Sleights of Mind: What the neuroscience of magic reveals about our brains - Softcover

Martinez-Conde, Susana; Macknik, Stephen; Blakeslee, Sandra

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1846683890 ISBN 13: 9781846683893

Publisher: Profile Books, 2011

Synopsis

What can magic tell us about ourselves and our daily lives? If you subtly change the subject during an uncomfortable conversation, did you know you are using attentional 'misdirection', a core technique of magic? And if you have ever bought an expensive item you had sworn never to buy, you were probably unaware that the salesperson was, like an accomplished magician, a master at creating the 'illusion of choice'.

Founding neuroscientists Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde meet with magicians from all over the world to explain how the magician's art sheds light on consciousness, memory, attention and belief. They combine cutting-edge scientific research with startling insights into the tricks of the magic trade. By understanding how magic manipulates the processes in our brains, we can better understand how we work - in fields from law and education to marketing, health and psychology - for good and for ill.

About this title

Review:

One of the best books I've read on how the brain actually works ... And the back story, of two boffins trying to become magicians - and succeeding! - is great too (William Leith Evening Standard)

A terrific read, combining science, neurology, and magic - not an easy trick, but the authors have done a brilliant job of putting a mirror up to ourselves. I loved it. (Joe Navarro, author of 'What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-reading People')

Magic is the place where our senses and beliefs fail us in magnificent ways. In this exciting book Stephen, Susana, and Sandra explore what magic and illusions can teach us about our fallible human nature -- coming up with novel and fascinating observations. (Dan Ariely, author of 'Predictability Irrational')

Sleights of Mind has discovered why magic works - by exploring how magicians test the limits of human senses to create magic effects. It's fantastic -- probably the most important magic book I have ever read. I love it. (Kevin McMahon, Artistic Director, Edinburgh International Magic Festival)

An entertaining introduction to the psychology of illusion (Richard Wiseman Focus)

Underlines how our perception of reality - far from being a reliable resource - is at best a series of shortcuts and presumptions shaped by evolution (Sunday Business Post)

Brilliantly simple and wonderfully engaging (Sunday Times)

Book Description:

A unique and fascinating look at the relationship between magic, the brain, and everyday life.

About this edition

• Publisher: Profile Books
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1846683890
• ISBN 13: 9781846683893
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304