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In Order to Amaze by Pit Hartling

Created by: Pit Hartling

In Order to Amaze is a foundational book on memorized deck magic, focusing on close-up card effects that leverage a known card order to create powerful, reputation-making illusions. Spectators witness seemingly impossible feats, such as a spectator's freely chosen card being revealed through clever psychological forces and mathematical principles, without any sleight of hand. This book emphasizes the philosophy and theory behind using a memorized stack, making it ideal for magicians looking to integrate one or two highly impactful routines into their professional sets, and it serves as an essential starting point for beginners by building a strong conceptual foundation before delving into specific tricks.

Key features

  • Focuses on foundational principles and philosophy of memorized deck magic

  • Teaches how to elevate one or two key card tricks to professional levels

  • Uses narrative or mnemonic techniques for easier memorization

  • Provides accessible content for beginners without requiring advanced sleight of hand

  • Emphasizes creating impossible-seeming effects through card order knowledge

Pros

  • Profound yet accessible breakdown of memorized deck concepts

  • Builds a strong foundation for further learning in card magic

  • Encourages mastery of a few high-impact routines over many lesser effects

Cons

  • May be too theoretical for those seeking immediate, step-by-step trick instructions

  • Requires commitment to learning and practicing memorization techniques

Effect

A memorized deck allows a magician to perform card tricks that appear impossible. The audience sees a shuffled deck. The magician then names a card at a specific number, finds a chosen card instantly, or predicts a freely selected card. These effects feel like genuine mind reading or supernatural control over the deck. The routines are often simple and direct, creating a powerful moment of astonishment.

Full details

In Order to Amaze is a book by Pit Hartling. It teaches the principles of memorized deck magic. The book explains the philosophy behind using a stacked deck. It provides a strong conceptual foundation. The book does not just list tricks. It explains why a memorized order creates such strong magic. The methods focus on logical principles rather than complex sleight of hand. This approach helps magicians understand how to build their own routines.

Who should consider the trick

This book is for magicians who want to add powerful card magic to their sets. It is ideal for performers who want one or two reputation-making effects. It is suitable for beginners to memorized deck work. EruditeMagic states it is "the perfect starting point." Magicians who prefer story-based learning methods will find the concepts accessible. It is for those who value strong magic over a large quantity of tricks.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The difficulty lies in memorizing the deck order, not in sleight of hand. The book promotes using a narrative or story to learn the stack. This mnemonic technique makes the memorization process manageable. EruditeMagic confirms this method transforms the stack "from a chore to memorize into a manageable and permanent magical tool." Once the stack is learned, the tricks themselves often use simple handling. The required skill is mental discipline, not manual dexterity.

What magicians say

EruditeMagic highly recommends In Order to Amaze, placing it as the top essential book for beginners. They say it "breaks down the philosophy and foundational principles of memorized deck magic in a way that is both profound and accessible." They credit a memorized deck as the "secret weapon" for their most talked-about professional trick. The reviewer emphasizes that the goal is not to perform many tricks, but to master a few powerful effects that become highlights of a show.

What people are saying about In Order to Amaze

EruditeMagic says...

The goal isn't to perform a hundred tricks, but to have one or two absolute reputation-makers in your arsenal. Hartling breaks down the philosophy and foundational principles of memorized deck magic in a way that is both profound and accessible.

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