FREE ONLINE MAGIC BOOKS
Just click on the headings to find a list of those books.
These books are made available by the Internet Archive (Archive.org), Google Books and the State Library Victoria.
Some of these books are in the public domain.
Others are available under the Controlled Digital Lending Program at Archive.org. (see details on the Archive.org site)
Each site provides an online reader, which allows you to flip pages as you go, and scroll ahead or back.
If the book is in the public domain, it will appear in full in the reader window, ready to read.
If the book has a BORROW button at the top of the reader window, you will need to create a free account on Archive.org first.
Once you open a free account, you can "borrow" books and read them online in the reader.
Please direct all inquiries about the online reading tools to the respective book sites.
IMPORTANT CLASSIC MAGIC BOOKS
These are historically important books that are coveted by magicians and magic collectors.
Original hard copies of these books can cost several thousand dollars!
BOOKS FROM HOUDINI'S PERSONAL COLLECTION
These are scans of the ACTUAL BOOKS that Houdini donated to the Library of Congress.
You can read his very own copies, the actual books that Houdini handled.
Some even have his pencilled notes in them!
BOOKS BY HOUDINI
Books with Houdini listed as the author.
BOOKS ABOUT HOUDINI
These are books that have been written about Houdini and his magical life.
CARD MAGIC BOOKS
These are older magic books focusing on card magic.
The tricks and techniques revealed are treasured by magicians.
In fact, many of today's magic innovators get their ideas and inspirations from effects discovered in books like these.
BOOKS FOR SPECIFIC MAGIC PROPS
These books include explanations, techniques and routines for specific magic props.
BOOKS ON HYPNOTISM
These books include routines, effects, theories and history of stage hypnotism.
BOOKS ON SIDESHOW ARTS
These books include explanations of techniques for fire eating, sword swallowing, etc.
BOOKS BY TED ANNEMANN
These are books on mentalism and card magic.
They were written by the legendary prolific author Ted Annemann, who was also the editor of JINX Magazine.
BOOKS PUBLISHED PRE-1900
These books include a wide range of magic topics.
They were all published before 1900.
BOOKS ON MAGIC HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY
These are books telling the history and stories of important events, illusions and magicians.
BOOKS ON SPIRITUALISM
These are books about the spiritualism phenomena, especially focusing on the exposure of fake spirit mediums.
BOOKS BY FAMOUS MAGICIANS
These are books written (or ghostwritten) under the authorship of the most famous magicians of the 19th and 20th centuries.