What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic Is Dead: My Journey into the World's Most Secretive Society of Magicians
In the vein of Neil Strauss’ The Game and Joshua Foer’s Moonwalking with Einstein comes the fascinating story of one man’s colorful, mysterious, and personal journey into the world of magic, and his unlikely invitation into an underground secret society of revolutionary magicians from around the world.
Magic Is Dead is Ian Frisch’s head-first dive into a hidden world full of extraordinary characters and highly guarded secrets. It is a story of imagination, deception, and art that spotlights today’s most brilliant young magicians—a mysterious club known as the52, who are revolutionizing an ancient artform under the mantra Magic Is Dead.
Ian brings us with him as he not only gets to know this fascinating world, but also becomes an integral part of it. We meet the52’s founding members—Laura London, Daniel Madison, and Chris Ramsay—and explore their personal demons, professional aspirations, and what drew them to their craft. We join them at private gatherings of the most extraordinary magicians working today, follow them to magic conventions in Las Vegas and England, and discover some of the best tricks of the trade. We also encounter David Blaine; hang out with Penn Jillette; meet Dynamo, the U.K.’s most famous magician; and go behind the scenes of a Netflix magic show. Magic Is Dead is also a chronicle of magic’s rich history and how it has changed in the internet age, as the young guns embrace social media and move away from the old-school take on the craft.
As he tells the story of the52, and his role as its most unlikely member, Ian reveals his own connection with trickery and deceit and how he first learned the elements that make magic work from his poker-playing mother. He recalls their adventures in card rooms and casinos after his father’s sudden death, and shares a touching moment that he had, as a working journalist, with his childhood idol Shaquille O’Neal.
“Magic—the romanticism of the inexplicable, the awe and admiration of the unexpected—is an underlying force in how we view the world and its myriad possibilities,” Ian writes. As his journey continues, Ian not only becomes a performer and creator of magic—even fooling the late Anthony Bourdain during a chance encounter—he also cements a new brotherhood, and begins to understand his relationship with his father, fifteen years after his death. Written with psychological acuity and a keen eye for detail, Magic Is Dead is an engrossing tale full of wonder and surprise.
Magic Is Dead is Ian Frisch’s head-first dive into a hidden world full of extraordinary characters and highly guarded secrets. It is a story of imagination, deception, and art that spotlights today’s most brilliant young magicians—a mysterious club known as the52, who are revolutionizing an ancient artform under the mantra Magic Is Dead.
Ian brings us with him as he not only gets to know this fascinating world, but also becomes an integral part of it. We meet the52’s founding members—Laura London, Daniel Madison, and Chris Ramsay—and explore their personal demons, professional aspirations, and what drew them to their craft. We join them at private gatherings of the most extraordinary magicians working today, follow them to magic conventions in Las Vegas and England, and discover some of the best tricks of the trade. We also encounter David Blaine; hang out with Penn Jillette; meet Dynamo, the U.K.’s most famous magician; and go behind the scenes of a Netflix magic show. Magic Is Dead is also a chronicle of magic’s rich history and how it has changed in the internet age, as the young guns embrace social media and move away from the old-school take on the craft.
As he tells the story of the52, and his role as its most unlikely member, Ian reveals his own connection with trickery and deceit and how he first learned the elements that make magic work from his poker-playing mother. He recalls their adventures in card rooms and casinos after his father’s sudden death, and shares a touching moment that he had, as a working journalist, with his childhood idol Shaquille O’Neal.
“Magic—the romanticism of the inexplicable, the awe and admiration of the unexpected—is an underlying force in how we view the world and its myriad possibilities,” Ian writes. As his journey continues, Ian not only becomes a performer and creator of magic—even fooling the late Anthony Bourdain during a chance encounter—he also cements a new brotherhood, and begins to understand his relationship with his father, fifteen years after his death. Written with psychological acuity and a keen eye for detail, Magic Is Dead is an engrossing tale full of wonder and surprise.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published February 26, 2019
135 people are currently reading
1656 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
March 30, 2019
If you’re anything like me, it means that 1) you possess a mind that might charitably be described as "unusually obfuscated"; 2) you have my condolences; 3) you smell terrific; 4) like a bird flying into a window, your nose has inadvertently come into contact with more than one hard surface by virtue of the impressive degree to which it protrudes from your otherwise proportional face; and 5) you’ve been mistaken on at least one occasion for a professional dancer, leading you to believe that the wedding DJ who made that mistake was likely a) sight-challenged; b) a terrible judge of quality dancing; and c) far too freely availing himself of the open bar during working hours.
It also means that you have an abiding love of magic and secret societies.
Frisch’s account of modern magic is also a memoir of his own spiritual journey and his grappling with who he really wants to be in the wake of his father’s death when Frisch was a teenager, and it’s simultaneously fascinating and a little disappointing.
It’s fascinating in that it illuminates a subset of young magicians whose innovative approach to social media and brand management is transforming what has become a somewhat hokey and hackneyed profession and making it relevant, and perhaps even expanding its popularity, for a modern age. The characters behind the movement are compelling, at least in how Frisch portrays them—flawed people for whom magic has been a lifeline, or at least a means of bettering their situation in an otherwise challenging life. There’s a sense of camaraderie and kinship that pervades their interactions at conventions or over drinks at a bar, and the added allure of many of them being members of a secret society—the52—creates a pervasive air of mystery that hangs over the whole enterprise like a storm cloud ready to burst…
And therein lies the disappointment, though it’s a disappointment that has little to do with the narrative itself or the individuals involved (though it’s obvious at points that Frisch is really reaching to say something profound, painfully self-aware of the need to make his journey through the magical underground Important and Meaningful and all sorts of other words that become more impressive when you capitalize them). The disappointment derives from the fact that, despite the tremendous skill and dedication of all involved, and despite their ability to create genuinely baffling “wow” moments for people, they’re ultimately just a bunch of people obsessed with doing card tricks, specifically trying to come up with new spins on tricks that have been around for decades.
That’s not to disparage what they’re doing, mind you—the creativity and aptitude these magicians display is awe-inspiring. If you’ve ever tried to do any sleight of hand, you know how difficult it is to pull off effectively, and these folks make it look effortless on a level that truly does seem magical.
But, when you start talking about magic…about secret societies…there’s always the hope that there really is something more. Something unknown and unknowable. Something truly inexplicable happening. That there is a cabal of people somewhere in the world who have knowledge the rest of us don’t, and access to abilities we can only dream about.
And, well, maybe there is. Maybe Frisch knows and he’s just not letting on. Maybe he hasn’t gotten in deep enough and he’s still in the dark like the rest of us. But, that underscores the problem with diving into this kind of subject—the unknown (and perhaps unknowable) is always going to be more interesting than the known.
