Price$29.95
Media TypeBook
CategoryGeneral
Date AddedOct 21, 2014
The Sense of Wonder
Neal, Robert
Larry Hass
(Based on 1 review)
The Sense of Wonder also includes thirty-one of Bob Neale's latest, highly innovative magic routines, all but one of which are previously unpublished. Each of these routines come with a fully developed script and is performed with simple props that are easily purchased or constructed, such as playing cards, paper and cardboard, bills and coins - even a toy ball!
Praise for The Magic of Celebrating Illusion (Trilogy of Magic, Book 1)
Michael Weber
Robert Neale has done something important for the art of magic: he has given us a book full of ways and means by which we can see past our self-imposed illusions in order to more clearly see the real magic which exists in the world... Long live Robert Neale.
Genii Magazine
As a book of [magic] theory and philosophy it cannot be recommended enough, and if it had included no tricks I would certainly have felt I had my money's worth.
MAGIC Magazine
Robert Neale is a unique thinker, and this book is essential reading for [any magician] who enjoys a challenge, rather than being spoon-fed the latest one trick DVD.
Eugene Burger
This first book in Bob Neale's Trilogy of Magic is an adventure! The magic is strong, his scripts and presentations are wonderful, and the philosophy of illusion in these pages is both exciting and challenging. A strong start for what promises to be a major contribution to magic.
Reviews
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Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: The Final Countdown by Europe
Robert E. Neale: The Sense of Wonder Review
One book, 395 pages and $30 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect/Method/Ad Copy Integrity
I used to think I was smart . . . then I started reading Bob Neale's work. If, on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being Einstein-level genius), I was a 5 or 6 maybe I could feel pretty good about myself. On good days, I might approach a 7. It turns out, however, that the scale doesn't go to 10; it goes to 100. Oh, rest assured: I'm still a 5, 6.5 on that scale. I'm sure that some decade I might get up on the scale, maybe in the 80's, but when that happens, I'm positive that I'll read another Bob Neale book — he'll be 145 years old then — and realize that the scale goes to 1000, not a hundred, but I'll still be somewhere in the 80's.
The bitter-sweetness that is the life of a reviewer really rears its ugly head while reading a book like this. Back in the day, when I wasn't committed to write so many reviews, I had plenty of time to read good books like this many times. However, these days, I ain't got that kinda time. Pardon the poor English, but I had to lighten my vocabulary after reading such an intellectual piece as The Sense of Wonder. The "problem" with a book like this is that you CANNOT "get it" the first time through. There's just no way. Unfortunately I'll likely not be able to read it again anytime soon.
You're probably wondering what this book is about, right? I just told you. This is the most in-depth study of the subject of wonder that has ever been written as far as I know. And when I say in depth, I'm not talking about drilling to the center of the earth. I'm talking about drilling to China. Everything you could possibly imagine, and so much more, about the subject of wonder is covered. Here's a small sample:
The first chapter covers The Many Worlds of Wonder: Credulous, Ironic, Occult, Sentimental and Word. Next, in chapter 2, Will Wonders Never Cease, we discuss the "components" of wonder: What Wonder Is, Where Wonder is Directed, and Stages of Wonder.
We continue on with subjects such as Enchantment and Disenchantment, Traditional Enchantment, Contemporary Enchantment, Mystery, Epiphany and so much more. Every angle that is seemingly possible is examined pondered, tested, theorized about, discussed, laughed at, made fun of, embraced, rejected, loved, hated, and for the ultimate self-reference, wondered about.
How does it apply to magic, your magic, magicians, you, your life, other people's lives, and any other question fathomable. For each facet of wonder, there is an effect taught that utilizes the concept as a structure, story, framework or premise for an effect. There are 31 in total. The effects range everywhere from simple stories that use no props, to religious presentations to presentations about paper dolls, Satan and much, much, much, much, much more.
There was plenty in this book that went over my head like the joke about the airplane. There was plenty more that went straight to my brain, and more still that went right to my heart. It was confusing, satisfying, frustrating, heartwarming, disturbing, funny, strange, stranger, happy, sad, spiritual, irritating, pleasing and every other mix of contradictory emotions you might be able to come up with.
I didn't like every part of the book; I didn't hate any part of the book; I didn't understand a lot of the book. This is the kind of thing that MUST be studied to fully appreciate it. I guarantee you won't agree with or love everything in this book, but if you are even slightly open-minded, you will gain something. You will think and analyze things a bit deeper, hopefully not as deep as Bob on some subjects. Whew . . . it got very deep in a lot of places . . . maybe too deep, but each of you will resonate with a different level of deepness on each subject.
Additionally, you're sure to get a trick or two that you'll enjoy and appreciate. Some tricks use simple props like cards, while others use simple props you'll make, some of which are impossible seeming puzzles with a theme. If you like theory books, you'll love this. If it doesn't inspire you to think, I think . . . you're dead.
Product Quality
The book is well produced, well written, albeit a bit too academic in language for my taste in quite a few places, and well thought out. Bob shares with us his beautiful brain and the ordered chaos within. We see what's important to him — surprisingly, "mystery" is not — and what's not along with who, what, when, why and how about those subjects. The book is well illustrated and almost everything is very well explained. There were a few places I found myself thoroughly confused and could not fully understand the effect even after several read-throughs. It may be partly the writing, but I'm also sure it's my broken scale that we discussed earlier.
Final Thoughts
If you're a thinker, like theory books and/or like interesting left-of-center presentation ideas, then you'll love this book. It's a hard read, but it's a fun and insane read as well. If you want to open your mind more and think more about wonder and its meaning, then stop reading this review now and get this book.
Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.