If you’re interested in magic (the conjouring kind) and the inner workings of the brain, then I can recommend a book called Sleights of Mind. It’s a popular science type book by a bunch of braniac neuroscientists.
Although it gives away some secrets of magic along the way, it won’t spoil the ilusions for anyone who wants to carry on enjoying magic once they know a little more of what the brain is up to when you are being fooled.
I’ve been studying magic for a while and am still are impressed as ever when I see something done well, even if I have a clue how it’s being done.
To be honest, I’m one of those people who is impressed whatching anyone who is really expert at what they do. The more I discover about the inner workings of magicians, the more impressed I become. If it’s enough to seriously occupy the minds of neuroscientists, it’s more than enough to keep me off the streets.
The workings of the brain which I have also been studying (much less rigorously I must confess) also leave me hugely impressed and even more baffled.
As a slight aside. I am a curious chap and am always hoovering up interesting bits and pieces. As I’m interested in the brain and how we learn and training I was thrilled recently to pick up an amazing book called The Human Brain Coloring Book (American spelling, American book). It sounds a little macaber but it isn’t (unless you think it is!) it’s actually a very smart way of helping people who will be working with the brain in some capacity to take in and remember huge amounts of information by making them more involved in the learning process. All of which may or may not be of interest.
What puts a smile on my face is that I found it in the childrens book section of my local Oxfam shop. I can understand how colouring books are likely to belong in the childrens section, but I can also imagine the look on the traumatised child who ended up with it as a present to keep them occupied for a bit.