It’s a little bit like a present you’ve been told will be the best one you’ve ever received. Before you open it, that box contains a myriad of possibilities. When you open it, it contains one. And while it may indeed be the best gift you’ve ever received, it’s likely that your imagination can conceive of something you could have received that would have been even better, which means that even the best present in the world is better before you open it and know what it is.
This is an entertaining and engaging read for those interested in magic subculture, but be prepared to walk away feeling a little bit disappointed, a little bit cheated, a little bit flim-flammed, and a little bit annoyed (so, it’s basically the literary equivalent of a conversation with me).
It also means that you have an abiding love of magic and secret societies.
Frisch’s account of modern magic is also a memoir of his own spiritual journey and his grappling with who he really wants to be in the wake of his father’s death when Frisch was a teenager, and it’s simultaneously fascinating and a little disappointing.
It’s fascinating in that it illuminates a subset of young magicians whose innovative approach to social media and brand management is transforming what has become a somewhat hokey and hackneyed profession and making it relevant, and perhaps even expanding its popularity, for a modern age. The characters behind the movement are compelling, at least in how Frisch portrays them—flawed people for whom magic has been a lifeline, or at least a means of bettering their situation in an otherwise challenging life. There’s a sense of camaraderie and kinship that pervades their interactions at conventions or over drinks at a bar, and the added allure of many of them being members of a secret society—the52—creates a pervasive air of mystery that hangs over the whole enterprise like a storm cloud ready to burst…
And therein lies the disappointment, though it’s a disappointment that has little to do with the narrative itself or the individuals involved (though it’s obvious at points that Frisch is really reaching to say something profound, painfully self-aware of the need to make his journey through the magical underground Important and Meaningful and all sorts of other words that become more impressive when you capitalize them). The disappointment derives from the fact that, despite the tremendous skill and dedication of all involved, and despite their ability to create genuinely baffling “wow” moments for people, they’re ultimately just a bunch of people obsessed with doing card tricks, specifically trying to come up with new spins on tricks that have been around for decades.
That’s not to disparage what they’re doing, mind you—the creativity and aptitude these magicians display is awe-inspiring. If you’ve ever tried to do any sleight of hand, you know how difficult it is to pull off effectively, and these folks make it look effortless on a level that truly does seem magical.
But, when you start talking about magic…about secret societies…there’s always the hope that there really is something more. Something unknown and unknowable. Something truly inexplicable happening. That there is a cabal of people somewhere in the world who have knowledge the rest of us don’t, and access to abilities we can only dream about.
And, well, maybe there is. Maybe Frisch knows and he’s just not letting on. Maybe he hasn’t gotten in deep enough and he’s still in the dark like the rest of us. But, that underscores the problem with diving into this kind of subject—the unknown (and perhaps unknowable) is always going to be more interesting than the known.
It’s a little bit like a present you’ve been told will be the best one you’ve ever received. Before you open it, that box contains a myriad of possibilities. When you open it, it contains one. And while it may indeed be the best gift you’ve ever received, it’s likely that your imagination can conceive of something you could have received that would have been even better, which means that even the best present in the world is better before you open it and know what it is.
This is an entertaining and engaging read for those interested in magic subculture, but be prepared to walk away feeling a little bit disappointed, a little bit cheated, a little bit flim-flammed, and a little bit annoyed (so, it’s basically the literary equivalent of a conversation with me).
Read
March 9, 2019Abandoned. Promises intrigue but immediately devolves into descriptions of videos and the writer’s acquaintance with celebrity.
The tone here is like my 11-year-old trying to interest me in his latest hobby.
The tone here is like my 11-year-old trying to interest me in his latest hobby.
April 9, 2019
The description is super misleading. The book is somewhere between autobiography and just random stories over the course of a year for some guy and his magician friends. "The World's Most Secretive Magic Group" or whatever is never explained, only just who is in it which...seems not so secretive.
The writing was poor, and the story telling was awkward. Most had to do with other magicians validating the author's attempts at magic. It was just a really jumbled, cringey book.
The writing was poor, and the story telling was awkward. Most had to do with other magicians validating the author's attempts at magic. It was just a really jumbled, cringey book.
September 22, 2021
I debated about whether this book should be 3 or 2 stars, but ultimately remembered that Frisch is a journalist, so the bar is understandably higher, and his writing just didn't live up to expectations. I lost track of the number of times he said 'moreover' and had people saying, 'Duuuude!' to his various tricks.
As other reviewers have noted, the biggest flaw of the book is that it neither addressed the World's Most Secretive Society of Magicians, and it really never explains how Ian got the initial invite into the society. Don't get me wrong, he discusses the moment, but really never explains to the reader how he got into their good graces in the first place. He didn't become a magician really until after he was inducted into the group. The only hints we get are the repeated claims of Madison and others, 'Don't forget dude, you're playing an important role in this group, you're just as important as anyone else, you can tell our story.' Never mind that this story is one they don't want told, in order to maintain the status of a 'secretive' society.
I hate to even say this, but I am just going to say it anyway....given the premise of Frisch tragically losing his dad at 13, and the understandable emotional scarring that was left from that, this book really feels like Frisch seeking the approval that he can't seek from his father. Most of the book is the magicians he encounters being stunned and amazed by his beginning tricks. Not that I don't believe this really happened, but it just felt cringy and ultimately the book lacked a large amount of substance. Nothing really ever develops, we are just taken from scene to scene of Frisch fan-girling over magicians, them showering him with praise, and him explaining his first few tricks he learned.
However, I will say I enjoyed the ending, which involved an exchange with a homeless person. That part was a gem....but I wouldn't say the book in its entirety was a gem.
As other reviewers have noted, the biggest flaw of the book is that it neither addressed the World's Most Secretive Society of Magicians, and it really never explains how Ian got the initial invite into the society. Don't get me wrong, he discusses the moment, but really never explains to the reader how he got into their good graces in the first place. He didn't become a magician really until after he was inducted into the group. The only hints we get are the repeated claims of Madison and others, 'Don't forget dude, you're playing an important role in this group, you're just as important as anyone else, you can tell our story.' Never mind that this story is one they don't want told, in order to maintain the status of a 'secretive' society.
I hate to even say this, but I am just going to say it anyway....given the premise of Frisch tragically losing his dad at 13, and the understandable emotional scarring that was left from that, this book really feels like Frisch seeking the approval that he can't seek from his father. Most of the book is the magicians he encounters being stunned and amazed by his beginning tricks. Not that I don't believe this really happened, but it just felt cringy and ultimately the book lacked a large amount of substance. Nothing really ever develops, we are just taken from scene to scene of Frisch fan-girling over magicians, them showering him with praise, and him explaining his first few tricks he learned.
However, I will say I enjoyed the ending, which involved an exchange with a homeless person. That part was a gem....but I wouldn't say the book in its entirety was a gem.
