Making Magic is a book 50 years in the making. It contains 60 of Martin Lewis' favorite effects. These are not pipe dreams. They are practical, strong effects for both parlor and stage, as well as close-up magic.

This amazing book compiles material from notebooks, lectures magazine articles, videos and even marketed tricks (like his beloved "Close Up Cardiographic" effect). Every routine has been updated or re-written to reflect how it evolved since being first published.

"Making Magic is the kind of book that the magic world does not see often; It aims high and exceeds its goal. Packed full of high quality routines, the writing and illustrations are exceptional. When you catch the subtle word play in the title of the book you realize that much of the material requires a little construction and handiwork is required to bring the routines into being. That's why the writing and illustrations are so important. I am not much of a "do it yourself" guy, but Lewis guides you with a quiet expertise. The tricks themselves are high quality and very commercial, with many of them direct from Martin's act or his companies roster of marketed effects. There is even a separate disc that contains the templates and extra information that you will need to construct Martin's latest miracles. I heartily recommend this book and think it is destined to become a contemporary classic of magic. It is a wonderful example of how magic, method and the way they are taught can coalesce into something really special." Nick Lewin

"Making Magic is a treasure chest of practical, commercial, and baffling routines for both stage and close-up. Every bit of vital information is explained, including artwork and construction diagrams, handling details, and Martin's witty presentations. It is one of the finest resources for this type of material I've ever seen, and is a bargain at the price. I could probably just stop here; at this point you pretty much know everything you need to know to make an intelligent purchasing decision, but I'll fill in a few more details. Sixty effects are explained in Making Magic; thirty-seven are stand-up routines. If you've ever tried to put together a stand-up show, you quickly realize there is a dearth of great stand-up material. This is why so many performers use the same routines. In Martin's book you'll find fresh approaches to some classic plots (for example, Playing with Your Food, Martin's take on the Mental Epic effect). Yes, you'll have to spend a little time (and/or money) to construct the props, but if you do so, you'll have some great routines not many others are performing. Finally, there are some great stories. Martin was fortunate to have been on the West Coast during the golden years of the Magic Castle; his reminiscences of those times are scattered throughout the book. In particular, the stories of Vernon and the pool table, Lou Derman and the greatest card trick ever performed, and Harry Anderson and the animal trap are personal favorites.So here's the bottom line: if you do stand-up magic (whether or not you're a do-it-yourselfer) you need this book. If you're looking for close-up magic that won't bust your chops, you need this book. Or if you're just interested in seeing how one of magic's premier creators designs his miracles, you need this book. For what you get, the price is ridiculously low. Making Magic is one of the best magic books I've ever read. Buy it; you won't regret it. It has my highest recommendation." Michael Close

"Martin Lewis has amazed and entertained me over the course of what seems like countless years now. But as mystifying and entertaining a magician as Martin is, he has often most greatly mystified and amazed me in his lectures, when explaining a seemingly endless faucet of inventive creativity, matched with a remarkable talent for constructing ingenious but often easily built magic props. All of these talents are on spectacular display in the pages of Making Magic, along with a wealth of original stand-up magic that can help any reader to construct a more original and distinctive act. The man who created "Cardiographic" presents readers with an inspired volume brimming with similarly deceptive, original and commercial effects. Are you a worker? Want to be a worker? Want to stand out from the crowd? "Making Magic" will show you how, with step-by-step instructions, downloadable support materials, and all presented in Martin's witty and engaging voice, littered with great anecdotes gathered over the course of a remarkable career. Did I like "Making Magic"? No - I loved it!" Jamy Ian Swiss

"I wanted to let you know how much I love Martin's last book. Nearly every sentence has some incredible insight. I can only handle a chapter a day because they're all packed with so much wonderful information to absorb.
I also cannot count how many times I've laughed out loud at Martin's comedic lines in the explanations and scripts. A joy." Todd Karr