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Scarne On Card Tricks Review

One book, 300 pages, 155 card tricks, $13 bucks and one Scarne On Card Tricks Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Scarne On Card Tricks Review: Effect

Effect? Really? You want me to tell you what the effect(s) is/are? Holy crap! Where do I begin. This book has everything from A to Z. There are 155 effects. Everything from card to pocket routines, mind-reading effects, packet tricks, ace tricks, in the spectator's hands, do as I do, vanishing cards, coincidence effects, and on and on and on, and on. The shorter list is "what's not in this book?"

Bottom Line: If you have even the remotest interest in card tricks, I'm sure that you'll find something your interested in. With 155 tricks, even if you hated 90% of then, that still leaves 15 effects that you don't hate. Trust me. There's a card trick or two in here for you.

Scarne On Card Tricks Review: Method

The beauty of this is that all of the effects are done with no sleight of hand. The methods range from gimmicks to key cards, set ups, glimpses, clever subtlety to the occasional mathematical sneakiness and much more. The methods, suprisingly, however are light in the procedural presentations. Though some effects require some dealing and counting, most do not.

You'll also find a section on Si Stebbins work as well. There are no methods here that have not stood the test of time. These methods are tried and true, and even the somewhat "dated" methods still work in today's world. The phone wizard comes to mind.

Not a single method is outside of the grasp of anyone reading this review. The barrier to entry is very low, yet the effects/methods are solid enough for full-time working pros as well. You want solid card methods, you got it.

Scarne On Card Tricks Review: Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy scores an A plus with me. It's very accurate and honest. As stated therein, the effects are free of slieght of hand; they are presented well with excellent illustrations, etc. Read the ad copy. It's all there folks.

Scarne On Card Tricks Review: Product Quality

The product quality doesn't get much better than this. Each effect is so simple in concept that it is explained (on average) in about 2 pages at the most. Some require a mere paragraph and nothing more to explain. The writing is simple, thoughtful and clear. The illustration add even more clarity and understanding. For only $13 bucks, it's hard to say anything negative about the bang for buck.

Even at the worst case scenario of hating 90% of the book, you're still getting 15 effects for only $13 bucks. That's less than a buck a trick, and when you consider that these days, people pay has much as $20 or $30 bucks for one trick, this is a whole heck of a lot of bang for your buck!

Scarne On Card Tricks Review: Final Thoughts

With the full count of 155 effects, you're only paying 8 cents per trick. That's ridiculous. Not to mention, if you use the Magic Reviewed discount code (WYAL) at checkout, you'll save another 25%, it's hard to not recommend this book.

If you're looking to get started with card tricks, look no further. If you're a card expert, then you're still in the right place. This book is an invaluable resource of card tricks and methods from some of the greatest minds in the history of magic, namely John Scarne, Harry Lorayne, Charles Jordan, Al Baker, Al Flosso, Dunninger, Francis Carlyle, Bill Simon, Cardini, Dr. Daly, Marting Gardner, Bob Hummer, Harry Houdini, Bert Allerton, Hentry Christ, Frank Garcia, Vernon, and on and on and on and on . . .

Just stop what you're doing and get this book.

Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!

Scarne on Card Tricks Review

Available atΒ Dover Magic

To Purchase, Use Code: WYAL at checkout to save 25%

16 Comments

  • paul kresky says:

    I happily own way too many magic books, and this book will always be near the top of my list. When I was growing up a lot of magicians in our club criticised me for liking this book so much. Funny, I fooled the pants off them with tricks from this book. If you like card tricks, you really can’t go wrong with this book!

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Paul – It’s funny how snooty people get about stuff like that. I’m glad you showed ’em what’s up by foolin’ ’em with stuff in this amazing book.

  • Emory Kimbrough says:

    First magic book I ever bought, when I was a student at the U. of Maryland.

    Still remember getting a few grains of salt on my index finger and tapping the top of a packet of cards to indicate where the selected card should be returned. Haven’t performed it in over thirty years, and it’s not the most sophisticated method, but if you want an ordinary deck to mysteriously cut itself at a selection without the annoyance of an IT reel, well, there you go.

  • Michael Wittstadt says:

    I must have received this book about 40 years ago and what a great book. Great stuff and really holds up to today; add your own sleight or two and you can really fool some of the ‘experts’ in the field. In today’s world of downloading a trick for $20; this would be the best $14 one could spend and you get more than just one trick.

