The Vernon Touch

The Vernon Touch compiles lectures and writings from legendary magician Dai Vernon, originally published as columns in Genii Magazine from 1968-1990. The material includes Vernon's insights on card magic, close-up magic techniques, and performance theory. Vernon shares stories from his experiences performing and teaching magic over multiple decades, including encounters with other notable magicians and his time at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. His teachings emphasize the importance of naturalness in movement and presentation. The book contains detailed explanations of specific magic effects and sleight-of-hand methods, along with Vernon's philosophy on practicing and refining magical techniques. His commentary covers both the technical execution of tricks and the psychological aspects of performing magic. The collected writings reveal Vernon's influence on modern close-up magic and his dedication to advancing the art form through precise technique and deep understanding. His emphasis on studying real gambling methods and natural movements established core principles that shaped how magic is performed today.

Readers praise Vernon's conversational tone and the wealth of historical details about magic's golden age. Magic enthusiasts appreciate the technical insights and psychological principles shared throughout the columns. Multiple reviewers note the value of Vernon's perspectives on misdirection and timing. Common criticisms include the repetitive nature of some columns, disorganized structure, and occasional rambling tangents. Several readers mention the book could benefit from better editing and indexing to make specific techniques easier to find. From a magician on Amazon: "Like sitting with Vernon at the Magic Castle and hearing his stories firsthand. Worth it for the Billy McComb story alone." Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (12 ratings) Magic Cafe Forum: Positive mentions in 40+ discussion threads Note: Limited review data exists since this is a specialty magic book with a niche audience.

The Expert at the Card Table by S. W. Erdnase A detailed analysis of card manipulation techniques shared through the lens of a master gambling expert.

Stars of Magic by Harry Lorayne, John Northern Hilliard A collection of signature effects and techniques from magic's golden age performers.

The Dai Vernon Book of Magic by Lewis Ganson A compilation of Vernon's teachings and methods transcribed through personal sessions with the author.

Greater Magic by John Northern Hilliard A comprehensive text covering sleight of hand techniques, stage illusions, and close-up magic from the early 20th century.

The Annotated Magic of Slydini by Lewis Ganson A study of Slydini's methods, including his misdirection principles and signature moves, documented through personal instruction sessions.

🎩 Dai Vernon was known as "The Professor" in magic circles and famously fooled Harry Houdini with a card trick - something Houdini had claimed was impossible 📖 The Vernon Touch was compiled from Vernon's monthly columns in Genii Magazine, which ran from 1968 to 1990 🃏 Vernon was one of the earliest magicians to study and document the techniques of card cheats and gamblers, incorporating their methods into magical entertainment ⭐ The book includes Vernon's insights about performances at Hollywood's famous Magic Castle, where he was a resident magician for many years 🎭 Many of magic's most influential performers, including Michael Ammar, Ricky Jay, and Doug Henning, considered Vernon their mentor and sought his advice, much of which appears in this book