"His effects fool me, and his ingenious methods amaze me." - R. Paul Wilson
"Ramon Rioboo constructs card tricks with so many devious and interlocking layers of deception you just can't crack the code." - Steve Beam
"Wow! This new book is an incredible compendium of some genius-level thinking about card magic. Ramon's forte is methods based on hidden mathematical principles, cunning psychological ploys and crafty stacks. Add in several innovative new sleights, some inspired use of gaffs and some extraordinary yet commercial presentations and you have a collection of fabulous new material that will be used by magicians for decades to come. But this book contains so much more. The theoretical underpinnings of Ramon's style and approach are thoroughly examined and explained. And keener students will be pleased to know that's just the start; Ramon discusses much of his philosophical research and conclusions about what makes for strong magic, powerful tricks and successful magicians. If you like fooling other magicians, then this book has your name written all over it. If you are a professional performer, there are at least half-a-dozen killer tricks that you'll want to add to your repertoire immediately. And I finally have an answer to my question: 'If Einstein had been into card magic, I wonder what kind of book he would have written?' Now I know. Highest recommendation." - Mark Elsdon
"Every card magician will be fooled by his creativity and deeper concepts and thinking about card magic. I suggest you get his book before you become fooled, fried and Rioboo'd by somebody else." - Raj Madhok
"I was super impressed. Not just the volume of tricks (which there were a ton of!) but I found very often I was highlighting things throughout the book. Tools and insights within those tricks that I can apply to other areas. If you're looking for a book with a lot of really great material plus a lot of nuances you can apply to other areas of magic that you do, check out Second Thoughts." - David Corsaro
Ramon Rioboo is known for crafting card tricks that leave both seasoned magicians and unsuspecting audiences scratching their heads. His methods are not your standard fare; they blend simplicity with sophistication, often sprinkled with a dash of sleight-of-hand (because why not?). He’s a master at making the math and the manipulation disappear, all while leaving your audience in a state of pure astonishment.
His first book, Thinking the Impossible, was a right corker, but Second Thoughts is like a sequel that’s had a serious glow-up. It’s stuffed full of baffling card magic that feels as easy as pie, but with a hidden bite that’ll have your audience wondering if they’ve just stumbled into the Twilight Zone.
If you’re lucky enough to have read Thinking the Impossible, prepare to be delighted by the advanced trickery in Second Thoughts. If this is your first rendezvous with Señor Riobóo’s work, brace yourself; his magic will leave you gasping for air.
As a mate of Juan Tamariz, Ramon knows a thing or two about crafting a baffling card trick and manipulating minds with the same finesse he applies to his card handling. Open this book and get ready for a wild ride through familiar effects that suddenly veer off into the absurd, alongside tricks you never thought possible.
Riobóo’s style is unique; what looks innocent and spontaneous hides a level of cunning that produces moments that seem utterly unexplainable.
Second Thoughts is a generous helping of Riobóo’s magic. Inside, he breaks down nearly fifty tricks and routines, shares some of his favourite tools for conjuring wonders, and wraps it all up with essays that delve into his thought process and the theory behind his distinctive take on card magic.
Prepare to rethink your approach to card magic with Second Thoughts. It’s packed with ideas that will make your effects entertaining and your methods as solid as a rock. Second thoughts for everyone!
After graduating with degrees in screenwriting, direction, and journalism, Ramón Riobóo settled into a twenty-year gig as a writer and director at TVE (Televisión Española). He took up magic as a hobby in 1987, and while he came to it a bit later than most, his enthusiasm has made up for it tenfold. His main focus? Card magic and the art of psychological deception. He’s bagged the Ascanio Award (1992) and the First Prize in Card Magic from the XIX National Magic Congress (1993, Barcelona). He’s also a member of the prestigious Escuela Magica de Madrid. Oh, and he’s penned two books on card magic, with Thinking the Impossible being the first.