December 19, 2019
Really not a good book. This book is contrived, meandering, disjointed, and very poorly researched. The author keeps mentioning that as a journalist he is a storyteller, but sadly he's terrible at this, his stories all basically boil down to either all his new friends are fantastic, or pointless stuff about his childhood. He also frequently contradicts himself, for example, he chastises Houdini for being a terrible card magician, then just a page or two later says that Dai Vernon must have been an amazing magician because he managed to fool Houdini with a card trick. He also frequently gets dates, or the order of famous magic events in the wrong order and even gets the nationality of famous magicians wrong. I would have given up long before reaching the end of the book, but I found it fascinating to see what he was going to get wrong next. If you want a book about the author being in love with Daniel Madison and Chris Ramsay, this is totally the book for you, however, if you want a book about magic, look elsewhere.
January 14, 2020
Judging from the title you would think that this is a truly groundbreaking take on the current state of the magic scene but that isn't the case. It's nothing more than a misguided desire on the part of a group of young misfits trying to make the case that they've outdone their predecessors with their artistic sleight of hand card handling techniques.
The story centers on a cast of characters you've likely never heard of before (unless you rely on You Tube and Instagram for your news). One by one they're invited to join the mysterious group known as 'The52' and get yet another tattoo this time with the card corresponding to their assigned card in a deck of playing cards on their middle finger. Misfits and F'ups all (missing fathers, drug and alcohol addictions, suicide etc.) it's "magic" that draws them together into this cabal of irregulars. In fact, they're no different than the card cheats and sleight of hand artists they learned their techniques from, the ones they're seeking to dethrone. In the end, The52 (begun by Daniel Madison and Laura London) is as meaningless as The Sons of Lee Marvin cult started by Jim Jarmusch with charter members Tom Waits, Nick Cave and John Lurie, merely a curiosity.
The story centers on a cast of characters you've likely never heard of before (unless you rely on You Tube and Instagram for your news). One by one they're invited to join the mysterious group known as 'The52' and get yet another tattoo this time with the card corresponding to their assigned card in a deck of playing cards on their middle finger. Misfits and F'ups all (missing fathers, drug and alcohol addictions, suicide etc.) it's "magic" that draws them together into this cabal of irregulars. In fact, they're no different than the card cheats and sleight of hand artists they learned their techniques from, the ones they're seeking to dethrone. In the end, The52 (begun by Daniel Madison and Laura London) is as meaningless as The Sons of Lee Marvin cult started by Jim Jarmusch with charter members Tom Waits, Nick Cave and John Lurie, merely a curiosity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2020
I'm not the biggest fan of non-fiction, so to be completely honest, I didn't know if I was going to like this or not. BUT surprisingly, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was captivating from the beginning, and I really loved the narration style.
Since I was little, I've always been interested in magic; however, I did have a specific stereotype attached to the term "magician." This book helped me think of the magic industry in a way I've never thought about before and brought to my attention a lot of things I never would have considered otherwise. This book talks about how the emergence of social media and popularity of platforms such as Instagram and YouTube changed the way magic is both performed and received.
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because there were some parts I skimmed over. But overall, I think everyone can find something that they like about this book.
Since I was little, I've always been interested in magic; however, I did have a specific stereotype attached to the term "magician." This book helped me think of the magic industry in a way I've never thought about before and brought to my attention a lot of things I never would have considered otherwise. This book talks about how the emergence of social media and popularity of platforms such as Instagram and YouTube changed the way magic is both performed and received.
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because there were some parts I skimmed over. But overall, I think everyone can find something that they like about this book.
May 14, 2019
Disappointing. Not only are these magicians not at all secretive, they're the most effective self-publicists in the whole business of online magic today. I didn't care about the author's journey in magic or his relationship with his father -- I felt that stuff was just in there to pad out a book about a bunch of guys who haven't actually lived long enough to have an interesting story. And the one who's most interesting -- Daniel Madison -- is really secretive and so isn't actually telling anything about who he really is, and what he does tell us probably isn't true at all.
Huge disappointment. Sorry.
Huge disappointment. Sorry.
December 26, 2018
A cool peak behind the curtain at Magic’s young guns blazing a new trail for magicians. As a bonus we get to see the secrets behind some of the tricks and the process of what goes into creating an original one! A fascinating read for anyone with the smallest amount of interest in magic or who still has that childlike sense of wonder about the world.
April 26, 2019
This is an interesting blend between a journalist's experience getting close to the young magic community and memoir exploring Frisch's father's death and his mother's poker habits. I can't lie, I teared up a few times.
Read
September 24, 2021No, not that kind of magic.
This book took me entirely by surprise. It's about poker, and the history of card cheats, and the history of performance magic, and social media, and mental health, and grief. It's a memoir and a history and a bizarre piece of almost-gonzo journalism. It is everything it says on the tin and nothing it says on the tin, and it is superb.
This book took me entirely by surprise. It's about poker, and the history of card cheats, and the history of performance magic, and social media, and mental health, and grief. It's a memoir and a history and a bizarre piece of almost-gonzo journalism. It is everything it says on the tin and nothing it says on the tin, and it is superb.
January 31, 2019
Received as an ARC via my employer Barnes & Noble. Started 1-25-19. Finished 1-31-19. Well-written book about the history of "Modern" magicians--the young and brash street type; the fast-talking, tattooed fast-moving type; the creative, no-nonsense straight up deceptors who see magic as a way of life and a psychological process, not just entertainment. These are the ones who are constantly looking for new techniques and inventing new tricks. The author also explores "the52", a secret society of new magicians, each with a card suit tattooed on the side of their middle finger. He tells about how some tricks are done, but doesn't give away too much, just enough to arouse your curiosity. Because of his book, I've been watching videos of many of the magicians he mentions. Fascinating!!
November 28, 2019
I love magic and so dove into this book (after reading a column by Frisch in the NYTimes) but found the author's tendency to self indulgence (different than the personal story angle, which was mostly padding) dragged down the rest of the book (profiles of top modern magicians).
isn't the #1 rule of good journalism to "keep yourself out of the story.? Frisch can't seem to keep to story about much except himself. How HE is accepted into this exclusive magic club "the 52" (why he is inducted I don't know). How HE is on the speed dial of all this hip young magicians. How HE invented a cool new trick (even though he basically only conceived the trick, and then leans on the expertise of his magic hipster buddies to figure out the mechanics.) How HE fooled Anthony Bourdain....
So the book breaks down to about 1/3 profiles of magicians (fairly interesting, though magic tricks just don't work very well in print. They read like an instruction manual.) 1/3 about how great Ian Frisch is and 1/3 Frisch's personal family story (and while it is sad to lose your father at 14 is not that unusual and so the story is kind of "So what?")
isn't the #1 rule of good journalism to "keep yourself out of the story.? Frisch can't seem to keep to story about much except himself. How HE is accepted into this exclusive magic club "the 52" (why he is inducted I don't know). How HE is on the speed dial of all this hip young magicians. How HE invented a cool new trick (even though he basically only conceived the trick, and then leans on the expertise of his magic hipster buddies to figure out the mechanics.) How HE fooled Anthony Bourdain....
