Burger, Eugene, and Robert E. Neale: Magic and Meaning ©1995, Hermetic Press Hardcover, w/dj, 189 pages ISBN-0-945296-14-2

Image courtesy eBay seller IcklePickle1

.Comments (Steven Christenson): Illustrated by Kelly Lyles. A series of articles discussing the origin, types and purposes of magic. Includes some routines (mostly cards). This volume has been recently reprinted with some expanded content.

Contents:

ix Foreword by Max Maven
xi Introduction

1 Conversations
1 Are Magicians Afraid of Magic?
4 Magic, Comedy and Mystery
6 Magic and the Bizarre
9 Finding Ourselves

13 The Magical Experience
14 Expecting the Unexpected
17 Experiencing Surprise
17 Experiencing the Impossible
17 Experiencing the Nonrational
22 Experiencing the Mystery
23 What it Means

25 The Shaman's Magic
26 Native American Conjuring
29 Shamans
31 Shamanism and Deception

39 Early Conjuring Performances
41 The Doll
43 The Bullroarer
47 The Shaking Tent
53 The Rope

57 Stories of the Origins of Magic
57 Stories of the Beginning
61 The Magic Behind the Magic
64 The Economic-political Theory
70 Shamanism and the Origin of Conjuring
76 Deception in the Animal World
80 Conclusion

82 Matinee Magic
82 Matinee
86 Response to Matinee
88 Sawing a Woman in Two
89 The Horrible Sawing
93 The Humorous Sawing
95 The Holy Sawing
98 Matinee Magic

101 Trickersters and Real Jokers
101 Tricksters
104 Images of Trickster
106 Real Jokers

121 A Potion or Two

127 Are Card Tricks Card Magic?
127 What is a "Good" Card Trick?
128 The Awareness of "Moves" Murders Magic
129 Can a Spectator Restate the Effect?
129 The Adventures of the Props
131 Card Tricks and Card Magic

133 Sole Survivor

137 Meaning in Magic
137 Literal Demonstration
139 Problems with Literal Demonstration
140 Symbolic Demonstration
142 The Transformation of Magical Demonstration

145 Parable Magic
146 Parables
146 Zen Tales
147 Sufi Tales
147 Modern Tales
149 Truth Beyond Comprehension
153 The Parables of Jesus
154 Parable Tricks
154 Parable of the Publican and the Tax Collector
157 Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin
158 Parable of the Great Feast
162 Conclusion

163 Triskaidekaphobia
168 Alternative Routine
168 More Facts and Their Sources

173 Many Magics
175 Primary Magic
179 Secondary Magic
181 Reduced Magics
183 Restored Magics
187 Reflexive Magic
188 Conclusion