At long last, the legendary New York magician Sol Stone has had his best bits compiled into one glorious tome. Inside, you’ll find over 50 of Sol's favourite effects — including some of his best-kept secrets (and trust me, you’ll want to keep these to yourself) — all thoroughly updated, rewritten, and sprinkled with Sol's latest tweaks.
The Essential Sol Stone also dives into Sol's life story, taking you from his childhood awe at the Thurston show, through the harrowing days of WWII, to his clever use of magic as a diplomatic tool. Then there are his years on the faculty at Brooklyn College and his thriving gig as a Clinical Psychologist. In a world where many magicians are just dabblers, Sol stands out as a true master of close-up magic, and not just some hobbyist with a deck of cards.
This book lays out all the sleights and subtleties in Sol's repertoire in a clear and straightforward manner, making it as easy as pie (and, let’s be honest, a lot more fun) for magicians at any level to learn from this intimate illusion maestro.
First softcover edition. Published by Meir Yedid Magic. Written by Stephen Hobbs, edited by Richard Kaufman, featuring 350+ crystal-clear illustrations by Cassidy J. Alexander, 304 pages, 6x9 inches, perfect-bound. Plus, there's an additional introduction by Meir Yedid, which is always a bonus.
And because we like to spoil you, this book includes Sol Stone's first, and somewhat obscure, work Patter Punches, published by Abbotts Magic in 1947. This gem contains over 400 jokes and one-liners covering 40 subjects — because who doesn’t need a good laugh whilst performing magic?
"Sol Stone is one of magic's greatest treasures." - Richard Kaufman
Sol Stone has "the touch." He manages to find the most subtle, deceptive, and direct way to create the impression of real magic. Lovers of pure magic will be delighted that his work is now available in this beautifully written and illustrated book." - John Carney
"If it is from Sol Stone's mind it will be great for your hands!" - Harry Lorayne
"Sol Stone creates intimate miracles that are casual yet devastating. I wish I was more like Sol. After mastering the magic in this book maybe I will be. Highly recommended!" - Meir Yedid
"Sol Stone was an amazing magician with a storied history. He was a great friend and mentor to all the young magicians growing up around the New York magic scene, including myself. His amazing contributions to the classic book Coinmagic pale with respect to the solid material contained within the Essential Sol Stone. The key word is ESSENTIAL. Get this book!" - Dr. Michael Rubinstein
"I've been both honored and privileged to have Sol Stone as a friend. Through Sol's inspiration and his guidance I definitely became a better coin magician! Thanx Sol... I miss you!" - Michael Gallo
