Dopo la morte della madre, Harry Houdini, uno degli illusionisti escapologi più celebri di tutti i tempi, alla ricerca di una risposta sulle reali possibilità di comunicazione tra i vivi e i morti, si avvicinò allo Spiritismo. Non trovando niente di vero né di concreto dietro ai cosiddetti 'fenomeni medianici', forte della sua trentennale esperienza nel campo del mistero e dell'illusionismo, portò avanti una personale 'crociata' per smascherare medium e sensitivi, rivelandone trucchi e stratagemmi. Prefazione di Simona Cigliana.

Arthur Conan Doyle e Harry Houdini hanno dato vita a due personaggi che del sovrannaturale si sono nutriti. Il primo creando Sherlock Holmes che attraverso la sua acuta razionalità svelava i misteri apparentemente più arcani; l'altro interpretando il signore della magia che riusciva a realizzare imprese sovrumane. Ebbene nella loro vita reale si sono scambiati le parti, diventando Conan Doyle un fervente spiritualista e Houdini uno smascheratore di fraudolenti medium e parapsicologi. Sir Arthur pensava che lo stesso Houdini possedesse poteri speciali per riuscire nelle imprese che lo resero famoso. Negli scritti che il libro raccoglie, queste due visioni si contrappongono e i due autori si rivolgono ruvide battute sull'altrui opinione.

One of the most intriguing and recognized figures of the twentieth century conducts a masterclass in subversion

Originally published in 1906, The Right Way to Do Wrong was a masterclass in subversion conducted by the world’s greatest illusionist. It collected Hou­dini’s findings, from interviews with criminals and police officers, on the most surefire ways to commit crime and get away with it.

This volume presents the best of those writings alongside little-known articles by Houdini on his own brand of deception: magic. Revealing the secrets of his signature tricks, including handcuff and rope escapes, and debunking the methods of his rivals, he proves himself to be just as clever and nimble a writer as he was a magician—and surprisingly free with trade secrets! All of which makes this unique selection of works both the ultimate anti-etiquette guide and proof that things are not always as they seem.

In an exclusive introduction to this volume, Teller—magician, comedian, and silent sidekick of Penn Jillette—speaks up about the greatest magician of modern times.

On Deception presents the highlights of Houdini's writings on illusions, revealing him to have been a remarkably prescient champion of rationalism and an ardent opponent of the duping of susceptible individuals. Throughout his life, the world's most famous escapologist strove to expose the methods and tricks of illusionists and sham spiritualists. Studying entertainers and criminals alike, Houdini investigates the tricks of the mind and sleights of hand that have deceived people throughout history. The magician's writings caused a public sensation; legend has it that The Right Way to do Wrong was bought in bulk by burglars in an attempt to guard the tricks of their trade. This collection also includes Houdini's revelations about the methods behind some of his own most famous tricks, and articles he wrote to expose his imitators, demonstrating him to be unarguably the master of his craft.

Houdini attempts to explain the performances of others in this reprint with an introduction by The Amazing Randi, another active debunker of miracles. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.