Scott
Is a book on card magic, authored a half-century ago (1960) by a man whose association with this field was only a handful of years, really worth your time and money? In this case, the answer is a resounding "YES!" Within its 114 pages --- 102 pages in the original manuscript --- you will find sleights and routines well worth the dedication of your time and attention.
Although some might find Jim Steranko's writing style to be a bit dated, the techniques you can learn are top-notch and will serve you well. The "Lateral Palm" and the "Action Reverse", which Erik notes in the description above, are only two of the many nuggets to mine from this must-have book. A more detailed look at its contents can be found at Denis Behr's marvelous site, Conjuring Archives:
https://www.conjuringarchive.com/list/book/1305
One need only invoke his surname, Steranko, in order to draw understanding nods from those familiar with his body of work. In addition to this sole contribution to published magic, he had a much greater impact to the field of comic book art --- not "cartooning", as Erik describes it (although the sketches in this book might cause one to use that term). One can see the same style of art in Milt Kort's card book, "Kort is Now in Session", since Steranko did the art for that, as well. And, in the late 1960s, Jim Steranko breathed new life to an otherwise minor Marvel Comics character known as Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Today, that character (modified from the original) has appeared in a number of "super-hero" movies.
While his stint with Marvel was brief, Steranko cast a long shadow. The great artist Jack Kirby, co-creator of the Captain America character (1941), fashioned a new comic character, Mister Miracle (1971), based on Jim Steranko's early career as a professional escape artist. And in 1979, film director George Lucas commissioned Steranko to produce storyboard art for a new movie character. Steranko's art resulted in the Indiana Jones "look" so familiar to many today.
It seems a shame, after having authored a book such as the one here, that Jim Steranko largely walked away from the field of magic to pursue other endeavors. Yet, card magic's loss was gain for a much wider audience. And, as any good performer knows, it's a good rule of thumb --- as Steranko has done with this one text --- to leave your audience wanting more. Once you finish this book, you will realize the truth of that rule.
Acquire, learn, and enjoy!!
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For those curious as to his artistic ability, and why his art had such an impact on the comic book industry at the time, one can see examples (and, perhaps, familiar characters) at the following sites:
https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/uploads/scale_large/0/574/191512-2410-114324-1-nick-fury-agent-of.jpg
https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/uploads/scale_large/8/84205/2981024-nf7nm9m125.jpg
https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/uploads/scale_large/11/117763/3004397-captainamerica110.jpg
https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/uploads/scale_large/11/117763/2618116-hulkan01.jpg
https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/uploads/scale_large/6/67663/2199704-151.jpg
https://geniimagazine.com/wiki/images/f/f0/Kort-is-Now-in-Session.jpg
