From the Dust Jacket:
"Anyone who has seen a magician perform has almost certainly seen one or more of the tricks explained in this book. For these are great tricks of the magic profession, tricks that have proved perennially spectacularin performances on the stage, on television, or in private audiences.
The author explains first the basic scheme of each trick, then discusses the possibilities for variation and expansion as developed by a number of famous magicians. Each of the classic tricks explained hereis methodically describedin detail and illustrated in line drawings; none of them involves expensive or complicated apparatus. From the cups-and-balls tricksdating back at least to the time of the Egyptian pyramids to Houdini's famous needle swallowing feat, these pages are full of invaluable information for magicians, beginners or advanced performers.