The Buena Vista Shuffle Club is a delightful romp through the not-so-serious side of magic literature. Packed with original methods, plots, and scripts, it features “jam sessions” among a fictional ensemble of magicians who dive into the nitty-gritty of the effects presented. If you fancy a memorised deck, you’re in for a treat—nearly 100 pages are dedicated to that delightful pastime. But hang on, there’s more: blockbuster mentalism, impromptu effects using cards and coins, and fresh takes on clever mathematical principles await you. Plus, there are cheeky “one degree” tweaks on classic routines like Matrix, Shuffle-Bored, and Bill in Lemon. Here’s a taste of what you can expect:
An interactive murder mystery inspired by the game of "Clue".
A mind-bending Three Card Monte routine performed with coins (yes, coins!).
A magician-slaying, utterly original spin on the classic 21 Card Trick.
Intriguing new applications of the Gilbreath Principle.
Routines that sneakily restore your memorised stack from a jumbled deck.
An impromptu mentalism effect using borrowed change where spectators make all the choices (even the prediction—no pressure!).
A fresh presentation AND method for Simon Aronson's classic "Shuffle-Bored".
A re-imagining of Paul Harris's "The Anything Deck" (which, let’s be honest, Dan Harlan thinks is the best version ever).
And a whole lot more... (seriously, you won’t want to miss this).
"Matt Baker creates the kind of 'thinking man's' magic that I admire. He's constantly pushing the envelope, so even when you think you might know what's happening, there's an extra 'twist' that renders it impossible. Matt's creativity, combined with his humour and his imagination, make it a pleasure to spend time with the Buena Vista Shuffle Club." - Simon Aronson
"The Buena Vista Shuffle Club is an excellent, funny, and personal collection of magic that is a joy to read. Matt's memorised deck work was smart and novel." - Joshua Jay
"I've just finished the first of what I expect to be many enjoyable readings of The Buena Vista Shuffle Club. Matt Baker's charming magic creations hit the sweet spot of being both clever and practical, but the concept and style of the writing make reading his book an entertainment experience in its own right. This is a valuable contribution to the art." - Joe M. Turner
