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I just found some great magic book available for free on google 'books'
Henning Nelms - Magic and Showmanship: A Handbook for Conjurers
http://books.google.ca/books?id=lwPxU4Xt......&f=false
Albert A. Hopkins - Magic: Stage Illusions, Special Effects and Trick Photography
http://books.google.ca/books?id=e20Ph8Mk......&f=false
Paul Curry - Magician's Magic
http://books.google.ca/books?id=517HZsS3......&f=false
Walter Brown Gibson - The New Magician's Manual
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Nz4Msd3o......&f=false
Walter Brown Gibson - Professional Magic for Amateurs
http://books.google.ca/books?id=CZkDoFeu......&f=false
Stewart James - Abbott's encyclopedia of rope tricks for magicians
http://books.google.ca/books?id=OAY-fuyu......&f=false
Thomas Nelson Downs - The art of magic
http://books.google.ca/books?id=FGgTrhu4......&f=false
J. B. Bobo - Modern Coin Magic
http://books.google.ca/books?id=coPCj8-q......&f=false
T. Nelson Downs - Classic Coin Tricks: An Unabridged Reprint of Modern Coin manipulation
http://books.google.ca/books?id=9n0ob5E5......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Self-working coin magic: 92 foolproof tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=R0Bwfuy3......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Big Book of Magic Tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=_LZFRqhx......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Self-working table magic: 97 foolproof tricks with everyday objects
http://books.google.ca/books?id=quEP9LlX......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Self-Working Paper Magic: 81 Foolproof Tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=STSgqHRs......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Self-working rope magic: 70 foolproof tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Ubo0bcHV......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Easy-to-do magic tricks for children
http://books.google.ca/books?id=isk1i8Cr......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Self-working card tricks: 72 foolproof card miracles for the amateur magician
http://books.google.ca/books?id=sRvBfZE8......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Self-working number magic: 101 foolproof tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=ZoAJ6NT5......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Self-working mental magic: 67 foolproof mind-reading tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=hfTsu1uH......&f=false
Karl Fulves - More self-working card tricks: 88 foolproof card miracles for the amateur
http://books.google.ca/books?id=eqzK19wH......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Self-Working Close-Up Card Magic: 56 Foolproof Tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=QRrL4Mag......&f=false
Karl Fulves - New Self-Working Card Tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=M1Mx7efg......&f=false
Karl Fulves - My Best Self-Working Card Tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Td12nLKb......&f=false
Karl Fulves - Self-Working Close-Up Card Magic: 56 Foolproof Tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=QRrL4Mag......&f=false
Bob Longe - Money Magic Tricks
http://books.google.ca/books?id=n1e4cRcd......&f=false
William Kalush,Larry Sloman - The secret life of Houdini: the making of America's first superhero
http://books.google.ca/books?id=mIV7qFYp......&f=false
Harry Houdini - Houdini on magic
http://books.google.ca/books?id=WqAlWYte......&f=false
John Clucas Cannell - The secrets of Houdini
http://books.google.ca/books?id=m_-UQ8pU......&f=false
Harry Houdini - Book of Magic: Fascinating Puzzles, Tricks and Mysterious Stunts
http://books.google.ca/books?id=sN-xHtLz......&f=false
René Marres,R. Marres - In defense of mentalism: a critical review of the philosophy of mind
http://books.google.ca/books?id=hjPeRYbg......&f=false

Jan Forster
www.janforster.de

Well, it's all about public domain. And most of this old books are available in public library.
What I didn't like.... is that I saw Joshua Jay's book; Magic - The Complete Course on Walmart!!!
THIS IS WORST than old magic books on google!

They're not all public domain, they just happen to be listed by google. For instance, looking at the carl Fulves card book you only get to see the last 15 pages.
Google asks permission to list all books, those granted permission will come up in google searches with an assortment of pages viewable, with links to where to purchase the original.

