Magic Books

Magic Books

So you want to learn some proper magic, eh? Not the "pick a card, any card" nonsense your uncle does at Christmas (sorry, Uncle Dave), but the real deal – stuff that'll make people's jaws hit the floor. Well, you've come to the right place. Welcome to our collection of magic books, where the secrets of the world's greatest magicians are just waiting for you to crack them open.

Why Magic Books Are Still Brilliant (Yes, Even in 2026!)

Look, we get it. We live in a world of instant downloads and YouTube tutorials. But there's something absolutely magical (pun intended) about sitting down with a proper magic book. You can scribble notes in the margins, dog-ear the pages of your favorite tricks, and actually learn the theory behind the moves – not just mimic what someone's doing on a screen.

Plus, let's be honest: magic books make you look dead clever when they're sitting on your shelf. Your mates come round, spot John Bannon's "Destination Zero" sitting there, and suddenly you're not just "that person who does card tricks" – you're a proper student of the art.

John Bannon: The King of Self-Working Card Magic

If you're after books, you absolutely must check out John Bannon's stuff. This bloke is an absolute legend. He's spent over thirty years creating card effects that are strong enough for working pros but easy enough that you won't need a PhD in sleight of hand to pull them off.

Destination Zero is pure gold – it's packed with self-working card magic that'll leave people completely baffled. And when we say "self-working," we don't mean "boring." These tricks are commercial, powerful, and utterly fooling. Bannon's secret? He focuses on the effect your audience sees, not the fancy moves you're doing. Clever, right?

Then there's Move Zero – available as a complete boxset that's basically a masterclass in doing the impossible without breaking a sweat. Thirty-six self-working card tricks. Yes, 36! Nearly ten hours of material. It's one of those collections that'll completely change how you think about card magic.

If you're after something a bit more niche, grab Barrage or Outnumbered. These are collector's items, folks – beautifully produced softback books that won't hang around forever. John's books have a habit of selling out and becoming impossible to find, so if you see one you fancy, don't faff about.

Liam Montier: Learn Card Magic the Right Way

Now, if you're just starting out and want to actually learn how to do sleight of hand properly, you need to get your hands on The Essential Learn Card Magic Boxset by Liam Montier. This thing is an absolute beast – eight jam-packed discs with over 16 hours of material.

What's brilliant about this set is that Liam doesn't just teach you how to do the moves. He teaches you how to practice them, which variations work best in different situations, and how to make your magic look smooth and effortless. It starts with 11 of the world's greatest self-working card tricks (so you can start performing right away) and ends with you being a fully-fledged card ninja.

eBooks: Magic in Your Pocket

Not everyone wants a physical book cluttering up their shelves (though we think they look lovely). If that's you, we've got tonnes of instant download eBooks ready to land in your inbox faster than you can say "Hocus Pocus."

Check out Testing 123 by Liam Montier – and it's completely FREE! Three killer effects using just a regular deck. No gimmicks, no special cards, just pure, devastating magic. Can't say fairer than that, can we?

We've also got stuff from John Carey, Dave Forrest, and loads of other brilliant creators. Thankyou by Biz even comes with video lessons included, so you're getting the best of both worlds.

Books for the Thinkers

Look, magic isn't just about fooling people (though that's definitely part of the fun). It's about understanding why things fool people, the psychology behind it all, and the history of our craft.

That's where books really shine. They give you context, theory, and – dare we say it – a bit of magic philosophy. Reading through a Bannon book isn't just learning tricks; it's understanding his approach to "fractal magic" (his term for ending clean and examinable), his minimalist philosophy, and how he thinks about constructing effects.

Cameron Francis, another BBM favorite, brings his theater background to his written work, giving you tricks with personality and character. His collection pages are stuffed with brilliant ideas that'll make your magic more entertaining.

Limited Editions and Rare Releases

Here's a little insider tip for you: we occasionally get limited print runs of special books. These sell out fast and become collector's items. Six Impossible Things, Lucky (with Chop Shop packet trick), and Djinn and Tonic are examples of books that are here today, gone tomorrow.

If you see "PLEASE NOTE - DISCOUNT CODES ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS PRODUCT" on a book listing, that usually means it's something special – a limited edition or exclusive release. Grab it while you can!

Books vs. DVDs vs. Downloads: What's Best?

Honest answer? They all have their place.

Books are great for deep dives, for studying at your own pace, and for the kind of magic that needs diagrams and written explanations. Plus, you can't spill coffee on a download and have it keep working. (Well, you can spill coffee on your laptop, but that's much more expensive to replace.)

DVDs and Downloads (which we'll chat about more in our downloads section) are brilliant for seeing the handling, watching the performances, and getting that visual feedback. Nothing beats watching a trick performed properly to understand the rhythm and timing.

Our recommendation? Get both. Grab the book version of Move Zero if you want to study Bannon's thinking, but also grab the video versions to see the tricks in action. It's like having your cake and eating it too. Delicious.

Start Your Magic Library Today

Whether you're a complete beginner picking up your first magic book or a seasoned pro hunting for that next killer routine to add to your repertoire, we've got something for you. Every book in our collection has been hand-picked because it's good – not just filler, but genuine, workers' material that'll serve you for years.

So go on, grab a cuppa, find a comfy chair, and dive into a magic book. Your future audiences will thank you for it.