Astonishing Essays

The remarkable 10-volume Astonishing Essays collection was written across three years from 2019 to 2022. Authored by some of magic’s finest intellects, these small, attractive books challenge how we approach our craft. Each one focuses on a specific topic with one goal in mind: to make you a better magician.

Denser than a blog post, yet shorter than a typical magic book, these Astonishing Essays were designed to be read in one sitting. So, brew a cup of coffee or tea, nestle up into your comfiest chair, and prepare to embark on a journey toward becoming the best possible magician you can be.
Astonishing Essays Complete Set Book
Vanishing Inc. exclusive Astonishing Essays Complete Set
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In early 2019, to celebrate our 10-year anniversary as a company, we launched an ambitious three-year project centered around our commitment to...

Astonishing Essays - Steve Cohen (Volume 1) Book or download
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Evergreen by Steve Cohen. In his first book written exclusively for magicians, the exceptional Steve Cohen explores how he came to create the...

Astonishing Essays - Rob Zabrecky (Volume 2) Book or download
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The A,B,Z's of Magic by Rob Zabrecky. Zabrecky is a master of character development and entertainment, and his Astonishing Essays volume explores...

Astonishing Essays - Prison Magician (Volume 3) Book or download
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Diary of a Prison Magician is an autobiography written by a prison inmate-magician serving a life sentence. He speaks about doing magic "on the...

Astonishing Essays - Lawrence Hass (Volume 4) Book or download
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In 2006, Dr. Lawrence Hass did the unthinkable. He left his job as a tenured Professor to pursue close-up magic as a full-time profession. Against...

Astonishing Essays - Robert E. Neale (Volume 5) Book or download
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The Trickster Spirit by Robert Neale. This volume is a challenging adventure about magic and death. At turns humorous and deeply insightful, Neale...

Astonishing Essays - Andi Gladwin (Volume 6) Book or download
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Andi Gladwin is a lifelong student of magic. In this Astonishing Essay, he passes on the lessons learned from two decades of studying the craft. He...

Astonishing Essays - Tina Lenert (Volume 7) Book or download
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In this extraordinary Astonishing Essay, Tina Lenert delivers a personal, uplifting piece of writing unlike anything you've ever read in magic. Part...

Astonishing Essays - Jamy Ian Swiss (Volume 8) Book or download
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Magic’s Most Revered Essayist has a New Book In The Conjurer’s Conundrum, Jamy Ian Swiss explores the magician’s relationship with skepticism. In...

Astonishing Essays - John Lovick (Volume 9) Book or download
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For most of us, one of the best ways to learn is to study the work of the people who have gone before us. But deep, critical analysis of specific...

Astonishing Essays - Joshua Jay (Volume 10) Book or download
Astonishing Essays - Joshua Jay (Volume 10)
Book or download by Joshua Jay - Book $25.00 or download for $18.75

As magicians, we deceive our audiences. But, are we also deceiving ourselves? Are there things—big things—that we get wrong about our craft? More...