MAGIC IS DEAD

My Journey Into the World’s Most Secretive Society of Magicians

Dey Street Books / Harper Collins — February 2019

Included in Amazon’s Top 10 Best Books of the Month and Best Books of the Year (So Far).

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“[A] highly entertaining and deeply felt look into the world of magicians…Frisch’s enthusiastic deep dive into the world of magic is infectious enough that it just might send readers to the stores for their own magic sets.” - Publisher’s Weekly

“MAGIC IS DEAD is itself a magic trick: unexpected, mesmerizing, smoothly executed, and—above all—fun. With verve and wit, Ian Frisch infiltrates a mysterious world with a vibrant cast of characters (I'm looking at you, Laura London), and explores the powerful nature of secrets—and why it's sometimes best to keep them.” - Karen Abbott

“In one chapter he describes a meeting with Shaquille O’Neal where they discuss the loss of their fathers, and though this seems to be a complete diversion from everything else in the book, in terms of its humanity it may be the most magical thing he writes.” - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

“Funny, illuminating, and personal. Not really about card tricks or stage illusions, it's about adjusting the lens through which you view magic and, consequently, the world.” - The Brooklyn Rail

“A seriously engaging, often intimate look at a world few of us have access to, and an insightful study of the history of an art form.” - CrimeReads

“A fascinating read—and I'm from this world. It had me hooked.” - Dynamo

“A fascinating book.” - Kai Ryssdal, host of Marketplace