Magic and Perception: The Art and Science of Fooling the Senses (What Happened Next? Series)

Presents step-by-step instructions for a variety of magic tricks, explaining how the tricks work by affecting people's perceptions

Grade 5-7?A good introduction to magic, presented with a new twist. Friedhoffer gives clear instructions for performing many simple tricks, and also goes into detail about optical illusions and explains exactly why they work. He shows how perception of depth, perspective, and relative size can help a magician fool the audience, as does playing up to what people expect to see. Most of the tricks are easy to master with practice. Simple black-and-white line drawings add clarity and lists of further reading, resources, and an index round out the presentation. A good addition to collections of magic books and something new for optical-illusion buffs.?JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 5^-7. Friedhoffer, the author of Magic Tricks, Science Facts (1990), not only shows and tells how to perform magic tricks but he also discusses how magicians are able to alter an audience's perceptions of what is taking place. Many clear line drawings and a few not-so-clear photographs illustrate the text. Students of magic may choose this book because of the author's thorough, practical approach to learning new tricks, but they'll also come away with a better overall understanding of the human senses and the physical and mental foibles that make illusions convincing. Appended resource lists include books, equipment suppliers, magazines, and organizations for magicians. An unusual take on a popular topic. Carolyn Phelan