READ THE INTRO:

Like so many magicians, one of the first magic tricks I learnt to do was making a coin vanish.To this day, I think that making a coin vanish is one of the best magical effects somebody can perform. This is for three reasons:Firstly, it’s practical. To make something vanish, you don’t need any special props or gimmicks. And for a well-trained magician, any object works: a pebble, a glass, a scrunched-up paper ball. The well-trained magician will know a variety of methods to make something vanish, allowing the magic trick to be improvised and potentially repeatable using different methods.Secondly, a vanish is difficult to execute. It’s something which is technically challenging, especially if the method used requires sleight-of- hand. But this makes it enjoyable for a performer. There’s a joy to be had in perfecting the move — becoming slightly obsessive, even — in pursuit of a beautiful moment.Lastly, a vanish is presentationally powerful. Making something vanish is one of the most powerful pieces of magic that can be done. A magical effect is something that, by its very definition, has to defy humanity’s collectively-held understanding of how the rules of nature function. A vanish is the distillation of that defiance.There’s something about it which carries a sense of clarity. It’s the perfect summary of what a magic trick is.In this book, I explore the concept of the vanish from a variety of different angles. I cover performance theory, philosophy, art, science and more.At the end of each section, I provide some exercises for you to complete. Have a notebook on you while you read, so you can write down any thoughts, and your answers to each exercise.

The book continues with the following sections:

...and more!