So the book breaks down to about 1/3 profiles of magicians (fairly interesting, though magic tricks just don't work very well in print. They read like an instruction manual.) 1/3 about how great Ian Frisch is and 1/3 Frisch's personal family story (and while it is sad to lose your father at 14 is not that unusual and so the story is kind of "So what?")
April 3, 2019
I was disappointed in this book. It had some interesting stories about different magicians, but the research itself, though good, couldn't overcome the narration. I found that the author inserted himself way too much into the story. Much of it concerned his own personal journey into the world of magic. Honestly, it just didn't interest me. An equally large part of the book was just the author gushing over his favorite star magicians and how honored he felt to be their friend and invited into their club.
There was too much telling instead of showing. If you don't respect Criss Angel as a magician, show it to the audience. Don't create a footnote calling him "hyper-cringeworthy". Or better yet, don't insert your own opinion and trust your audience can come to their own conclusions.
I was equally disappointed with Alex Stone's "Fooling Houdini," so it's possible that I am just looking for a different kind of story on magicians.
Also, I gave up in Chapter 10 of this book, so all of this review only pertains to the first 9 1/2 chapters.
There was too much telling instead of showing. If you don't respect Criss Angel as a magician, show it to the audience. Don't create a footnote calling him "hyper-cringeworthy". Or better yet, don't insert your own opinion and trust your audience can come to their own conclusions.
I was equally disappointed with Alex Stone's "Fooling Houdini," so it's possible that I am just looking for a different kind of story on magicians.
Also, I gave up in Chapter 10 of this book, so all of this review only pertains to the first 9 1/2 chapters.
January 19, 2020
I really wanted to like this book - it had so many good elements and an interesting topic area: the generational evolution of magic and the incorporation of new technologies into an old art form. However, the personal narrative of the author totally threw me for a loop. It seemed to dominate the story and did not develop the personal connection it was trying to.
April 7, 2019
Airport purchase where I was fooled by the cool cover. This book had some interesting sections, but the overall tone of the author and his assumed sense of self-importance kind of ruined it for me. It did re-kindle my interest in magic--and I'm now following a lot of it on social media, but the book wasn't that great.
April 8, 2019
Meh. Not nearly as interesting as I had hoped it would be. No tension or drama surrounding the characters. The historical material was limp. Magic tricks don’t translate well into written form.
April 4, 2021
I must say, this book thoroughly surprised me. I picked it up on a whim at the libraryfor two reasons: 1, because "why is this book with a fictional-looking cover and nearly unbelievable premise in our biography/memoir section?" and 2, simply because I have often been drawn to the YouTube/Instagram savvy young guns of today's magic such as Chris Ramsay.
For a spontaneous pickup at the library, this book certainly did not disappoint! The first 100 pages hooked me unlike any book I've read in awhile, and and I felt like I was experiencing the same range of emotions as Ian Firsch did wading into the shallow end of today's hidden world of magic. Firsch's strongpoint in his story is how he manages to elucidate larger-than-life personas out of magicians who readers often only see in impersonal online or TV environments, such as the mysterious Daniel Madison, Laura London, or Xavior Spade. Additionally, I was also personally touched by a lot of Firsch's musings on his father, and how his father's passing was still influencing his life and journey decades later through. The biographical touch to what would otherwise be purely a journalistic narrative really give the reader a chance to fully invest themselves in the book as a whole.
Still, this book will be frustrate some. If you picked this up hoping to learn more about the52, a secret society involving the 52 brightest minds in and around magic alive today (one for each playing card), you will probably be disappointed. You'll learn that, yes, it does exist, along with bits and pieces concerning how it was formed. However, the "why" and the "what" will have to be further clarified by Madison (who remains equally mysterious throughout) at a later time. You might also be frustrated by Firsch's wanderings at times. He rarely stays on one point for more than a few pages, usually interspersing his own personal musings and a plethora of magic's key historical moments with the chronological events of the book. As a result, there are certainly enough moments of downtime within the book that you begin to wonder if it could have just stayed as a multi-part Vice or New Yorker article.
TL:DR, Despite this, I believe the positives far outweigh the negatives, and if you're on the lookout for an intriguing personal memoir and wish to investigate the basic state of magic in the modern age (or post-top-hat-and-bunny-rabbit age), this book certainly fits the bill!
April 16, 2019
Couple ideas I noticed: The relationship between father and son as Ian spoke about his own and Ramsey's. Ian refers to Laura London as the matron and identifies with his mother's card playing skills. These magicians try to form a clan, a family, that is exclusive because their family lives have fractured or the need to find and share similar skills.
Some look down on the fact that learning magicians use the tricks they learned from buying or stealing from magicians who sell them. It seems strange to me that it's their business to sell these tricks to lesser magicians but then scuffs at how it's being practiced. It reminds me of Strange and Norrell, and how Norrell looks down on the other magicians who are less talented then he is. In fact, it was a wager to shut the other lesser magicians down that prompted Norrel to do his trick. But Norrel learned his crafts through books that he's read, so he's a hypocrite. Strange has the innate ability and that's why Norrell respects him. He has an intuitive sense I also think it's strange that Daniel Madison respects performance artist more than magicians. What's interesting is that these magicians have a different point of view on the world and perhaps that's the message, not to copy but to bring something to the table that furthers the thinking and move beyond the magician and gimmicks and tricks. I get a sense that magic is pain from these characters. The book, 'The Magicians' talks about the source of pain as fuel for a conjuring. It compares academic magic of Brake Bills and the rogue practitioners on the street, or underground. Some of the characters in Ian's book remind me of rogue practitioners and Daniel Madison as a figure with a hypersensitive brain that suffers pain and possibly his source of magic. He has an innate ability to make tricks which later were to be discovered in books. It is through the ancient art of storytelling, the narrative that adds to the trick and it is through the ancient medium of the book that knowledge is disseminated. So Daniel Madison sees Ian as an important figure to codified, romanticize and mythologize their movement in the modern age of magic. Magic consists of symbols and words are symbols that weave nothing into something, imagined and real. In a sense, Ian is conjuring, an illusionist.
