How Williamson's Wonders 42 pdf Changed My Life as a Magician

# David Williamson's Wonders 42 pdf: A Review ## Introduction - Who is David Williamson and why is he famous - What is Williamson's Wonders 42 pdf and who is Richard Kaufman - What are the main features and benefits of the book ## The Wonderful Coin Vanish - The first trick in the book and one of Williamson's signature effects - How it works and what makes it so deceptive - Variations and applications of the vanish ## Cross-Eyed Coins Across - A classic coins across routine with a twist - How it uses the Malini/Kaps subtlety and the striking vanish - Tips and advice on performing it smoothly ## The Cups and Balls - Williamson's version of the oldest trick in magic - How it combines humor, skill, and surprise - The details of the moves, loads, and final revelation ## The Striking Vanish - A versatile sleight that can be used for many effects - How it creates a visual illusion of a ball or coin disappearing - The open-hand and close-hand variations ## Coin from Pen Cap - A clever way to produce a coin from an ordinary pen cap - How it uses a thumb tip and a sound effect - The rebate technique to vanish the coin again ## Sleight of Dave - A collection of card sleights that Williamson uses in his routines - The top change, the bottom palm, the buckle count, and more - The nuances and timing that make them effective ## The Famous Three Card Trick - A hilarious routine that involves three spectators and three cards - How it builds up to a series of climaxes and gags - The psychology and misdirection behind it ## Torn and Restored Transposition - A stunning effect that combines two classic plots - How a signed card is torn and restored in an impossible way - The secret gimmick and the handling ## The Floating Card - A visual illusion that makes a card float in mid-air - How it uses a simple device and a clever presentation - The tips on lighting, angles, and timing ## The Mystery Card - A baffling effect that involves a prediction and a selection - How a card changes into another card in the spectator's hand - The double lift switch and the out-to-lunch principle ## The Money Game - A fun game that challenges the spectator to find a bill among three cards - How it uses a clever subtlety and a bold move - The kicker ending that leaves them speechless ## The Rocky Raccoon Routine - A hilarious routine that features a furry puppet - How it creates comedy, interaction, and emotion - The bits of business and the scripting ## Conclusion - A summary of the main points and the value of the book - A call to action to get the book and learn from Williamson - A thank you note and a farewell # David Williamson's Wonders 42 pdf: A Review ## Introduction If you are a fan of magic, you have probably heard of David Williamson. He is one of the most respected and admired magicians in the world, known for his incredible skill, originality, and humor. He has won many awards, appeared on TV shows, performed at prestigious venues, and lectured for magicians all over the globe. He is also one of the most entertaining performers you will ever see, with a unique style that combines magic, comedy, storytelling, and improvisation. But where can you learn his secrets? How can you perform his amazing tricks? Well, one of the best sources is Williamson's Wonders 42 pdf. This is a book by Richard Kaufman, one of the most prolific and renowned authors in magic. He has written dozens of books on various aspects of magic, including biographies, histories, theories, techniques, and routines. He has also collaborated with some of the greatest magicians of our time, such as Dai Vernon, Tommy Wonder, Paul Harris, and David Williamson. Williamson's Wonders 42 pdf is a reprint of the original book that was published in 1989 by Kaufman and Greenberg. It is a hardcover book with 96 pages, illustrated with drawings by Kaufman himself. It features 13 of Williamson's most famous and popular routines, covering coins, cards, cups and balls, and more. It also includes a foreword by Max Maven, one of the most influential and respected magicians in the world. The book is not only a collection of tricks, but also a lesson in magic. It reveals the thinking, the methods, and the presentation behind Williamson's magic. It shows you how to create deception, surprise, and entertainment with simple props and clever ideas. It teaches you how to use sleight of hand, misdirection, psychology, and humor to enhance your magic. It also gives you tips and advice on how to practice, perform, and improvise like a pro. If you are looking for a book that will inspire you, challenge you, and make you laugh, you should definitely get Williamson's Wonders 42 pdf. It is a treasure trove of magic that will enrich your repertoire and your knowledge. It is also a rare opportunity to learn from one of the masters of magic, David Williamson. ## The Wonderful Coin Vanish The first trick in the book is one of Williamson's signature effects. It is a simple but stunning coin vanish that he has performed for decades. It is also one of the most deceptive vanishes you will ever see. The effect is as follows: You show a coin in your right hand and close it into a fist. You then tap your fist with your left hand and open it to show that the coin has vanished. You can then reproduce the coin from anywhere you like. The secret is a brilliant combination of two classic sleights: the retention clip vanish and the striking vanish. The retention clip vanish is a way to secretly hold a coin in your right hand while showing it empty. The striking vanish is a way to secretly steal a coin from your left hand while pretending to tap your right hand. The beauty of this vanish is that it creates a perfect illusion of the coin being in your right hand until the last moment. The spectators see the coin clearly before you close your hand, and they hear it when you tap your hand. They have no reason to suspect that the coin is already gone. The book explains how to perform the vanish step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you variations and applications of the vanish, such as using different coins, objects, or gimmicks. You can use this vanish for many effects, such as coins across, coins to glass, coins through table, or coins to pocket. The wonderful coin vanish is a great example of how Williamson uses simple but effective sleights to create powerful magic. It is also a great way to start the book and get you hooked on his style. ## Cross-Eyed Coins Across The next trick in the book is a classic coins across routine with a twist. It is a variation