Picture Yourself As a Magician by Wayne N. Kawamoto (2008) is a beginner's book on magic.

Best Features: (1) This book is profusely illustrated with full color photos. (2) Contemporary props make new effects, such as iPod magic, possible for the first time. (3) The book itself is used as a prop for four of the effects: "The World's Best Card Trick," "Picture Yourself as a Magician - Revelation 2," "The Clock," and "The Mind Reader." (4) A DVD filled with demos and lessons is included inside the back cover of the book. The video lessons add effects that are not taught in the pages of the book itself. One of the added effects is a cute sawing-a-woman-in-half trick that can be done close-up with homemade props.

I hope you like card tricks because six of the fourteen chapters in this book are devoted to card magic. In addition, several of the remaining chapters in the book include one or more card tricks in them. For example, the chapter on "Mind Reading and Future Predictions" includes an effect with a gimmicked deck of cards. The chapter on "Stand-Up and Stage Magic" includes a pick-a-card trick that uses a giant playing card as a prop. The chapter on "Magic for the Street" contains four card tricks: "The Mysterious Kiss," "Card to Wallet," "Card on Wall," and "Card Monte." The chapter on "Party Magic" includes two card tricks: "The Red Card" and "Touch a Card." The chapter on "Electronic Magic with iPods" incorporates two card tricks: "Card Detector" and "Card Transporter."

The amount of space given to card magic does not go to waste. The diligent disciple of card magic will learn basic card handling and sleight-of-hand with cards (use of a key card, false cut, card force, cross-cut force, false shuffle, Hindu Shuffle, & double undercut) along with some great card tricks, such as, "The Rising Card," "Do As I Do," "Lost and Found," and the "Ten-Card Poker Deal." You will also learn how to use trick decks (Svengali Deck & Stripper Deck) in the correct manner.

My Favorite Chapter: I especially liked Chapter 12 on Levitation. Three different methods of levitation are described ("The Balducci Levitation," "The Jacket Levitation," and "The Box Levitation"), all three of which are suitable for street performances outdoors.

My Favorite Quote: "It's the experience that truly burnishes a routine."

My Only Gripe: The DVD was unexpectedly glued to the pocket that encased it. I had to find a solvent that would remove the sticky residue from the DVD's front, back, and edge. WD-40 to the rescue! ( )