The other important theme is that we want to be deceived to have a sense of wonder, to move beyond logic. But as we see that once the trick is revealed as to how it's done, we still enjoy the performance of it. But the good magicians are reluctant to perform. And perhaps this is what Daniel and others rail against. A good example of this is when the professor at Brake Bill asks Quinten to perform a trick as a last admissions test. He simply does not do it until the emotion and the pain arises and he conjures a house of cards replica of Brake Bill building is formed on the table. This is a jab at playing cards as the fetish object of street magicians but in this case becomes the brick and mortar, a model, a representative of the 'real' thing. What is real and imagined? This is the precarious balance represented in the fragile and symbolic structure of the house of cards. Magic is symbols after all. The mirror is a symbol in the trick that Strange performs for Norrel. The mirror merely reflects light and reality but when that mirror has an object not reflected from reality, it suggests the mirror is a window into another realm. The mirror is a symbolic and potent fetish object to another realm. There is the scrying mirror of John Dee. Ferries arrive through mirrors in Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel. Childhood fables ingrains in us the mirror symbol when the witch asks the question, who is the fairest of them all. The Ministry of Magic forbids magic being performed in the real muggle world. And this is the key, the other realm needs to be protected from 'reality'; the performance of magic attempts to contact that otherness. Magic's serious role is to connect, contact other regions and spirits and not as entertainment. It is used to bail us out of life and death situations not to amuse us. The Ministry of Magic forbids magic being performed in the real muggle world. Magic is performed out of necessity. Religious factions have shut down this door to the other realm early in progression of magic on earth. Histories of persecution burn magical text and English magicians became less and less.
But it is thrilling to see some of the principles of magic. The idea of transformation, lead into gold, philosopher's stone or a face card turned blank in a dexterous hand. Transformations ingredient is time. The orange tree trick is marvelous because we can witness from seed to fruit, the miraculous grow within minutes. The notion of teleportation or transposition of being here and not here and appearing there as in the Lord of the Ring teleportation device ring or beam me up Scotty command electronic remote device. Objects dematerializing, defying gravity and Newtonian mechanics are otherworldly. The theme of transformation occurs in the characters as well. Daniel and Ian changed drastically during this process, this journey of discovery and self-discovery. As with any good novel or narrative, the transformation of a character is what we witness and be inspired by. Daniel becomes more adjusted and normalized and Ian became more magical. It’s as if the possessed Daniel slowly rid himself of his inner demon and caricature, so-called alter ego.
Technology is a form of magic in itself.
It can read as a social media strategy platform for business startup.
Some look down on the fact that learning magicians use the tricks they learned from buying or stealing from magicians who sell them. It seems strange to me that it's their business to sell these tricks to lesser magicians but then scuffs at how it's being practiced. It reminds me of Strange and Norrell, and how Norrell looks down on the other magicians who are less talented then he is. In fact, it was a wager to shut the other lesser magicians down that prompted Norrel to do his trick. But Norrel learned his crafts through books that he's read, so he's a hypocrite. Strange has the innate ability and that's why Norrell respects him. He has an intuitive sense I also think it's strange that Daniel Madison respects performance artist more than magicians. What's interesting is that these magicians have a different point of view on the world and perhaps that's the message, not to copy but to bring something to the table that furthers the thinking and move beyond the magician and gimmicks and tricks. I get a sense that magic is pain from these characters. The book, 'The Magicians' talks about the source of pain as fuel for a conjuring. It compares academic magic of Brake Bills and the rogue practitioners on the street, or underground. Some of the characters in Ian's book remind me of rogue practitioners and Daniel Madison as a figure with a hypersensitive brain that suffers pain and possibly his source of magic. He has an innate ability to make tricks which later were to be discovered in books. It is through the ancient art of storytelling, the narrative that adds to the trick and it is through the ancient medium of the book that knowledge is disseminated. So Daniel Madison sees Ian as an important figure to codified, romanticize and mythologize their movement in the modern age of magic. Magic consists of symbols and words are symbols that weave nothing into something, imagined and real. In a sense, Ian is conjuring, an illusionist.
The other important theme is that we want to be deceived to have a sense of wonder, to move beyond logic. But as we see that once the trick is revealed as to how it's done, we still enjoy the performance of it. But the good magicians are reluctant to perform. And perhaps this is what Daniel and others rail against. A good example of this is when the professor at Brake Bill asks Quinten to perform a trick as a last admissions test. He simply does not do it until the emotion and the pain arises and he conjures a house of cards replica of Brake Bill building is formed on the table. This is a jab at playing cards as the fetish object of street magicians but in this case becomes the brick and mortar, a model, a representative of the 'real' thing. What is real and imagined? This is the precarious balance represented in the fragile and symbolic structure of the house of cards. Magic is symbols after all. The mirror is a symbol in the trick that Strange performs for Norrel. The mirror merely reflects light and reality but when that mirror has an object not reflected from reality, it suggests the mirror is a window into another realm. The mirror is a symbolic and potent fetish object to another realm. There is the scrying mirror of John Dee. Ferries arrive through mirrors in Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel. Childhood fables ingrains in us the mirror symbol when the witch asks the question, who is the fairest of them all. The Ministry of Magic forbids magic being performed in the real muggle world. And this is the key, the other realm needs to be protected from 'reality'; the performance of magic attempts to contact that otherness. Magic's serious role is to connect, contact other regions and spirits and not as entertainment. It is used to bail us out of life and death situations not to amuse us. The Ministry of Magic forbids magic being performed in the real muggle world. Magic is performed out of necessity. Religious factions have shut down this door to the other realm early in progression of magic on earth. Histories of persecution burn magical text and English magicians became less and less.
But it is thrilling to see some of the principles of magic. The idea of transformation, lead into gold, philosopher's stone or a face card turned blank in a dexterous hand. Transformations ingredient is time. The orange tree trick is marvelous because we can witness from seed to fruit, the miraculous grow within minutes. The notion of teleportation or transposition of being here and not here and appearing there as in the Lord of the Ring teleportation device ring or beam me up Scotty command electronic remote device. Objects dematerializing, defying gravity and Newtonian mechanics are otherworldly. The theme of transformation occurs in the characters as well. Daniel and Ian changed drastically during this process, this journey of discovery and self-discovery. As with any good novel or narrative, the transformation of a character is what we witness and be inspired by. Daniel becomes more adjusted and normalized and Ian became more magical. It’s as if the possessed Daniel slowly rid himself of his inner demon and caricature, so-called alter ego.
Technology is a form of magic in itself.
It can read as a social media strategy platform for business startup.
January 18, 2025
An insightful dive into the world of modern magic. You get a peek behind the curtain about the lives of magicians, their craft, and secrets of the trade.
It’s both entertaining and educational, without bogging you down with excessive details. A fun read for those who appreciate a bit of sleight of hand.
It’s both entertaining and educational, without bogging you down with excessive details. A fun read for those who appreciate a bit of sleight of hand.
June 5, 2023
Interesting behind the scenes look at a new wave of magicians and the author’s introduction and adventures with them.
September 4, 2022
Different and I thought it was interesting….
March 1, 2019
Really enjoyable. As a lover of magic and magic theory / history this book was a nice addition to Magic’s bibliography. It’s historical approach is simple and direct without covering too much of the same old ground, a real tight look at card manipulation and it’s history in gambling was a nice approach. Not only that but the fast forwarding into today’s very fresh internet ( Instagram ) approach to how to renew and invigorate young magicians was interesting. Also as to not be a dry history, the author truly gives a very personal touch about growth and individuality; all the players involved are lovingly handled. Recommended
March 4, 2019
Just as Madison, Ramsay and others brought Ian into the magic community and the 52 Ian makes you feel like your there. An inside look at the history of magic both past and present , from card sharks to illusionists and consultants and the era of YouTube and technological magic. It’s A deeply personal journey and I felt like I was right there, from Blackpool to Las Vegas to the dark room poker games and smoke filled casinos with his mom and meet ups all over the world.
