Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic

This description is based on the 1988 edition.

The book is organized into sections; each devoted to a particular topic, as follows:

• Table of Contents
  • Listing of all sections and effects with page numbers.
  • This volume contains no index.
• Dedication
• Introductory Letter
  • Mark Wilson addresses his reader as "Dear Student," and expounds on his views of the basics of performance magic.
  • Throughout, Wilson refers to illusions as "tricks."

• Mark Wilson
  • Nani Darnell Wilson (his wife and magician's assistant)
  • Greg Wilson (their son)
• Walter Gibson, co-author
• U.F. "Gen" Grant, co-author
• Larry Anderson, co-author
• Rakesh Menon, budding magician

Wilson's exposition on the basics of misdirection.

Course Coordinator: Larry Anderson
Assistant Course Coordinator: Don Wayne^[3]

The main body of the book comprises tricks (Wilson's term)^[4] and prerequisite techniques and skills required to perform them. The key elements are illustrated with line drawings and explained in detail in the accompanying text.

Each trick is divided into logical sub-sections:

• Effect
  • What the audience is intended to see
• Secret and Preparation
  • Setting up the props, and how they work.
• Method
  • How the performer achieves the effect, step by step.
• Comments and Suggestions
  • Tips, pointers, and hard-won experience from the authors.

The section on card effects is divided into classes of tricks; each class contains multiple individual techniques and tricks, as follows:

As with Card Magic, the section on money effects is divided into classes of tricks; each class comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, as follows:

• Money Magic
• Money Magic — Bills

The section on rope effects is not divided, but comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, mainly with household objects readily at hand.

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks of the kind which the magician might bet he can do something the spectator cannot: "I'll bet you."

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, requiring apparatus which can be constructed as build-it-yourself projects.

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, requiring compressible balls as props.

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks with incompressible balls.

Perhaps the first illusions performed; definitely the first recorded in writing (in ancient Egypt). This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.

"In magical terms an "Illusion" is any trick or effect involving a human being." (p. 435) This section comprises multiple individual illusions, according to the quoted definition.

Wilson and co-authors' parting words of encouragement to their readers and students.