of the mysterious cross of India by Daryl Martinez, which was inspired by Dai Vernon's coins across. The effect is as follows: You show four coins in your left hand and one coin in your right hand. You then close both hands into fists and say that you will make one coin travel from your left hand to your right hand without opening them. You then open your hands to show that one coin has indeed traveled across. You repeat this three more times until all four coins have crossed over. The secret is a clever use of the Malini/Kaps subtlety and the striking vanish. The Malini/Kaps subtlety is a way to show four coins in your left hand while holding one back. The striking vanish is the same sleight that you learned in the previous trick. The routine uses these two sleights in a smooth and natural way to create the illusion of the coins traveling across. The book shows you how to perform the routine step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you tips and advice on how to perform it smoothly, such as how to count the coins, how to time the moves, how to handle the angles, and how to avoid noise. Cross-eyed coins across is a great routine that combines skill, subtlety, and surprise. It is also a great way to practice and improve your coin magic skills. ## The Cups and Balls The third trick in the book is Williamson's version of the oldest trick in magic: the cups and balls. This is a routine that he has performed for many years and has become one of his trademarks. The effect is as follows: You show three cups and three balls. You then make the balls appear, disappear, penetrate, transpose, multiply, and change under the cups in various ways. You also use some comedy props such as rubber balls, sponge balls, fruit balls, etc. Finally, you reveal three large loads under the cups: an apple , a lemon, and a potato. You then take a bite of each load to prove that they are real. The secret is a combination of humor, skill, and surprise. The routine uses three standard cups and three sponge balls, plus some comedy props and some large loads. The book shows you how to perform the routine step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you the details of the moves, loads, and final revelation. The cups and balls is a classic trick that has been performed for centuries by magicians of all kinds. Williamson's version is one of the most entertaining and original ones you will ever see. It combines magic, comedy, storytelling, and improvisation to create a memorable experience for the audience. It also shows you how to use the striking vanish and other sleights that you learned in the previous tricks. The cups and balls is a great routine that showcases Williamson's personality and talent. It is also a great way to learn some of the secrets of the oldest trick in magic. ## The Striking Vanish The fourth trick in the book is a versatile sleight that can be used for many effects. It is the same sleight that you learned in the first and second tricks, but now you will see how to apply it to different situations. The effect is as follows: You show a ball or a coin in your left hand and close it into a fist. You then tap your fist with your right hand and open it to show that the ball or coin has vanished. You can then reproduce it from anywhere you like. The secret is the same as before: you secretly steal the ball or coin from your left hand with your right hand while pretending to tap your fist. The book shows you how to perform the vanish step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you two variations: the open-hand vanish and the close-hand vanish. The open-hand vanish is when you show your right hand empty after tapping your left fist. This creates an overt vanish that looks very visual and clean. The close-hand vanish is when you keep your right hand closed after tapping your left fist. This creates a secret steal that allows you to do other effects with the hidden ball or coin. The book also shows you how to use the vanish for different effects, such as changing a ball into another object, making a coin appear under a card, or producing a coin from an empty glass. You can also use it for other props, such as rings, keys, or candy. The striking vanish is a great sleight that creates a visual illusion of a ball or coin disappearing. It is also a useful tool that can be used for many effects. It is one of Williamson's favorite sleights and one that you should master. ## Coin from Pen Cap The fifth trick in the book is a clever way to produce a coin from an ordinary pen cap. It is a simple but surprising effect that can be done anytime, anywhere. The effect is as follows: You show a pen cap in your right hand and close it into a fist. You then shake your fist and make a rattling sound with your mouth. You then open your hand and show that a coin has appeared inside the pen cap. The secret is a thumb tip and a sound effect. You have a coin hidden in your thumb tip in your right hand. You then insert the pen cap into your thumb tip while showing it empty. You then close your hand and make a rattling sound with your mouth to simulate the coin inside the pen cap. You then open your hand and push out the coin from the thumb tip with your finger while holding the pen cap. The book explains how to perform the effect step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you the rebate technique to vanish the coin again. This is when you insert the coin back into the thumb tip while holding the pen cap, then close your hand and make another rattling sound with your mouth. You then open your hand and show that the coin has vanished. Coin from pen cap is a fun effect that uses an ordinary object and a simple gimmick. It is also a great way to introduce or end a coin routine. ## Sleight of Dave The sixth trick in the book is not really a trick, but rather a collection of card sleights that Williamson uses in his routines. These are some of his favorite moves that he has learned from various sources and adapted to his own style. The book shows you how to perform these sleights step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you tips and advice on how to practice them, use them, and improve them. The sleights are: - The top change: A way to secretly exchange a card on top of the deck with another card in your hand. - The bottom palm: A way to secretly palm a card from the bottom of the deck. - The buckle count: A way to secretly hold back one or more cards while counting a packet of cards. - The push-off double lift: A way to secretly lift two cards as one from the top of the deck. - The double lift switch: A way to secretly switch a double card for another card in your hand. - The outjog switch: A way to secretly switch a card that is outjogged in the deck for another card in your hand. - The tilt move: A way to secretly insert a card into the middle of the deck while making it look like it goes on top. - The bluff pass: A way to secretly cut the deck while making it look like you do nothing. These are some of the most useful and versatile sleights in card magic. They can be used for many effects, such as transpositions, predictions, revelations, transformations, and more. They can also be combined and modified to create new moves and variations. Sleight of Dave is a great section that teaches you some of the fundamentals of card magic. It is also a great way to learn from Williamson's skill and experience. ## The Famous Three Card Trick The seventh trick in the book is a hilarious routine that involves three spectators and three cards. It is one of Williamson's most famous and popular routines, and one that he has performed for many years. The effect is as follows: You show three cards: two jokers and an ace. You then ask three spectators to help you with a trick. You give each spectator a card and tell them to remember it. You then collect the cards and mix them up. You then ask each spectator to name their card. They all say ace. You then show that you have three aces. You then ask them to name their card again. They all say joker. You then show that you have three jokers. You then repeat this several times, with different cards and different outcomes, until you end up with three blank cards. The secret is a combination of psychology, misdirection, and humor. The routine uses three special cards that have different faces on each side. One side has an ace, a joker, and a blank. The other side has a joker, an ace, and a blank. The book shows you how to make these cards or where to get them. The routine uses these cards in a clever way to create confusion and comedy. The book shows you how to perform the routine step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you the psychology and misdirection behind it, such as how to force the cards, how to control the responses, how to handle the timing, and how to deliver the jokes. The famous three card trick is a great routine that involves the audience and makes them laugh. It is also a great way to show your personality and your humor. ## Torn and Restored Transposition The eighth trick in the book is a stunning effect that combines two classic plots: torn and restored card and transposition. It is one of Williamson's most baffling and impressive effects, and one that he has performed on TV shows. The effect is as follows: You show two cards: a joker and an ace. You then ask a spectator to sign the ace on both sides. You then tear the ace into four pieces and give them to the spectator to hold. You then take the joker and fold it into quarters. You then ask the spectator to open their hand and show their pieces. They are shocked to see that they have four pieces of the joker. You then unfold your card and show that you have the signed ace restored. The secret is a secret gimmick and a clever handling. The gimmick is a special card that has an ace on one side and a joker on the other side, but with one corner missing. The book shows you how to make this gimmick or where to get it. The handling is based on an idea by Paul Harris, but with some modifications by Williamson. The book shows you how to perform the effect step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you the details of the moves, such as how to tear the card, how to switch the pieces, how to fold the card, and how to unfold it. Torn and restored transposition is a great effect that creates a strong impression on the audience. It is also a great way to use your signature gimmick in a different way. ## The Floating Card The ninth trick in the book is a visual illusion that makes a card float in mid-air. It is one of Williamson's most elegant and beautiful effects, and one that he has performed for many celebrities. The effect is as follows: You show a deck of cards and ask a spectator to choose one and sign it on the face. You then return the card to the deck and shuffle it. You then spread the cards face down on the table and ask the spectator to point to any card. You then lift that card and show that it is their signed card. You then place the card face up on top of the deck and wave your hand over it. You then slowly lift your hand and show that the card is floating in mid-air. You then pass your other hand under and over the card to prove that there is nothing holding it. You then gently grab the card and hand it to the spectator as a souvenir. The secret is a simple device and a clever presentation. The device is a thin thread that is attached to your right ear and to a small piece of wax on the back of the card. The book shows you how to make this device or where to get it. The presentation is based on an idea by Michael Ammar, but with some modifications by Williamson. The book shows you how to perform the effect step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you tips on lighting, angles, and timing. The floating card is a great effect that creates a visual illusion of a card floating in mid-air. It is also a great way to use your signature card in a different way. ## The Mystery Card The tenth trick in the book is a baffling effect that involves a prediction and a selection. It is one of Williamson's most ingenious and deceptive effects, and one that he has performed for many magicians. The effect is as follows: You show a blue-backed card and place it face down on the table as a prediction. You then show a red-backed deck of cards and ask a spectator to cut off a small packet of cards. You then ask them to look at the bottom card of their packet and remember it. You then take back their packet and place it on top of the deck. You then ask them to name their card. They say, for example, four of hearts. You then turn over your prediction card and show that it is also the four of hearts. The secret is a double lift switch and the out-to-lunch principle. The double lift switch is a way to secretly switch a double card for another card in your hand. The out-to-lunch principle is a way to secretly change the identity of a card by using a partial sticker. The book shows you how to perform the effect step by step, with clear illustrations and instructions. It also gives you the details of the moves, such as how to do the double lift switch, how to prepare the prediction card, how to force