April 22, 2019
Before I start, I feel a little context is needed.
I've been a cardistry and sleight-of-hand enthusiast since about the 10th grade, when I got my hands on my first deck of Bikes (still have it!). Years had passed without me opening a deck or taking an active interest in magic of any kind.
Until I stumbled upon Chris Ramsay - this bearded, tattooed behemoth of a guy with his cap turned back and his eyes glowing with excitement when he spoke about cards, puzzles and the world of magic as a whole. He got me back into it.
My first social media interaction with Ramsay was asking him not about some trick, but if there's any great book out there about the world behind the cards, cups and balls - I wanted to understand them before I let myself be taught.
He didn't reply, but the internet never sleeps: I stumbled upon a video of him promoting his buddy Ian Frisch's new book. Had to be karma, right? I didn't even bother to read any reviews or see other promos. So I purchased the book and went through it. What you're about to read - if you're still with me - is the review of a person interested in sleight-of-hand and magic at a moderate level, with minimum experience and knowledge of the world behind it.
I'll start with the style of writing. As a copywriter, I often find myself subjectively bothered by the way an author is trying to tell the story if it's not "right". Ian's way with words is contemporary, matching the world and the people he's trying to describe. You won't have unnecessary flourishing unless it's with a deck of cards. Some people may find this style a bit flat and lacking in grip, but that's not the case here. He's managed to take a huge investigatory journalism piece and let it devour him whole, then tell the story as he lived it.
As I see it, you follow several stories. First is Ian's growth, his decisions and relationships with characters you would think were made up if they weren't a YouTube search away. Then, you have the "Secret Society of Magicians" with its intricacies and people. Finally, there's a thin but immensely important layer about the52 founder Daniel Madison and his demons. It his his particular story that sold me on becoming a fan and a student of his craft.
Ian's journey has plenty of ups and downs, relating to both himself as well as the people he gets involved with. A little bit of insight into what it's all about would go a long way as far as understanding what the52 and its members stand for, but you could definitely go through Magic Is Dead as a complete "layman" and still enjoy it thoroughly.
Don't expect this to be a book that will teach you tricks and don't expect it to deify contemporary magicians - you'll be completely disappointed. You'll be getting an inside view at some of the old world, not just the new, through the eyes and understanding of someone as uninitiated as yourself. It provides a great look into a universe otherwise kept under lock and key for most people.
One last time, this review comes from the keyboard of someone who didn't see past the deck of cards, but ended up discovering a place beyond it that jumpstarts the brain into seeing so much more. It truly is a refreshingly unexpected read that takes you on a great ride and leaves you wondering - is magic really dead?
I've been a cardistry and sleight-of-hand enthusiast since about the 10th grade, when I got my hands on my first deck of Bikes (still have it!). Years had passed without me opening a deck or taking an active interest in magic of any kind.
Until I stumbled upon Chris Ramsay - this bearded, tattooed behemoth of a guy with his cap turned back and his eyes glowing with excitement when he spoke about cards, puzzles and the world of magic as a whole. He got me back into it.
My first social media interaction with Ramsay was asking him not about some trick, but if there's any great book out there about the world behind the cards, cups and balls - I wanted to understand them before I let myself be taught.
He didn't reply, but the internet never sleeps: I stumbled upon a video of him promoting his buddy Ian Frisch's new book. Had to be karma, right? I didn't even bother to read any reviews or see other promos. So I purchased the book and went through it. What you're about to read - if you're still with me - is the review of a person interested in sleight-of-hand and magic at a moderate level, with minimum experience and knowledge of the world behind it.
I'll start with the style of writing. As a copywriter, I often find myself subjectively bothered by the way an author is trying to tell the story if it's not "right". Ian's way with words is contemporary, matching the world and the people he's trying to describe. You won't have unnecessary flourishing unless it's with a deck of cards. Some people may find this style a bit flat and lacking in grip, but that's not the case here. He's managed to take a huge investigatory journalism piece and let it devour him whole, then tell the story as he lived it.
As I see it, you follow several stories. First is Ian's growth, his decisions and relationships with characters you would think were made up if they weren't a YouTube search away. Then, you have the "Secret Society of Magicians" with its intricacies and people. Finally, there's a thin but immensely important layer about the52 founder Daniel Madison and his demons. It his his particular story that sold me on becoming a fan and a student of his craft.
Ian's journey has plenty of ups and downs, relating to both himself as well as the people he gets involved with. A little bit of insight into what it's all about would go a long way as far as understanding what the52 and its members stand for, but you could definitely go through Magic Is Dead as a complete "layman" and still enjoy it thoroughly.
Don't expect this to be a book that will teach you tricks and don't expect it to deify contemporary magicians - you'll be completely disappointed. You'll be getting an inside view at some of the old world, not just the new, through the eyes and understanding of someone as uninitiated as yourself. It provides a great look into a universe otherwise kept under lock and key for most people.
One last time, this review comes from the keyboard of someone who didn't see past the deck of cards, but ended up discovering a place beyond it that jumpstarts the brain into seeing so much more. It truly is a refreshingly unexpected read that takes you on a great ride and leaves you wondering - is magic really dead?
January 7, 2020
If you don’t know who Daniel Madison or Chris Ramsay are, this book might not be for you.
If you are in the know, you’ll LOVE it!!!!
I had to listen to the audiobook version, (which was incredible, for the record.) so I’m not sure just how the ebb & flow of the vibe of the writing “feels”, but I’m a huge Madison fan, and Frisch really came through. I learned a lot about a true hero of mine..... Shaquille O’Neal. Ha!
If you are in the know, you’ll LOVE it!!!!
I had to listen to the audiobook version, (which was incredible, for the record.) so I’m not sure just how the ebb & flow of the vibe of the writing “feels”, but I’m a huge Madison fan, and Frisch really came through. I learned a lot about a true hero of mine..... Shaquille O’Neal. Ha!
November 26, 2022
I'll save you some time.
The secret society... all get tattoos on their fingers.
The secret society... all get tattoos on their fingers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2019
I’ve always enjoyed magic. The Now You See Me movies are some of my favorite. Throughout my life, I frequently went in and out of my magic obsessions. They would quickly end when I discovered that doing magic tricks is no easy task. But I never considered it an ART FORM, which is what the52 is all about. And that is awesome.
Okay- I think I problems with this book was that I was expecting something very different.
When I read the overview, I thought it was going to be some sort of Dan Brown Lost Symbol type deal. But- it would be cooler because it was real!
