Trick Decks: How to Hack Playing Cards for Extraordinary Magic Kindle Edition

Not a lot in here, but what is can be USED to do a lot with. Makes you use your imagination, which might suck for some, especially younger people, as it seems NO ONE uses their imagination anymore sad to say. The few tricks taught are real good, and if like me, you still have the ability to use the imagination that you were born with, you might just come up with your own using these principals, and maybe even some new principals to boot! 😊

Having made a few trick decks myself without having a comprehensive book like this to guide me through the process, all I can say is up and coming trick card artists are very fortunate to have Mark in their corner.Great job!

Yes, it is a very practical, plain an instructional book. But it is also short. I felt like it was one third of a book, or, volume one of three - which still could be one full sized book marketed as three. I knew some of what was assumed (invisible deck) that helps to understand what was given (brainwave deck). In fact, that was where the text abruptly ends and lead to this review. Maybe I was not the intended audience. I more a magic historian than a magician, but where one ends and the other begins is a secret that will cost you at least a cup of something exotic.

I have a video for gaffing cards which I felt was more helpful. This book just reaffirmed what I learned from the video. So there wasn't a lot new for me here. But it's suitable. Word of note: making your own cards is a bit challenging, and they never turn out perfectly. If there's a magic deck for sale that has the gaffs you need, it's better to just buy pre-made cards. With that said, I do use some cards in my routine that I've had to make myself. With proper handling, my home-made cards have never been questioned or noticed by any spectator as being unusual in any way. My cards turned out beautifully, but I would not allow close-inspection by a spectator. I am a VERY meticulous crafter, and I think I did about as well as can possibly be done. I tried to teach a couple friends how to gaff cards, and they simply can't do it at all because they don't have the patience and light-touch required. If you are ham-fisted by nature, you stand zero chance of being able to do this.

Mark is a generous soul, a great writer and someone who is willing to patiently stand by as you learn to do it yourself. He taught me how to upgrade my espresso machine, and he will teach you to make a stripper deck.The magic of this technique is that building a trick instead of buying one is, pardon the phrase, magical.The anticipation is half the joy. Have fun.

Light but good. Just what I needed. I want to take a good reader deck and make it great by converting it into a stripper as well. The instructions on how make the other great deck is just icing in the cake.

Mark Frauenfelder has pulled off yet another slick trick: curating some really clever card tricks into a terrific DIY book. I've had great fun with a stripper deck and I'm eager to make the other decks. The first rule of magic is never "give away" your tricks, but Mark has generously shared (for a very small fee!) some big secrets of how you can hack card decks for hours of fun!

Very easy to follow