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Mark Wilson's Cyclopedia Of Magic: A Complete Course
The world famous magician Mark Wilson reveals more than 200 classic magic tricks, from sleight of hand to levitation, accompanied by more than 1,500 illustrations. How does so much information fit in this little book? It's magic!
- GenresNonfictionMagicHow To
638 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 1995
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68 people want to read
About the author
Mark Wilson
12 books5 followersJames "Mark" Wilson (born 1929) is an American magician and author. He is widely credited as becoming the first major "television magician" and in the process establishing the viability of illusion shows as a television format.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 18, 2025
I picked up this simple little introductory course when I began a study of the "other" kind of magic (or magick), in part to be sure I knew the difference, in part to explore the ways one could be deceived into believing in illusions. It’s a valuable study, but I only really needed to read fifty or sixty pages to get what I needed out of it, which left most of this 600+ page volume untouched.
Being who I am, however, I couldn’t let it go at that, couldn’t stand to have an unread, or partially-read book sitting on my shelves, so it was inevitable that I’d return and read the whole thing, many years later. The first thing I learned is that I am far less dexterous than I was a quarter-century ago; some of the card tricks I found simple back then are nigh-impossible today. Had I kept up the practice, I’m sure that wouldn’t be the case, but here it is.
Anyway, most of the book consists of quick explanations of simple tricks you can do to amuse friends and audiences, if you have the ambition. A real magician would regard this mostly as a “Magic 101” course, and would need to develop much more original illusions to be successful, but for kids’ birthday parties or open-mike nights, there is enough here to get you started.
What I (with minimal interest in stage magic as a career or hobby) found myself reflecting on is how much of the standard “magician’s gear/garb” comes from an earlier era when men wore gloves and top hats when they went out, and when no one would dare go out without a clean handkerchief in his breast pocket. Today, it would be hard enough to find anyone carrying cash, let alone the fifty-cent pieces and silver dollars many of the “money magic” tricks depend upon. A truly original magician would think up good ways to incorporate smartphones and fitbits into their routines, or perhaps KN95 masks instead of hankies or hoodies instead of diner jackets.
Being who I am, however, I couldn’t let it go at that, couldn’t stand to have an unread, or partially-read book sitting on my shelves, so it was inevitable that I’d return and read the whole thing, many years later. The first thing I learned is that I am far less dexterous than I was a quarter-century ago; some of the card tricks I found simple back then are nigh-impossible today. Had I kept up the practice, I’m sure that wouldn’t be the case, but here it is.
Anyway, most of the book consists of quick explanations of simple tricks you can do to amuse friends and audiences, if you have the ambition. A real magician would regard this mostly as a “Magic 101” course, and would need to develop much more original illusions to be successful, but for kids’ birthday parties or open-mike nights, there is enough here to get you started.
What I (with minimal interest in stage magic as a career or hobby) found myself reflecting on is how much of the standard “magician’s gear/garb” comes from an earlier era when men wore gloves and top hats when they went out, and when no one would dare go out without a clean handkerchief in his breast pocket. Today, it would be hard enough to find anyone carrying cash, let alone the fifty-cent pieces and silver dollars many of the “money magic” tricks depend upon. A truly original magician would think up good ways to incorporate smartphones and fitbits into their routines, or perhaps KN95 masks instead of hankies or hoodies instead of diner jackets.
November 26, 2010
The thing about learning and performing magic, is that once you learn how it's done, the wonderment and awe gets tarnished and you can't unlearn what you've learned. The magic goes away, but it's replaced with something else.
If you are ready to step across the line, walk through the door without the option of turning back, then this is a great book to have in your collection on stage and performing magic. A lot of other books focus on really basic slight of hand or focus on a particular type. Mark Wilson's Cyclopedia of Magic covers it all. You should know that there are two versions of this collection. One is a "pocket" or "travel" sized paper cover, while the other version is a hard cover full-sized edition, depending on what you are looking for. Both versions contain all the same text and topics, but the illustrations are reduced significantly in the "pocket sized" version. (I personally like the smaller "pocket size" version better, but some like the larger edition.)
Highly recommended, this book is for those who are serious about learning magic and want to learn all the different forms and is good for both the Beginner and Intermediate. It's easy to read and understand, and well supported by the illustrations. But like Pandora's Box, once you open it, you'll have to live with the consequences. Think you can live with that? If you have only one book in your library on performing magic, look to Mark Wilson's.
If you are ready to step across the line, walk through the door without the option of turning back, then this is a great book to have in your collection on stage and performing magic. A lot of other books focus on really basic slight of hand or focus on a particular type. Mark Wilson's Cyclopedia of Magic covers it all. You should know that there are two versions of this collection. One is a "pocket" or "travel" sized paper cover, while the other version is a hard cover full-sized edition, depending on what you are looking for. Both versions contain all the same text and topics, but the illustrations are reduced significantly in the "pocket sized" version. (I personally like the smaller "pocket size" version better, but some like the larger edition.)
Highly recommended, this book is for those who are serious about learning magic and want to learn all the different forms and is good for both the Beginner and Intermediate. It's easy to read and understand, and well supported by the illustrations. But like Pandora's Box, once you open it, you'll have to live with the consequences. Think you can live with that? If you have only one book in your library on performing magic, look to Mark Wilson's.
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February 12, 2013Yup, I still have this. I exploited mainly the flourishes. Those rock. Learn card flourishes, people. In the long run, and given that tone-deafness means i'll never learn an instrument, I think they're the second most useful skill I have. After pancake flipping.
February 19, 2013
Picked it up at a second hand store in Bulgaria. How it made its way there is... a magical mystery! Haha
It's a very enjoyable little book with lots of card/coin/impromptu tricks you can learn quickly. The explanations and diagrams are easy to understand. The closing chapter even has some grand stage magic, like levitating or disappearing a person! Of course, it's nothing cutting edge, but it should be just the thing for casual magic enthusiasts. I've done a few tricks from the book and my audience has always enjoyed them and remained mystified.
It's a very enjoyable little book with lots of card/coin/impromptu tricks you can learn quickly. The explanations and diagrams are easy to understand. The closing chapter even has some grand stage magic, like levitating or disappearing a person! Of course, it's nothing cutting edge, but it should be just the thing for casual magic enthusiasts. I've done a few tricks from the book and my audience has always enjoyed them and remained mystified.
September 12, 2007
laugh it up, chuckles. i also like to sing in the shower.
March 2, 2016
Great book. Should be in every magician's library right next to Tarbell. Practical, useful, wonderfully brilliant. One of my go-to books for new ideas.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews