Rating: 
Summary: What An Inspiration!
Review: Amazing is the only way to put it! Though the writing may not be that of a renowned pen-man it has a magical way of capturing the reader. This is David Blaine talking to you in his own words, the same man who offers delight through magic to everyday people and asks nothing in return. I wouldn't want it writen any other way. The history facts that he gives makes you imagine yourself in the same room as Dedi when he pulled the head off of a goose and restored it. You are transported to that place and it becomes part of you. The inspiration that David Blaine offers far out weighs any of the effects that are taught in the book, and the illusive challenge to win $100,000.00 I couldn't put this book down and upon finishing the book promptly walked around campus performing effects and paying close attention to the reactions of people as Blaine describes. After doing magic for about ten years I finally realized the true joy is not in accomplishing the effect, but the reaction from the total stranger who looks at you and smiles, or the person who thanks you for giving them a moment to be like a child again and put off their worries. If you as a magician are in need of inspiration please do yourself the favor and pick up this book.
Rating: 
Summary: David Blaine's Mysterious Stranger - A review
Review: David Blaine's aptly titled book, Mysterious Stranger, reveals few, if any of the young magician's most guarded secrets. People expecting to read it and come away knowing how to a) Levitate or b) Be buried alive for a week, will be disappointed. Those who are simply curious about the rising star's life, his philosophy of magic, and who would like to learn a few tricks along the way, will get all they paid for, and more.I realize that I've said pretty much nothing about the book, but that's only because it's surprisingly hard to classify. It reads like a continuous blend of history, biography, magic tricks, and personal memoirs. Oh, yeah. There's also a hidden puzzle named "Blaine's Challenge" contained in the text that, when correctly solved, reveals the secret location of $100,000 stashed safely away somewhere in the United States. This is a legitimate contest - not a scam or publicity stunt, which, if nothing else, leaves the reader with something to ponder and dream about. All of this though, would be unimportant if this weren't a good book, which it is. The first thing I noticed was the great overall look of the book. The hardcover edition weighs in at 214 pages, and is packed full of great, full-page photographs, pictures, and illustrations throughout.
The first couple of chapters deal mainly with the history of magicians and magic, and are fairly comprehensive. But this isn't a history book, and Blaine knows it. He keeps the chapters short, sweet, and even slips in some fun tricks that have nothing to with history to amuse and entertain your friends. The core of the book is not about magic in general, but about Blaine himself. As a reader, I learned a lot about him and about magicians in general. His story is told in a mostly linear style, revealing how he got from working as a restaurant magician who drove a beat-up Honda, to getting his own million-dollar special on ABC. Along the way, we hear about him meeting Jack Nicholson, and get an interesting story about his travels to South America, where he met members of the Yanomamo civilization, a people who "had a penchant for attacking outsiders with darts". If there's one recurring theme surrounding Blaine, it's his impressive ability to use magic as "the great equalizer", as he calls it. He gets along with everyone, it seems. Homeless people in New York, people on the street in gangland Compton, the Dallas Cowboys...the list goes on. The book ends with three chapters about Blaine's most famous stunts: Buried Alive, Frozen in Time, and Vertigo. Readers will get an inside look at the preparation Blaine went through, as well as what he was thinking throughout the duration of all three, the shortest of which, Vertigo, went on for thirty-five hours. Blaine ends by saying he knows this is only the beginning. Personally, I find comfort in that. The book is targeted at a wide audience, and finds its mark. Anyone who's ever thought about being a magician should read it. Anyone who has seen the TV specials and wants to know more about the man himself, should read it too. And anyone who could use an extra $100,000 and wants to take a crack at "Blaine's Challenge", should read it very carefully.
Rating:
Summary: "If this is magic, let it be an art"
Review: David Blaine's Mysterious Stranger is a very interesting and creative book. I was drawn to the mystifying cover and after thumbing through the book and seeing all the intriguing photographs and clever style and format, I knew I had to check this book out even though I was not aware of Blaine's work save for headlines for his sensational stunts. Blaine is a true expert in his craft. He is an historian of magic and this book includes stories about many of the important figures in the art of illusions and escapology: Dedi who performed for Cheops in Ancient Egypt, the stone eaters, Robert-Houdin, Max Malini, Alexander Herrmann, Titanic Thompson--a con-man who even outwitted Al Capone, the fascinating Stylites who lived atop high pillars to escape the evilness of earthly life, and, of course, Harry Houdini. Blaine puts his heart and soul into his magic. He includes stories of his childhood, how he became interested in magic (seeing a photo of Houdini who was clinging to a railing with his chin), and his devotion to his late mother. Accompany this history are guides to basic card tricks and illusions, so be sure you have a deck handy when reading this book. He also, of course, describes experiences that made him famous: filming his television show Street Magic, attending a voodoo ceremony in Haiti, braving the Venezuelan rainforest to meet the Yanomano Indians, and his daredevil stunts of being buried alive, standing in ice, and standing on a pillar. He describes his grueling regime of preparation which included learning to sleep while standing up while preparing for his ice demonstration. Blaine shows a deep appreciation for the tradition behind his stunts and illusions. His claim that magic brings all people together because people of different ethnicity, religions, and social status all come to see his stunts seems a bit much. One can say such things about many different spectacles, but when they are over, people go their separate ways. Still, the book is fascinating and some of the illustrations will stay with me for a long time. Anyone interested in the unusual will enjoy Mysterious Stranger.
Rating:
Summary: "If this is magic, let it be an art"
Review: David Blaine's Mysterious Stranger is a very interesting and creative book. I was drawn to the mystifying cover and after thumbing through the book and seeing all the intriguing photographs and clever style and format, I knew I had to check this book out even though I was not aware of Blaine's work save for headlines for his sensational stunts. Blaine is a true expert in his craft. He is an historian of magic and this book includes stories about many of the important figures in the art of illusions and escapology: Dedi who performed for Cheops in Ancient Egypt, the stone eaters, Robert-Houdin, Max Malini, Alexander Herrmann, Titanic Thompson--a con-man who even outwitted Al Capone, the fascinating Stylites who lived atop high pillars to escape the evilness of earthly life, and, of course, Harry Houdini. Blaine puts his heart and soul into his magic. He includes stories of his childhood, how he became interested in magic (seeing a photo of Houdini who was clinging to a railing with his chin), and his devotion to his late mother. Accompany this history are guides to basic card tricks and illusions, so be sure you have a deck handy when reading this book. He also, of course, describes experiences that made him famous: filming his television show Street Magic, attending a voodoo ceremony in Haiti, braving the Venezuelan rainforest to meet the Yanomano Indians, and his daredevil stunts of being buried alive, standing in ice, and standing on a pillar. He describes his grueling regime of preparation which included learning to sleep while standing up while preparing for his ice demonstration. Blaine shows a deep appreciation for the tradition behind his stunts and illusions. His claim that magic brings all people together because people of different ethnicity, religions, and social status all come to see his stunts seems a bit much. One can say such things about many different spectacles, but when they are over, people go their separate ways. Still, the book is fascinating and some of the illustrations will stay with me for a long time. Anyone interested in the unusual will enjoy Mysterious Stranger.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting book about an amazing guy
Review: Enjoyed David Blaine's MYSTERIOUS STRANGER, the
amazing street magician who was buried alive for seven days
and seven nights . . . he then became the world's living ice
cube in Times Square . . . and also in Manhattan, he stood
still as a statue 10 stories above ground only to leap to
his life below. Having seen him several times on TV, I was interested
in finding out who he is . . . this book tells all (or certainly
a great deal) . . . while you won't find out the exact
secrets of the above tricks, you'll at least learn more
about how he came up with the desire to do them. Furthermore, Blaine does show you in step-by-step
detail how you can mystify others with magic that
can be performed with everyday props--including cards. There was a bit too much emphasis for me on the
history of magic and, particularly, Harry Houdini's place
in history . . . yet overall, I had fun with the book. Many of the photos--showing Blaine in action--were
breathtaking . . . there were several memorable passage, too;
among them: One of the first things I learned about magic was that there is a strong correlation between performing magic and playing chess.
The further you plan ahead, the more effective your game or
magic will be. If you can anticipate other people's moves and
also plan out your own moves, you'll be steps ahead of your
audience and able to astound them with regularity. A little mis-
direction always helps too. Misdirection is a skill that magicians use to make their audience look where they want them to, when they want them to. I remember when I was young and playing chess with adults, if I made a really good move, I'd often pretend that I was angry with myself for committing such a "blunder." Because I seemed aggravated, I'd throw my opponents off, they'd overlook my possibilities, and bam, next move I'd take their queen. This is a form of time misdirection, relaxing your opponent's attention and therefore controlling it. In the 1980s and 1990s, an amazing psychic named Herb Dewey
wrote a series of books aimed at an audience of fellow psychics, although many mentalists in the magic field bought them. They were filled with practical tips for doing cold readings that Dewey has amassed during his long career, which included over 100,000 personal readings. Dewey's techniques were genius. He would start a cold reading by asking his client, "How long are you here for?" If his client was visiting form out of town, he or she was immediately impressed and predisposed to read into anything he would say from that point on. But if the client was from that same area and
questioned what Dewey meant, he'd just say, "I meant how long is
the reading you want, a half hour or a full hour?" Either way, he didn't lose.
In order to live a fulfilled life, one must resist the temptations
surrounding them:
* Never overindulge.
* Have few extravagances.
* Resist addictions.
* Respect all life.
* Remember that a mistake is only a mistake when you fail
to learn from it.
* Accumulate knowledge. Listen. Read. Observe.
* Visit the ocean.
* Try to interact with all different types of people from all walks of life.
* Wonder and be amazed.
* Love and respect those close to you.
* Learn to love yourself.
* Pursue your dreams and goals with passion. Our potential to
create is limitless.
* Don't create a robot that's superior to human beings or it will wipe out the human race.
Rating:
Summary: For those who want to Believe
Review: Filled with artwork and illustrations, this insightful book gives an in-depth look at the history of magic. And the men who make us want to believe that magic is REAL. David's method of magic is mind over matter. Convincing us that humans are capable of much more than we know. The underlying message is: the power of our WILL, and strength of our WORDS, can make an illusion a reality. I had the pleasure of having my book autographed by him in Miami. He was humble and gracious with his time to all who were in that mile long line. One of his best traits is that he truly enjoys giving joy to others by performing his magic to common folk. Those people that really need more magic and joy in their world. Reading this book will help everyone believe that magic is REAL and that David Blaine is more amazing than Houdini. We can only hope that he never disappears!
Rating:
Summary: Truly amazing
Review: I have always been a huge fan of David Blaine, From his early street magic to his tv special Vertigo. This book really shows the human side of him. For all magic lovers or some one who is just beggining magic. This book is perfect for people who want to know a few good tricks, a history of some of the greatest magician who've ever lived, and the story of the greatest entertainer of our time. I truly loved this book and I would suggest it for any one looking for an inspirational and enlighting book.
Rating:
Summary: Blaine ROCKS!!!!
Review: I just received this book and I could not put it down until I finished it, literally! Blaine is very articulate, engaging, and entertaining with his writing! It is a mix of highlights in magic history, Blaine's personal history, and some great magic to learn!! What more could one ask for? The book is beautifully illustrated!!! If you're a fan of David Blaine, history, and or magic I would highly recommend this book!! David has done it again!!
Rating:
Summary: Another Houdini
Review: I read this book and could not put it down the instant I got it home. David has a way of making you feel like he's talking to you and sharing his personal love of magic and illusion.
I ended up being even a bigger fan after reading this book. His passion and intensity shines through. He is also a compassionate man who seems to doing his part to share "magic moments" with people on the street.
Rating:
Summary: I love David Blaine!!!
Review: I received this book today and I'm so happy to be the first one to review it. It is part autobiography and part revealer of simple magician's tricks. As you read on you will see how there are so many things that he does not explain and he seems not to be able to explain. In my opinion, David Blaine is not a simple magician or illusionist, he is so much more. If you love David Blaine, you will not be able to put this book down. He is mesmerizing, mystical, a rare treasure. I am so grateful to know that there are people out there like David Blaine, who do accept life as people explain it but investigate for themselves, make their own rules and release the magic within them. :)
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