    This book and Royal Road could really set one up for a long time in card magic.

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Michael – Agreed brother. Keep this book in your back pocket (literally and metaphorically), and you’re always ready to learn or perform a simple, yet powerful card effect.

  • Peter says:

    I still have my original copy, bought used in the 70’s for around 50 cents. What a bargain!

    While your focus is obviously magic am I wrong in remembering that this gem covers all aspects of cards including rules to many games and gambling averages? Not just for magic, it’s the best all around book on cards I ever remember reading.

    Just found your site to day. What a find!

  • Emory Kimbrough says:

    Scarne wrote two books with similar titles – Scarne on Cards, and Scarne on Card Tricks. Scarne on Cards is the one with the game rules, strategies, and odds.

    There’s also a Scarne on Dice, a book on non-card magic with a format very similar to Scarne on Card Tricks, and his Complete Guide to Gambling, plus several other titles.

  • Charles Ellers says:

    Took this book home from the library when I was @ 11 years old. I still have an original edition and it was my first real magic book from 47 yrs. ago. The very first card trick I performed for my entrance into the S.A.M came from this. The Wizard worked in 1959 and still works today. The “Stapled Card” effect is still a “staple”.Great review.

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Charles – Thanks for sharin’ brother. I think this book holds fond memories for many of us older folk. πŸ™‚

  • Mike Bourret says:

    Like Charles I got this when I was 11 or 12 –best book ever.
    It made me look good even as a teenager.
    I still have it and still refer to it —

    • Charles Ellers says:

      Just came across your recent comment. I am at best a hobbyst but would now like to spend a little more time on my passion. The “Stapled Card” used to be my favorite.The force I changed to be more natural and I always used the 4 of spades and a Joker. On some occasions I think I also had a few made up with the Ace of hearts in case someone just “thought” of a card and happen to name the “Ace of Hearts” Then we were set for a real miracle. This was probably the precurser of the “Anniversary Waltz ” by Doc Eason. If you liked the “Staple” and don’t have the “Anniversary” take a look , I think you will like it.Thank heaven for the Enoch Pratt free library!And John Scarne.

  • This is one of the most underrated magic books out there. So many foolers and oh so simple.
    Highly recommended to any cardician !!

  • Steve says:

    I bought Scarne’s book 40 years ago and even then was disappointed; sorry fellars. Compared to Brother Hamman and Derek Dingle complete and Darwin Ortiz at the card table and Card Sharp; Fred Kaps and Alex Elmsley material it doesn’t even rate to my mind with nothing in it to make your name with big hitters in high art magic. Perhaps his surreptitious Kiss tip off informing of how he really did the Rothstein Aces cutting story was good simple method if one grokked and didn’t miss it due to its simplicity, or trust his misdirecting statement where he said he estimated them: Yeh right Johnny, estimated, oink oink oink flap flap flap πŸ™‚ Did you guys click?
    There just wasn’t any seriously professional material in it to my mind, and considering how good he was in his day I was very disappointed in that book.
    And if you guys think I’m just contradicting everyone to be a naysayer or sticky green puddle in Macarthur Park, I say No I’m not πŸ™‚
    I do Larry Jenning’s oil and water or Brother Hamman’s “mystic nines” or Dingles “too many cards” or even my spin on Twisting the Aces where I make them Jacks at the AFTUS that are Nark cops on a bust in a Disco that eventually track, trap and bust a drug dealing face up selection between themselves after dancing and showing their booties doing the twist, all oldish routine concepts too. So there is just no comparison and no real excuse for it from a magician of his calibre; its a layman’s book. I have a real feeling John doesn’t like sharing any of his good stuff and when Leipzig gave him so much for nix it seemed kinda selfish.

  • Sherry says:

    This is a great book, and have done ever trick in the book without issue (except # 9 – could never understand the force card being in position # 9, seems to only work in position # 10 on the “Egg A La Card” Trick – maybe have older copy ?). Thanks for the review, made me get my cards out again!

  • John J Lunt says:

    This was one of the very first magic books I bought as an adult when taking up magic as a hobby. It’s just incredible!!! Well worth the price. I bought it way back in the early 70’s….so glad to see it still in print.

    ENJOY!!!!!

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