For the amateur, adequate as a first step to proficiency, but not a book that the already somewhat experienced amateur magician will find a ""must"". A selection of card, coin, string, match, handkerchief tricks, simple to understand and good for parlor performance. Not enough insistence on the practice that must be followed for smoothness of audience presentation. The tricks, particularly the rope tricks, are good; but as a how-to-do-it book, this is not top ranking.