This was a fantastic biography. I don't read a lot of nonfiction because normally they just don't grab me in the same way fiction does, even when I'm interested in the subject matter. But this one was a compulsive, page-turning read. I've always been interested in both stage magic and Houdini, ever since I was little. But although I knew most of the big points of Houdini's life story, I had never read a biography of him. This one is very well written and convincing in its presentation of the facts and the authors' interpretation of them. The book does a good job balancing explaining the secrets of some tricks and leaving some unexplained. I now want to read Houdini's own books and watch all his movies. So Houdini is actually more interesting the more you know about him. I highly recommend this book to anyone at all interested in magic, fraudulent spiritualists, or Houdini.