In the end, it was really just a group of adults that made a club.
Okay- that sounded mean. I’m not trying to diminish the52 at all, because if was much more than just a club. It was a family and a home. And I love their mission, so make magicians out to be more of artists, not just hustlers, and to show that card tricks can be just as beautiful and valuable as the Mona Lisa. That was cool, and it was one of those feel good things about the book- someone just wanted to fix the perception that society has over magic. But the way it was presented was a little underwhelming.
So, I guess that might be a fault on my side of my expectations being too high.
But the story organization- I wasn’t a fan of.
It felt choppy and unconnected. It didn’t flow well, to me, and I felt like there was a constant jumping back and forth of time. And sometimes, there were whole chapters that had nothing to do with magic. I remember one where the author wrote all about how he met Shaquille O’Neal at one point. Like, cool, and it was a cute and touching story about him and his father but- what? How does it fit?
I loved the ‘characters’ as well- apostrophes because they’re real people. I liked seeing real life magicians being real people, not suave, mysterious, con people who are out to deceive. And, it was weird reading about people that I’ve known about! People like Penn and Teller, or the AGT star, Shin Lim. There were a few names that I recognized that made the story slightly more interesting. And even the names that I hadn’t heard of, or were only vaguely familiar with, I grew a strange respect for and adored their efforts to turn what was (and is sometimes still) considered a hobby or trick into an art form.
And, of course, the idea and appeal of their secret meetings and hangouts were alluring, just like magic is- it’s that secretive, unknown quality that makes them cool.
But I was just expecting something different. I wanted more of ‘how to’ for the tricks. There were a few- but I didn’t feel like the author described them well enough.
Besides that, though, I really enjoyed Ian Frisch’s writing style! He wasn’t too bland and short like other journalists have been. He filled his stories with deep descriptions and a lot of emotion.
And, because I’m me, I could have done without the language. F- bombs everywhere, my goodness.
But the last few pages were awesome!!! I loved the way the author concluded it- I think it totally epitomized the whole story. Because, with the magician’s in the52, it’s not about fame for them. It’s about giving their audiences an experience, and helping magic gain respect. That’s the point of the52, and I think that’s beautiful.
I had a weird thought, though, while reading the book- what if it was fictionalized? The author’s got plenty of material, he wouldn’t need to add a whole lot, if any, in to make the story fuller and without fluff. He may need to manipulate the timeline a bit, but besides that- it could be a really cool fiction story!!! Or, I guess, not necessarily fiction, but written LIKE it was fiction. I mean, come on, there’s even a plot that sounds too cool to even be real- a struggling journalist enters into a secret society of magicians bent on turning the worlds idea of magicians upside down. Come on, that is cool!!! I’m guessing I had this thought because fiction is more my forte.
But anyway... I think I would recommend it.
Okay- I think I problems with this book was that I was expecting something very different.
When I read the overview, I thought it was going to be some sort of Dan Brown Lost Symbol type deal. But- it would be cooler because it was real!
In the end, it was really just a group of adults that made a club.
Okay- that sounded mean. I’m not trying to diminish the52 at all, because if was much more than just a club. It was a family and a home. And I love their mission, so make magicians out to be more of artists, not just hustlers, and to show that card tricks can be just as beautiful and valuable as the Mona Lisa. That was cool, and it was one of those feel good things about the book- someone just wanted to fix the perception that society has over magic. But the way it was presented was a little underwhelming.
So, I guess that might be a fault on my side of my expectations being too high.
But the story organization- I wasn’t a fan of.
It felt choppy and unconnected. It didn’t flow well, to me, and I felt like there was a constant jumping back and forth of time. And sometimes, there were whole chapters that had nothing to do with magic. I remember one where the author wrote all about how he met Shaquille O’Neal at one point. Like, cool, and it was a cute and touching story about him and his father but- what? How does it fit?
I loved the ‘characters’ as well- apostrophes because they’re real people. I liked seeing real life magicians being real people, not suave, mysterious, con people who are out to deceive. And, it was weird reading about people that I’ve known about! People like Penn and Teller, or the AGT star, Shin Lim. There were a few names that I recognized that made the story slightly more interesting. And even the names that I hadn’t heard of, or were only vaguely familiar with, I grew a strange respect for and adored their efforts to turn what was (and is sometimes still) considered a hobby or trick into an art form.
And, of course, the idea and appeal of their secret meetings and hangouts were alluring, just like magic is- it’s that secretive, unknown quality that makes them cool.
But I was just expecting something different. I wanted more of ‘how to’ for the tricks. There were a few- but I didn’t feel like the author described them well enough.
Besides that, though, I really enjoyed Ian Frisch’s writing style! He wasn’t too bland and short like other journalists have been. He filled his stories with deep descriptions and a lot of emotion.
And, because I’m me, I could have done without the language. F- bombs everywhere, my goodness.
But the last few pages were awesome!!! I loved the way the author concluded it- I think it totally epitomized the whole story. Because, with the magician’s in the52, it’s not about fame for them. It’s about giving their audiences an experience, and helping magic gain respect. That’s the point of the52, and I think that’s beautiful.
I had a weird thought, though, while reading the book- what if it was fictionalized? The author’s got plenty of material, he wouldn’t need to add a whole lot, if any, in to make the story fuller and without fluff. He may need to manipulate the timeline a bit, but besides that- it could be a really cool fiction story!!! Or, I guess, not necessarily fiction, but written LIKE it was fiction. I mean, come on, there’s even a plot that sounds too cool to even be real- a struggling journalist enters into a secret society of magicians bent on turning the worlds idea of magicians upside down. Come on, that is cool!!! I’m guessing I had this thought because fiction is more my forte.
But anyway... I think I would recommend it.
September 20, 2021
I guess I connected with this book more than other reviewers, though some of the people disappointed in it make good points.
My first job, if you can call it that, was working at a magic shop near my home when I was in junior high. As a young teenager, I delved into the world of magicians and became obsessed with it. I got to meet Harry Blackstone, Jr and work with him backstage at a performance. I performed on stage for a while and, like the people in this book, I even invented a unique magic trick and sold the rights to it to a magic retailer located in Dallas.
But I moved on to other things once I got to high school in the late 1980s and have had an affinity for the ideas behind magic since then. It's worked its way into many of my projects, especially the original short plays I have written and produced over the years. I find myself still working on creative projects in a manner that is not unlike the way magicians work in stealth mode.
So, the stories here hit home, for me. Yes, the author is overly starstruck by the members of the52, which is not the most secretive society of magicians as the title claims. It's an invitation-only clique of the current generation of younger magicians who use social media and viral buzz to do their thing. They are remixing the industry tropes in a way that is current, seemingly shunning all that came before them while actually building upon the foundation of magicians of the past. They're of the times: iconoclastic in ways but also highly dependent on and reverent of the history of the art of magic.
