MISDIRECTION Book

MISDIRECTION – The Secret Grammar of Magic

The most comprehensive German-language work on the art of directing attention in magic.

After more than twenty years of intensive study of this subject, I have written a book in which I understand misdirection not as a trick, but as a fundamental tool and system of magic that makes the deception of spectators possible in the first place. Misdirection is the secret grammar of magic, turning a puzzle into an inexplicable miracle.

Misdirection is the art of deliberately directing the audience’s attention. In this book, I not only present over sixty concrete misdirection techniques but also strive to explain the underlying psychological principles and findings from psychology and neuroscience in an easily understandable way.

This is not about quick recipes or lists of tricks, but about understanding. The mechanisms behind deception, perception, and memory. I explain the three central functions of misdirection and illustrate them with numerous examples from stage magic and close-up magic. Among other things, this is based on the research of Gustav Kuhn, on which my new classification builds.

What makes this book special is its scientific foundation, combined with practical experience from my decades of performing. The goal is to develop a deep understanding of why certain techniques work—and when they don’t.

This work is not a reissue of my 2016 “Arbeitsbuch Misdirection” but a complete reconception with a new structure, expanded content, and the latest research. The ideas of great masters such as Ascanio, Tamariz, Slydini, Vernon, Tommy Wonder, and many others are integrated into a coherent, contemporary system.

Who is this book for?

For professional magicians who want to take their routines to the next level. For ambitious hobbyists eager to uncover the deeper secrets of magic. And for anyone fascinated by the psychological and cognitive foundations of the art.

285 pages. Size: 17 × 24 cm. Hardcover. In German.