Magic in Theory - Hardcover

Lamont, Peter; Wiseman, Professor Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0900458933 ISBN 13: 9780900458934

Publisher: University of Hertfordshire Press, 1999

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Review

“Magic in Theory is charmingly clear, admirably erudite and highly readable. The chapters are gently authoritative without being numbingly complex, and sober while avoiding 'academic' sterility. Highly recommended.” --Fortean Times

“Very useful as a way into the minds of magicians” --Journal of Parapsychology

About the Author

Peter Lamont is a research fellow at the Koestler Parapsychology unit at the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of The Rise of the Indian Rope Trick.

Richard Wiseman heads the psychology research unit at the University of Hertfordshire. He is the author of The Luck Factor.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Hertfordshire Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0900458933
• ISBN 13: 9780900458934
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192