Cold reading books, techniques and examples from The Cold Reading Company

There will probably be a big dirt storm kicked up because of this for no good reason - most of these books are also available for free in any public library anyways.
I think having a book like 'Magic and Showmanship' so easily available can only be a good thing for the art as a whole, don't you?
Cheers.

Yes. With an asterisk. Note that the links are to Google Canada. The copyright laws may be different in the US. So maybe no.

I did notice that most of the links are not complete, thus giving the reader 'a taste' of the contents. Also, I do not think many 'layman' will go through the discipline of actually 'reading' too much in length, as it seems evident on 'YouTube' expose' footage. Perhaps I'm just being a bit bias on the subject. Either way, thank you very much for the links! I foresee many more hours of reading in my future!
Regards, Lynchini

As far as I'm concerned, if someone is willing to read a book to learn how to be a magician, then it's not really exposure. If they are willing to put in the effort, then they are no different than any of the rest of us.
Something like the masked magician who just exposes secrets to people who happen to be watching tv at the moment is different. Those people aren't seeking out secrets and putting in time and energy. Don't you guys agree?
Caleb
http://www.CalebWilesMagic.com

Check out my Main Event project (DVD or Download).
'Magicians, stop what you're doing right now and pick this up!' - John Guastaferro
'Caleb Wiles is the real deal!' - David Williamson
'...my very highest recommendation.' - John Carey

Yes! Someone who has no interest in magic is not going to read any of those books so I think we're safe.
Just for the record, Joshua Jay's Complete Course in Magic is available everywhere. It was meant to be. Kind of like Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic. You can buy it at all book stores.

TRI-EFFECTA: Three Close Up Card Miracles now available! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/tri-effecta.html

If you looked at those links, you'll find that only a few of the pages are shown.

'If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you.'
– Karl Germain

Josh's book is awesome. It's the one I always recommend to people who tell me they want to learn magic. It's a great value for the $20 or so that it costs. It even comes with a DVD.
Caleb
http://www.CalebWilesMagic.com

Check out my Main Event project (DVD or Download).
'Magicians, stop what you're doing right now and pick this up!' - John Guastaferro
'Caleb Wiles is the real deal!' - David Williamson
'...my very highest recommendation.' - John Carey

This last one is a philosophy book, not a magic book... different sense of the word 'mentalism'.

Allan-F
'What can be thought of or spoken of necessarily IS, since it is possible for it to be, while it is not possible for NOTHING to be.' -- Parmenides

I think anyone who takes the time to sit down and battle through the prose and complexity of the writing of these books is not the same person who just wants 'discover the secrets of magicians.' Hell I have an undying passion for magic and back when I was 14 I nearly gave up on them! Over written a dn with few illustrations, anyone who battles through these fine books has passed the initiation!

Best Regards,
Matthew McGurk
British Magical Champion
http://www.matthewmcgurk.com

Does anyone know where to get these FULL books? I'm pretty sure all of those above are just previews.

They're mostly here:
http://store.doverpublications.com/by-subject-magic.html

The argument of seekers generally interested in magic and becoming magicians while sound doesn't address the piracy surrounding books not in the public domain. Training in most crafts cost money so why is it OK to post online magic works not in the public domain? The fact that many of these works can be found in a public library has no relation to the piracy of these books as most libraries either pay for of have books donated to them. Our investment in magic tends to foster our desire to continue learning and the never ending cycle of continued investment in what we see as ourselves. This is good and should be encouraged. But when we poo poo the investment for the excuse of inquiry we belittle the craft. Imagine a music enthusiast showing up at a music school with no money or instruments never have played and demanding lessons for free. How do you think that school would receive them? The value of our art mustn't be cheapened by secret seeker or the truly curious just because they want the education. An INVESTMENT of both time and money is necessary to insure a modicum of honesty. Honesty meaning true interest.

No matter how many times you say the wrong thing, it will NEVER be right.
If I'm not responding to you? It's because you're a TROLL!