I really liked how personal Frisch makes the story. It's a little confusing why he includes autobiographical chapters that have nothing to with the52 early in the book, but eventually his journey of self-discovery melds with the documentary he's writing about the52 in the last couple of chapters. Other reviewers really disliked this aspect, likely because this book is itself a kind of bait-and-switch. It's a memoir, not an exposé of the52.
The people who founded the52 came from troubled lives: absent parents, gangs, drug dealing, etc. and discovering magic set them onto a renewed path in life. Many members credit magic with saving their lives.
The story of Daniel Madison was relatable to me. He is a founding member of the52 but is remarkably absent from much of the story until the end. This absence is due to his struggles with mental health, and the way Frisch concludes by talking about it with Madison struck a chord with me.
Frisch does talk about himself a lot, but I wasn't put off by it like others were because that's really the trajectory of the book. I didn't find his fawning over the star magicians he befriended to be off putting, either. Maybe that's just me. I liked this book more than I expected to.
So, this book is more of a memoir about the author and how he changed as a person through his experiences with an insular gang of Instagram and YouTube magicians. How or why Frisch, a journalist and not a magician, got inducted into the52 is never really explained. Perhaps it was a marketing decision by the members; a PR move. In the end, it seems to have worked out.
Maybe it's not everyone's cup of tea. But I'm probably the prime target audience for it and liked it a lot.
My first job, if you can call it that, was working at a magic shop near my home when I was in junior high. As a young teenager, I delved into the world of magicians and became obsessed with it. I got to meet Harry Blackstone, Jr and work with him backstage at a performance. I performed on stage for a while and, like the people in this book, I even invented a unique magic trick and sold the rights to it to a magic retailer located in Dallas.
But I moved on to other things once I got to high school in the late 1980s and have had an affinity for the ideas behind magic since then. It's worked its way into many of my projects, especially the original short plays I have written and produced over the years. I find myself still working on creative projects in a manner that is not unlike the way magicians work in stealth mode.
So, the stories here hit home, for me. Yes, the author is overly starstruck by the members of the52, which is not the most secretive society of magicians as the title claims. It's an invitation-only clique of the current generation of younger magicians who use social media and viral buzz to do their thing. They are remixing the industry tropes in a way that is current, seemingly shunning all that came before them while actually building upon the foundation of magicians of the past. They're of the times: iconoclastic in ways but also highly dependent on and reverent of the history of the art of magic.
I really liked how personal Frisch makes the story. It's a little confusing why he includes autobiographical chapters that have nothing to with the52 early in the book, but eventually his journey of self-discovery melds with the documentary he's writing about the52 in the last couple of chapters. Other reviewers really disliked this aspect, likely because this book is itself a kind of bait-and-switch. It's a memoir, not an exposé of the52.
The people who founded the52 came from troubled lives: absent parents, gangs, drug dealing, etc. and discovering magic set them onto a renewed path in life. Many members credit magic with saving their lives.
The story of Daniel Madison was relatable to me. He is a founding member of the52 but is remarkably absent from much of the story until the end. This absence is due to his struggles with mental health, and the way Frisch concludes by talking about it with Madison struck a chord with me.
Frisch does talk about himself a lot, but I wasn't put off by it like others were because that's really the trajectory of the book. I didn't find his fawning over the star magicians he befriended to be off putting, either. Maybe that's just me. I liked this book more than I expected to.
So, this book is more of a memoir about the author and how he changed as a person through his experiences with an insular gang of Instagram and YouTube magicians. How or why Frisch, a journalist and not a magician, got inducted into the52 is never really explained. Perhaps it was a marketing decision by the members; a PR move. In the end, it seems to have worked out.
Maybe it's not everyone's cup of tea. But I'm probably the prime target audience for it and liked it a lot.
December 27, 2020
3.5 stars.
A lot of this was fascinating, but too much of it was kinda hard to wade through. Ironically? The best parts for me were when the author talked about his parents. Their stories were alternately heartbreaking and triumphant. And there was real tenderness and insight coming from the writer, which I felt were missing in the depictions of his magical comrades. Because he knew his parents intimately, their personalities came shining through, whereas he had a hero worship thing going on with his illusionist bros which only served to distance me from their stories. I couldn't share in his fervor.
If the book is supposed to be about magical secrets, too many secrets about the people remained unexplored, which was ultimately unsatisfying.
I think the book would have benefited from more about the author himself. For example, I was surprised that he thanked a girlfriend in the notes section at the end. Girlfriend, what girlfriend? He also thanked his sister - whom he did mention in the text but so infrequently I kept forgetting he wasn't an only child.
I had this book on my to-read list for so long and couldn't find it as a download anywhere so I finally just bought it and plan to read it again. Maybe at night before bed is just the wrong setting for the complex passages and descriptions here.
P.S. The few true moments of excitement for me were when Shin Lim came into it. OMG, I watched his ascent on America's Got Talent, rooting for him all the way and completely astounded by his abilities.
P.P.S. After reading some of the reviews here, many mentioned something else that bothered me about this book - the dismissive attitude toward the "old guard" of magicians. Seriously? What are you, 15? Anyone 'old' is a drag to be around? Jeez. I'm kind of fed up with the generation gap thing. It's just stupid. When I was 18, my best friend was 30 and married with two kids. If you can only relate to your own cohort, in a word, you're just immature. Grow up.
A lot of this was fascinating, but too much of it was kinda hard to wade through. Ironically? The best parts for me were when the author talked about his parents. Their stories were alternately heartbreaking and triumphant. And there was real tenderness and insight coming from the writer, which I felt were missing in the depictions of his magical comrades. Because he knew his parents intimately, their personalities came shining through, whereas he had a hero worship thing going on with his illusionist bros which only served to distance me from their stories. I couldn't share in his fervor.
If the book is supposed to be about magical secrets, too many secrets about the people remained unexplored, which was ultimately unsatisfying.
I think the book would have benefited from more about the author himself. For example, I was surprised that he thanked a girlfriend in the notes section at the end. Girlfriend, what girlfriend? He also thanked his sister - whom he did mention in the text but so infrequently I kept forgetting he wasn't an only child.
I had this book on my to-read list for so long and couldn't find it as a download anywhere so I finally just bought it and plan to read it again. Maybe at night before bed is just the wrong setting for the complex passages and descriptions here.
P.S. The few true moments of excitement for me were when Shin Lim came into it. OMG, I watched his ascent on America's Got Talent, rooting for him all the way and completely astounded by his abilities.
P.P.S. After reading some of the reviews here, many mentioned something else that bothered me about this book - the dismissive attitude toward the "old guard" of magicians. Seriously? What are you, 15? Anyone 'old' is a drag to be around? Jeez. I'm kind of fed up with the generation gap thing. It's just stupid. When I was 18, my best friend was 30 and married with two kids. If you can only relate to your own cohort, in a word, you're just immature. Grow up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews