Magic in theory

Magic, properly performed, is a complex and skilful art, and is capable of deceiving anyone.

One of the reasons why so little information is available to non-magicians interested in the topic is that magicians are understandably relectant to expose conjuring methods.

Magic is a secretive business. Psychologists have long recognised that they may have much to learn from the techniques used by magicians to fool their audiences.

Parapsychologists are aware that many individuals claiming to be psychic use magic tricks to fabricate paranormal phenomena.

Failure to detect such fraud can lead to serious consequences, including loss of funding and negative publicity.

Greater theoretical understanding of conjuring and psychic fraud will raise awareness of how vulnerable observers can be. Parapsychologists, psychologists and magicians have all written about the strategems that lie behind successful conjuring.

Each has approached the topic from different viewpoints.

This book is an attempt to draw together these different theoretical approaches and present them in a way that is accessible to a non-technical readership. It is partly based on interviews conducted with present-day magicians, many of who are internationally recognized by the magical fraternity for their insight into conjuring psychology and theory.