The Magic of Celebrating Illusion (PDF)
- From one of magic's most creative minds and recipient of a 2014 Special Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts.
- Includes 21 of Bob Neale's innovative magic routines performed with simple props, such as cards, bills, rope, and paper.
- Includes a major essay on the fundamental place of illusion in human life and why that's something to celebrate!
This is the PDF eBook Version of this MAJOR NEW RELEASE!! (For the PAPERBACK version, go here.)
Between 1998-2000 Bob Neale wrote three important books, each one on a topic that is central to magicians: illusion, wonder, and magic itself.
The Magic of Celebrating Illusion is Book 1 in this long-awaited TRILOGY OF MAGIC. In it, Bob Neale explores the profound extent to which human experience is informed by our illusions . . . and the central role magicians play in teaching us how to celebrate this fact.
The Magic of Celebrating Illusion also includes 21 of Bob Neale's latest, highly innovative magic routines performed with properties such as playing cards, currency, rope, and paper. Each routine comes with at least one fully-developed, thought-provoking presention.
PRODUCT DETAILS
Downloadable PDF: 344 pages. 62 illustrations by Kiva Singh.
WORDS OF PRAISE
Michael Weber: "The contents of this book were found inside a folder marked 'Bob's Death.' With its publication, Robert Neale has done something important for the art of magic: he has given us a book full of ways and means by which we can see past our self-imposed illusions in order to more clearly see the real magic that exists in the world. Long live magic, long live Robert Neale."
Barrie Richardson: "Bob Neale is a wonder. He is a softhearted human being and a hardheaded philosopher of of magic and life. His brain is wired unlike anyone else I know. Bob's ideas are arresting. His insights stretch your mind and make you shake your head with awe, wonder, and respect. And his magic routines are what Mozart would applaud with glee."
Max Maven: "Bob Neale has a rare ability to create magic with an intellectual whimsy. The result is simultaneously provocative, profound, and just plain fun. I am a fan...."
Jeff McBride: "Bob Neale is my hero.... It astonishes me how he can transform even some of the darkest situations of the human condition into light, humor, and inspiration."
Eugene Burger: "Reading Bob Neale's work is always an adventure. He tugs and pushes us beyond what we think we know and suddenly rearranges things in a completely unexpected way...."
This product includes the following digital media:
Downloads
The Magic of Celebrating Illusion (PDF) (31.92 MB)
You might also like...
People who purchased this also purchased...
Customer Reviews
Don't Miss These Books by a Master!
Lon Chaney was a silent film actor, (aside from 1 talkie in 1930), and was christened; “MAN OF 1,000 FACES.” That was inspired by his superb acting ability and miracles he created from his personal make-up box to create characters beyond belief.
Robert Neale is an origami artist, but first and foremost, an inventor of stories and magic pieces. To me, Robert Neale's christened titled
should be “MAN OF A 1,000 STORIES!” He has constructed these tales from his creative mind, imagination, and “make-up box” consisting of paper, pencils, pens, and other writing devices.Mr. Neale creates by: Stopping, Looking, and Listening to life, news reports, and society’s daily unpredictable behavior. He then proceeds to blend all of that with his knowledge of magic, paper-folding, and wisdom; thus he manufactures tales and performances that are so thoughtful many people wouldn't think of using them in their performances. (But, don't let that discourage you!)
His philosophies of magic are also explained in detailed essays, which are so exceptional many of them wouldn't ever appear in a magic magazine or periodical.
As one person remarked: “Robert Neale makes fun of the serious and serious of the fun.”
I could recount many of his stories, but don't have the space to justify this man’s output. He is truly unlike any author writing today. Guaranteed!
I would suggest you begin with ANY book of his trilogy, and then move to another, and finally the last. (They need not be read in any particular order.)
You will not be unmoved, but rather WOWED, truly inspired, and anxious to use many of his “great words” to create your own better magic!
Highly Recommended!
Payne, M-U-M Magazine, February 2014
"[As the first in a trilogy of books that is philosophical in reach] the book [may appear] deep, dry, and somewhat incomprehensible. But it's not. The book is easy and enjoyable to read. . . . Those who haven't read . . . Mr. Neale's work in the past will find this a good text to start with because he explains his philosophy on giving magic deeper meaning in a clear, concise, and well laid out manner. Highly recommended."
Genii Magazine, April 2014
"As a book of [magic] theory and philosophy it cannot be recommended enough, and if it had included no tricks I would certainly have felt I had my money's worth."
MAGIC Magazine, May 2014
"All of the effects [in this book] are richly scripted, and the scripting makes them special . . . . Robert Neale is a unique thinker, and this book is essential reading for [any magician] who enjoys a challenge, rather than being spoon-fed the latest one-trick DVD."