My Cart

loader
Loading...

The Spectacle of Illusion

Magic, the paranormal & the complicity of the mind


  • Thames & Hudson +
  • The Wellcome Collection
  • by Matthew L. Tompkins
In The Spectacle of Illusion, professional magician-turned-psychologist Matthew Tompkins traces the evolution of the arts of magic and illusion from the 18th century onwards. After discussing the art of the trick, the power of suggestion and what magic can tell us about memory, belief, bias and perception, the book examines the practices of spiritualism and mesmerism and the misuse of hypnotism and magic tricks to sway belief and fool people.

ISBN 9780500022429 | E | HB
€26,50
available
Quantity
More Information
Publisher Thames & Hudson +
ISBN 9780500022429
Author(s) Matthew L. Tompkins
Publication date March 2019
Edition Hardback
Dimensions 240 x 170 mm
Illustrations 400 col.ill.
Pages 224
Language(s) Eng. ed.
Exhibition The Wellcome Collection
Description

In The Spectacle of Illusion, professional magician-turned-psychologist Matthew Tompkins traces the evolution of the arts of magic and illusion from the 18th century onwards. Organized thematically within a broadly chronological trajectory, the book presents the art of witches, magicians, illusionists, hypnotists, mediums and faith healers, and exposes the mechanisms and the fakery behind the claims.

After discussing the art of the trick, the power of suggestion and what magic can tell us about memory, belief, bias and perception, the book examines the practices of spiritualism and mesmerism and the misuse of hypnotism and magic tricks to sway belief and fool people. It highlights how gurus, faith healers and mediums have been challenged over the last 200 years by scientists and magicians, and examines some of the scientific investigations into the paranormal. Highly illustrated throughout with entertaining and bizarre drawings, engravings, double-exposure photographs and test sheets from the Wellcome Collection, the Harry Price Library and the Society for Physical Research, the book also features newly commissioned photography of Ouija boards, trick tables, props, automata and illusion boxes. It concludes with a modern-day analysis of anomalistic psychology – sleep paralysis, change blindness, hallucination and false memories – showing how unreliable the mind is, and how complicit in the success of the illusion.

We found other products you might like!

Navigating through the elements of the carousel is possible using the tab key. You can skip the carousel or go straight to carousel navigation using the skip links.
The Circus
ISBN 9781350043107 | E | HB
€40,00
available
The Sick Rose
ISBN 9780500517345 | E | HB
€37,50
at this moment not in stock
The Smile Stealers
ISBN 9780500519110 | E | HB
€37,50
at this moment not in stock
Crucial Interventions
ISBN 9780500518106 | E | HB
€36,95
available
The Anatomical Venus
ISBN 9780500252185 | EN | HB
€36,95
available
The Spectacle of Illusion

The Spectacle of Illusion

€26.50