Magic by Misdirection

by Dariel Fitzkee

2015 Reprint of 1945 Edition. Full Facsimile of the original edition. Not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. "Magic by Misdirection" applies the psychology of deception to the art of magic. The finest minds of magic have recognized it an important and monumental work on the subject. It makes clear the psychological devices and methods you can use to deceive your audience: Disguise Attention Control Simulation Dissimulation Interpretation Maneuver Pretense Ruse Anticipation Diversion Monotony Premature Consummation Confusion Suggestion... and much more. Fitzkee supplies practical examples in the form of tricks incorporating and utilizing these principles."

Genres: Magic, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2015

Reviews

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a crowd watches a magician perform a trick, most of them understand that what they’re seeing is not real magic. There are exceptions, of course, like very small children and perhaps the very superstitious. Some of the people in the crowd may even be familiar with the mechanics of the trick being performed, in bold outline if not at a granular move-by-move level.
Why then, are some such sideshow magicians successful with a trick when others fall flat on their faces? Magician Dariel Fitzkee offers up his own quite plausible explanation in Magic by Misdirection, marshaling a lifetime’s experience as a magician to bolster his theory. And that theory is, namely, that good magicians know when to call attention to certain acts and when to divert attention. Good magicians must be good psychologists and good actors and good poker players. They must give the impression that they are not deceiving, especially at the most crucial moment of deception. They must know how to anesthetize the listener with verbal patter that lulls them to sleep before waking them up with the “magic” part of the act.
The book does a good job of balancing the intuitive with the patently obvious, which still needs to be restated for the umpteenth time for the amateur magician just getting started. If your silk hat or your burlap bag contain a hidden compartment, don’t shout, “I hold here before you any ordinary article,” as by your very words you wise up even the most lobotomized mark in the crowd that said-hat or bag is anything but ordinary.
Magic by Misdirection is the third in a series of three books, but the author makes it clear that this final work in the trilogy supplants the other two, and is superior to them in every way. Those who want “move-by-move” illustrations of tricks, complimented by illustrations or photos for the visual learner, should look elsewhere.
Those who want a novel, insightful, and close-to-comprehensive look at one pro magician’s weltanschauung, look no further. Recommended.

[Brandon Baggett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book breaks down a lot of what there is for misdirection and highlights one of the key points that a magician should be focusing on is the controlling of the participants' attention. I highly recommend this to those who want to take their magic to the next level.

[Wally Muchow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by the concept of Misdirection as heavily represent by The Art of War . I saw a review of this book and thought it might have insight in to a Magicians use of Misdirection. it did but the insight was little overwhelmed by the dry and uninspired narrative of the various magical tricks discussed and how they used misdirection. But still it was worth reading to see the mindset of how magicians thought of tricks and how to fool the audience.

As an aside I have not decided whether authors from the thirties and older did not feel that they had to entertain their audience or whether our current expectations are just so much higher concerning what is entertaining.

[MagicDave]

One of three books that I believe every magician worth his salt should study. The other two being The Trick Brain and Showmanship For Magicians. All by the same author: Dariel Fitzkee

I have owned a copy of this since I was young, and I learned a great deal from it. Since I am now in the winter of my years, and no longer perform, I feel that I should pass on my library of books, with some exceptions, to the up-and-coming young people just starting out. So, I have sold many books and those I still wish to possibly use in the future, I have repurchased as Kindle or PDF documents.

[Randy Hulshizer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Nicely covers the essentials of magic. Good for slightly more advanced practitioners.

[Bruce]

This looks like a good one to read for election time. And for after the elections too.