Fooling Houdini
By Alex Stone
Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind. HarperCollins, 2012.
Summary of Fooling Houdini book by Alex Stone
An experienced magician/physicist provides an insider’s peek at the complex, surprising, and obscure world of magic, including its fascinating history, intriguing characters, and how it relates to science.
Chapters in Fooling Houdini book summary
What do you get from this book? Walk alongside an amateur magician who explores the history and philosophies of magic
Performing magic tricks can be a pastime, but becoming a magician demands discipline and training
All magicians use their tricks and performances to fool you, but at least they’re honest about doing so
The shadowy realm of scams and cons has a deep connection to magic
At its core, secrecy is vital to magic – but it’s not everything
Scientific principles explain how the brain perceives the world and how magicians exploit that perception
Magic and science share the same principles, and the study of one discipline only serves to benefit the other
Magic’s newest cousin, mentalism, is a powerful drug of belief
A magician requires more than tricks – they need to put on a show!
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final Word
Unlock all 12 chapters of Fooling Houdini — Get full access to this book summary and thousands more on Lobab.
Fooling Houdini — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Fooling Houdini book
- Amateur magicians
- fans of magic
- mathematicians
About the author of Fooling Houdini
Alex Stone
Alex Stone is an amateur magician who has written articles for the Wall Street Journal, Harper’s, Discover, Science, and The New York Times. Stone graduated from Harvard with a bachelor’s degree in English and obtained his master’s degree in physics from Columbia University.
Books similar to Fooling Houdini
Related books that explore themes found in Fooling Houdini
Ian Stewart
17 Equations That Changed the World. Basic Books, 2012.
Kassia St. Clair
How Fabric Changed History. Liveright, 2019.
Richard Dawkins
How We Know What’s Really True. Free Press, 2011.
Ed Catmull
Overseeing the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration. Random House, 2014.
Topics related to Fooling Houdini book
Explore topics that share themes with Fooling Houdini across Lobab's library
Categories Fooling Houdini book belongs to
Discover other book summaries in the same categories as Fooling Houdini
If you liked Fooling Houdini, you might also enjoy
Books on different topics that Lobab readers often explore alongside Fooling Houdini
Carlo Rovelli
The Journey to Quantum Gravity. Penguin, 2016.
Morton Meyers
Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs. Arcade Publishing, 2011.
Stacy Horn
Unbelievable: Investigations into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena, from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory. HarperCollins, 2009.
Nancy C. Andreasen
The Science of Genius. Plume, 2006.
Samuel Arbesman
Why Everything We Know Has an Expiration Date. Current, 2012.
Christina Thompson
The Puzzle of Polynesia. HarperCollins, 2019.
Walter Isaacson
Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race. Simon and Schuster, 2021.
Walter Isaacson
An American Life. Simon and Schuster, 2003.
Charles Fishman
The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. William Morrow, 2016.
Timothy C. Winegard
A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator. Dutton, 2019.
Can't decide where to start?
With thousands of book summaries across multiple categories and topics, there's always something new to discover. Browse the full library to find your next great read.
Your library
All-you-can-read
Categories
15 categories
Topics
120+ topics
Today's free book summary
Every day, one book summary is completely free to read. Subscribe to unlock the entire library — or just enjoy today's pick on us.
You Never Forget Your First
Alexis Coe
A brilliant myth-busting study of the life of George Washington, illustrating his faults as well as his virtues, and written with humor and wit to paint an unbiased picture of America’s first president.
Library
All-you-can-read
Formats
Text & audio
Free daily
1 book / day
What Lobab readers are saying
Not sure if Lobab book summaries are for you? Here's what our community thinks.
“Lobab is a standout in the world of book summary apps, offering concise, insightful summaries of a wide range of books. Its user-friendly interface and well-crafted summaries allow users to quickly grasp the essence of complex works, making it an invaluable tool for those looking to learn more in less time. Whether for personal growth or professional development, Lobab is a game changer for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge efficiently. Highly recommended!”
Ramogh
Lobab Reader
“Top quality app with plenty of brilliant summaries!”
Benjamin Roche
Lobab Reader
“I found a really great book app that has made reading even more enjoyable ⭐️📚. It is super easy to use, has a lot of books to choose from, gives personalized recommendations, works well with e-readers, has an active community, and is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to all book enthusiasts!”
Nedal Ahmed
Lobab Reader