Books vs DVDs vs Web
Books
When [I started learning magic->How I got into magic] it was through books and watching as much magic on TV as I could. I suppose I had little choice because the internet had only just started and video production wasn’t as easy as it is now (I’m sounding old aren’t I?) but I also enjoy reading and the feel of a good book. Unsurprisingly then, for me books are the best way to learn magic.
Books have the advantage that you get more than just how an effect works. They often include information on presentation, misdirection, showmanship and patter, all of which is much more important. Magic books are usually better value for money as well, because you get this extra information and usually a book includes more effects than a DVD or internet download.
One of the biggest advantages of books is they last. You never learn everything in a magic book in one go, so you go back to it and learn a bit more or re-learn and understand something a little better or in a different way.
The disadvantages of books are:
- Sometimes they can be difficult to understand. If they are written badly or include jargon you are not familiar with, it can be difficult to learn magic from a book.
- Magic can be difficult to visualise in a book. Most magic books include photos or diagrams, but even so a written description (especially if badly written) does not always do what is a visual art justice.
DVDs
DVDs are probably the most popular media for learning magic these days. They have one major advantage over books, which is pretty obvious, you can actually see what is happening.
However, this can cause a problem.