Magic Is Dead: My Journey into the World's Most Secretive Society of Magicians

This book is more about the author's exploits with his wacky friends. I found it totally boring.

I love magic books and books about magic, so when this one popped up on my Amazon recommendations it was an easy decision. It's a memoir of a journalist reporting on magic who becomes obsessed with the art, eventually becoming a magician himself and publishing his own trick.I liked the introduction to the 'new breed' of magic. I started following magic 20 years ago and still favor reading the classics, but this really made me interested in learning more about some of the new creators out there. The stories about different tricks he witnessed, and even the how-to's, were all really well done. Also, the author did a great job of weaving his personal life story into this work, and all of the personal pieces were some of the best writing.However, I didn't like a few things about this. The most jarring example is that the dialogue came across as very unnatural at times. Can't put my finger on exactly why, but it was enough to distract from the story. It sounded like someone trying to recall a conversation and just not quite nailing it. I also didn't like the way the book was marketed or the subtitle. Secret society feels like a stretch. the52 was a central part of the book, but I felt like it should have been a side note compared to everything else going on.Last, I can't imagine that someone who doesn't already really like magic would like this. It's not a great start for the general public. Good book if you already love magic, probably not the best one to start with if you don't. One book that I think bridged that gap well and still told an interesting story was Alex Stone's Fooling Houdini if you are looking for a book to start with.Impressive story, author did a great job. Recommended if you like magic already.

My dad was a magician and magic enthusiast, so I've grown up on the periphery of that hobby/business (albeit not the hip new scene described in this book). I guess it's a generational thing, but I found this memoir of the author's initiation into "the52", an ostensible secret society of magic's new wave stars, to be kind of a slog. It's not that the current generation of magicians have invented curated personas - magicians have always done that sort of thing, by the nature of their work - but, like the Instagram campaigns and publicity stunts described herein, the results are mostly slick and superficial.

I really wanted to like this book but the more I got into it the more I was put off. It was a look way to go for a magic trick!

This book is fantastic, wether you are a fan of magic or not. Ian paints a vivid picture of this world he got rolled into and takes you with him every step of the way on this "adventure". Getting to know more about some of my favorite people in the Magic industry is just an added benefit. His writing is phenomenal- I don't remember the last time I laughed out loud reading. You feel all the things he wants you to feel- sadness, excitement, humor, accomplishment, ambition... It runs the gammit of the emotional spectrum in the best possible way. I HIGHLY recommend!

This book is, to me, fascinating. To read a first hand account of not just the growth of the artistry of current presentations of magic, but what compelled the people most singularly involved in bringing together a varied assortment of people who don’t just perform and create illusions, it’s what drove them to break away from nearly a century of staid traditions and redefine what makes the art so enduringly captivating.Having a journalist who hasn’t just reported but became a co-conspirator of sorts within a highly select group of creative minds from nearly every continent pushing, and some instances, shattering what had come to be almost expected of performers and realizing they were ultimately hacking away old ideas and perceptions to create the room for new dynamic growth. In doing so the architects and more revealingly the author found the roots of all ideas to not be so very different from what had driven the creativity of the last century.Admittedly I am just as enthralled by knowing the mechanics of a sleight but far more impressed by the dexterity with which it is handled. Be it Dai Vernon, Ricky Jay or Richard Turner, the countless people who have quite literally devoted themselves to a singular idea of perfection and occasionally achieved it consistently astound me completely.This reportage is not a ‘how they do it’. It’s the fundamentals of why. This is a fantastic read. Interest in a broad view of the complex history is touched on but this is more about the author’s acceptance and involvement with a highly selective club of brilliant, imaginative minds. Buy it because the title caught your attention. Read it because it’s a great book.

About seven years ago, I was supposed to interview Ricky Jay for his documentary Deceptive Practices: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay, and while the interview sadly never took place, I loved the documentary and became obsessed with card throwing, primarily, and card magic, secondarily.During some card-related internet/Twitter quest I came across this book, months before it was published, and was immediately intrigued. Thankfully, the book was just as great as I hoped it would be, but in ways I did not expect.What I did expect was some fascinating tales from his time with these innovative magicians, and I got those in spades, but what I wasn't expecting was the heartfelt tales about Ian's family, his father who died too soon and his amazing mother. The book comes together in a very unique way, equally influenced and inspired by non-fiction works as fictional (even cinematic works).As a freelance journalist myself who knows far too well about the financial struggles of this line of work, it was always compelling to see where this journey would take Ian, at ever turn of the page... and card.

I stumbled into magic in 2000 with Ellusionist. I've also been a fan of Daniel Madison, Chris Ramsey and Laura London for years. This book us probably more enjoyable because I am NOT a magician and can go along for the ride rather than be a critic. I loved the way it's written and the journey the author goes on into magic. Also his description of a couple of tricks has peeked my interest to investigate them.

This book is fantastic! I follow a lot of magicians that are part of this group and getting to know more about some of them is a big plus. His writing is amazing. I really recommend this book if you're interested in the magic community.Big bonus, the book itself look amazing.

This is a great book and I would recommend anyone with an interest in magic to read it.

Grandson loved it

really interesting to read

Interesting

I couldn't be happier with and for Ian Frish for this work of art! It was a beautifully told journey into the underground world of magic known only as #the52. I don't want to spoil any of Frish's work for those who have yet to read this beauty, but I will say this; if you have any interest in modern magic, as a performer or a spectator, this book is a must-read!

This was a real interesting trip into the modern world of magic. As a hobbyist myself I knew a lot of the persons talked about in this book and it was interesting to read more about them. The autobiographical parts of the authors life were too long though in my opinion. All in all an interesting read but it could have been shorter.

Todo bien, ninguna queja.

Can not say enough good things about this book or author... Great Job will recommend to many or my friends and family

Astonishing journey into the world into modern magic. With many insight stories and historical anecdotes. It's absolutely worth reading when you're into magic and especially close-up magic.

Interesting story ;))