Joshua Jay’s Amazing Book of Cards seems to be targeted at the card- obsessive. It tells you how to do almost everything possible with a pack of cards: shuffling, tricks, building card houses and even novel ideas like how to create a calendar using a pack of cards. I was fascinated to see various cheating methods explained, including how to mark cards and card “shaving”. This really is a mine of information!Luckily it’s written in an easy and amusing tone, so that even the card novice can get drawn in to the instructions. All the tricks and shuffles have clear instructions and photographs of the steps involved. The only drawback is the requirement for new, or nearly new, pack of cards for some of the shuffles.
Joshua Jay's Amazing Book of Cards is well structured, with the instructions broken up by plenty of amusing anecdotes and “quizzes”, which reveal interesting facts like the possible origins of the four kings.
Joshua Jay's Amazing Book of Cards would be a great buy for anyone interested in card tricks or gambling, but also could be a rainy day favourite for those keen to learn new skills to impress their friends.
The Amazing Book of Cards: Tricks, Shuffles, Games and Hustles
is available from Amazon.
