiencing the Impossible, Gustav Kuhn breaks new ground at the intersection of magic and science. An engrossing read that is engaging and not overly technical, this book will deepen your appreciation for magic and those who perform it."

―Joshua Jay, magician; author of Magic: The Complete Course

“The evolution of illusionism in the twenty-first century is transforming the art of magic into a social and cultural element and an object of study used in many environments far beyond show business. The contribution of this book, written with passion and competence by the psychologist-magician Gustav Kuhn, deepens the ability of illusion to reveal how mind works, adding a powerful and important contribution to the development of magic.”

―Domenico Dante, International President, Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques

“Previous attempts to scientifically examine the principles of conjuring have all suffered from a shallow understanding of science, magic, or both. But here, for the first time, a researcher with deep knowledge of both science and magic shares his findings with the world. Within twenty pages, I, a professional conjurer, felt that my grasp of my own field became noticeably richer.”

―Tom Stone, magician; author of Vortex and Maelstro

Edition details

• Publisher: The MIT Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 026203946X
• ISBN 13: 9780262039468
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 296