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Pretty much everything Tomo and DemonMentalist said about this book is true.

It is a very entertaining book just to read, it has great insights into presentation and performance, and some pretty advanced tricks. Some of it, even after many, MANY long hours of practice, is still way beyond me. Which is a pity, because if you know Derren's work outside of his TV specials, he is an extraordinarily talented card magician.

However, a guilty secret is that I paid just north of £100 for this book, and I did it because I am simply a huge DB fan. I have it signed and up on my bookshelf next to his other books and my DVD of The Devil's Picture Book, all signed, and I won't sell them any time soon.

So yeah, unless your Derren Barmy like me, then I wouldn't suggest buying this book at the sky high prices it is now, especially if you're magical ability isn't top class, because some of these effects are not for the clumsy of hand.

Plus those looking to discover the wonderous treasure trove of Derren's unique psychological methods will quickly come crashing down to earth upon reading this. He's a magician, not a psychologist. (Psst! He cheats! Just like us!)

I have got both Pure Effect and Absolute magic and would like to ask what one you think is better as no one i know has either.

ej16 wrote:I have got both Pure Effect and Absolute magic and would like to ask what one you think is better as no one i know has either.

It sounds like you are in the enviable position to tell US

ej16 wrote:I have got both Pure Effect and Absolute magic and would like to ask what one you think is better as no one i know has either.

I have a ferrari and a lamborghini parked on my drive which most people aren't fortunate to have.....which is better???
i'll tell you.... i drive them both and decide which one i like..... i don't ask others what they think i should drive.... im 6ft 3 and 14 stone, my ass night not fit in a lambo aswell as it does in a ferrari....

that is a joke BTW....though i wish it were true i infact do not own a ferrrari, nor lambo

my point stands though!!!! read them both and find out which one YOU like

ej16 wrote:I have got both Pure Effect and Absolute magic and would like to ask what one you think is better as no one i know has either.

The thing is that they cover quite different things. Pure Effect is good if you want to learn some good card tricks and various other effects however Absolute Magic is much more about Derren's opinions on the presentation and philosophy behind magic. I read Absolute Magic sitting by a pool in Las Vegas and then went to see a mentalism show and there were so many things in the show which were in the book as examples of horrific presentation that I almost walked out! There is a long essay about whether or not magic is art at the end of the book which is massively thought provoking but I really don't think that it will do anything but confuse someone who has just picked up a pack of cards for the first time. I know it confused the hell out of me when I first read it, and it's only after I've read a whole bunch of books on theory that I'm beginning to appreciate the points he makes.

In summary then, Pure Effect is a more entertaining read and it may way give you good ideas for creating your own effects whereas Absolute Magic is a bit more heavy going on the theory side but definitely worth a good few reads if you don't want to end up producing a c*** (not the best), cliched performance. If the 'professional' I saw in Vegas had just taken the advice that you should never make your volunteers the brunt of insulting jokes and you should treat them with respect seeing as they've come up on stage to be part of your performance, I might have walked away not feeling ripped off but a bitter old hack.

I've just borrowed Pure Effect, Absolute Magic and related volume, The Mental Mysteries of Hector Chadwick (numbered 1st ed), from a friend. I felt like I was transporting museum pieces when taking the them home due to their combined worth. I'll let you know what I think in a few months (far too much other stuff to read, practice, learn first)!

ej16 wrote:I have got both Pure Effect and Absolute magic and would like to ask what one you think is better as no one i know has either.

I don't think you can compare them because they contain completely different subject matter. Absolute Magic is Derren's take on performance (and contains no effects), and Pure Effect is about effects.

ej16 wrote:I have got both Pure Effect and Absolute magic and would like to ask what one you think is better as no one i know has either.

Both are equally good, I would say they are both a must read however what I found was although both were great reads, I though Absolute Magic was a must read to learn, where as Pure Effect was not only a must read, but a realy enjoyable one too. I've found myself picking pure Effect up for another read more than Absolute Magic.

Both are very good. As has been pointed out they are both very different in content. I personally felt the information in Absolute Magic was more valuable, but as i said they are both great books

jim

Ted wrote:

ej16 wrote:I have got both Pure Effect and Absolute magic and would like to ask what one you think is better as no one i know has either.

It sounds like you are in the enviable position to tell US

Personally i thought Absolute Magic was better as i do not like the normal approach. I thought Pure Effect was brilliant I love performing smoke. I do agree with you that they tackle different subjects. Absolute Magic also gave me tips on pick pocketing which was very useful.

Sorry that my question came out rather oddly.