Neale, Robert: Magic Matters ©2009 Robert E. Neale, Theory and Art of Magic Press Hardcover, w/dj, 281 pages

Image courtesy eBay seller LomaVistaMagic

Comments: Illustrated by Earle Oakes

Contents: (courtesy Dietrich Keller, magicbooks.be)

3 Magic Matters

5 I. The Gift Of Magic
5 Theory - Some Obvious Reminders
6 Only a Paperfolded Rose
15 The Anniversary of Our Death
19 A Simple Test..
25 Sublime Success
37 All That Glitters

45 II. Cultural Card Tricks
45 Theory - Preface
46 Take the Fork!
48 Harmony Redux
52 I Told You So!
55 Coyote Dines on Dung
59 The Magic Show
61 My Life Span Trick
63 Secrets
66 I Really Want You
73 The Game of Concentration
77 Better Borders
78 Create My Perfect Kingdom
80 The Emperor's Clothing

89 III. On The Teddy Bear Illusion
89 Theory - The Three Mothers of Magic

107 IV. Just For The Fun Of It?
107 Theory - The Clown Knows
113 A Gift to be Given
121 Andy's Gump
128 The Smile Song
131 A Jewish Miracle
139 The Gods Play Dice

149 V. More Matters
149 Help is on the Way
154 Pareidolia - The Folding Rule Lecture
162 Red Hot Demons
165 The Card Trick of Life
169 Who Created Whom?
170 A Fable for Fabulists
174 A Mirror in Which to Dwell

183 VI. Watering
183 Theory - Watering
185 Swimming
187 Dunking
190 Waterboarding
192 Earth, Water, and Fire
196 The Leg-pull Tale

202 VII. Some Tricks Of The Imagination
202 Publisher's Note and Author's Note
203 Theory - Sources of Magic
206 Watermelon World
209 Damned Straight to Death, Unless
211 Utility Beating Heart Bill
216 Theory: Magie as Trivia
218 Her Uncle the Magician
220 I Ate My Father
222 Wordplay - For Magicians
226 Theory - Imagining Impossibility
228 Reversal of Fortune
230 On the Sound of Two Hands Clapping
232 Tarot Lovers
234 Theory - Wonder
237 Theory - More on Wonder..

243 VIII. Seeing The Dark
243 Theory - The Five Shadows
248 Billy's First Performance
257 Draw for the Devil..
262 In Memoriam
266 The Five Gifts of Life
270 The Boy Who Drew Angels

276 Bibliography