100 Best Illusion Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

Lewis Carroll

5.0

In 1862 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a shy Oxford mathematician with a stammer, created a story about a little girl tumbling down a rabbit hole. Thus began the immortal adventures of Alice, perhaps the most popular heroine in English literature.

Countless scholars have tried to define the charm of the Alice books--with those wonderfully eccentric characters the Queen of Hearts, Tweedledum, and Tweedle

Recommended by Eric Weinstein, Jean Webb, Larry Doyle, and 1 others.

Eric Weinstein

Managing Director/Thiel Capital

Eric Weinstein recommended this book on Twitter. [source]

Jean Webb

An imaginative, clever and fun fantasy story that satirises nineteenth century England at the same time as celebrating academic thinking. [source]

Larry Doyle

You’d have to be a zombie to miss the humour in it – it’s hilarious. Although the book is ancient, the humour feels modern [source]

2

Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

Dan Ariely

5.0

Preview Summary

Why do our headaches persist after taking a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a 50-cent aspirin?

Why does recalling the Ten Commandments reduce our tendency to lie, even when we couldn't possibly be caught?

Why do we splurge on a lavish meal but cut coupons to save twenty-five cents on a can of soup?

Why do we go back for second helpings at the unlimited buffet, even when our stomachs are a

Recommended by Max Levchin, Vinod Khosla, Vinod Khosla, and 22 others.

Max Levchin

Co-founder/PayPal, CEO/Affirm, Investor

Max Levchin recommended this book as an answer to "What business books would you advise young entrepreneurs read?" [source]

Andra Zaharia

'While I was thinking of the best books to add to this short list, I realized that not even half of them are directly related to digital marketing. This is because I believe that the best marketers are people who understand human nature deeply and aim to bring out the best in it. Call me naive, but that’s how I see it. If I were to want to pursue a career in marketing, I’d read … Predictably Irrational. [source]

Chris Goward

Here are some of the books that have been very impactful for me, or taught me a new way of thinking: … Predictably Irrational. [source]

3

Free to Choose: A Personal Statement

Milton Friedman, Rose Friedman

4.8

The international bestseller on the extent to which personal freedom has been eroded by government regulations and agencies while personal prosperity has been undermined by government spending and economic controls. New Foreword by the Authors; Index.

Recommended by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grover Norquist, John Quiggin, and 1 others.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Actor, Politician & Businessman

The other book that I have given hundreds of copies to is Free to Choose by Milton Friedman. It kind of lays out why the private sector is really the answer to a lot of problems that we have and not government. I think it’s a real great philosophic kind of a book about how to approach our problems, if it is education, if it is economic growth, all of those various kinds of different issues. He lays it out. It’s a very simple book to read, but it is very good and it makes an impact on your when you read it. [source]

Grover Norquist

With Free to Choose, the title summarises it. He deals with vouchers in education and the whole idea of what we’re promoting. This goes back to the argument on the science stuff. We’re not for freedom because it brings economic growth. We’re not for freedom because it brings technology and improvements in standards of living. We’re for freedom because we’re for people being free. It also happens to be the case that a free people are going to be more financially and economically successful than an un-free people. But the goal is freedom, not that you’re allowed to have a little freedom because it brings more prosperity. That’s the New Economic Policy of Lenin: ‘We’re starving, so we are going to allow a little freedom to have stores operate and people grow food.’ Freedom is a tool that you let people have a little bit in order to get what you want – which is food for the cities. For us, freedom is the goal. [source]

John Quiggin

Milton Friedman’s Free to Choose: that book very much takes the view that what matters is the individual choice. The problems of people’s interactions with others can all be solved reasonably straightforwardly without any real interference with individual choice and so the best thing governments can do is back out and leave people alone to make their own choices. [source]

4

Invisible Man

Ralph Ellison

4.8

First published in 1952 and immediately hailed as a masterpiece, Invisible Man is one of those rare novels that have changed the shape of American literature. For not only does Ralph Ellison's nightmare journey across the racial divide tell unparalleled truths about the nature of bigotry and its effects on the minds of both victims and perpetrators, it gives us an entirely new model of what a nove

Recommended by Barack Obama, Daegan Miller, Dan Barreiro, and 3 others.

Barack Obama

Former USA President

As a devoted reader, the president has been linked to a lengthy list of novels and poetry collections over the years — he admits he enjoys a thriller. [source]

Daegan Miller

The novel pinpoints relentlessly, and beautifully, the environment of exploitation. [source]

Dan Barreiro

Riveting time capsule material. Literary giant Ellison on the blues, on race, on his powerful book, Invisible Man. https://t.co/iS6xQ7ojE8 [source]

5

Illusion (Chronicles of Nick, #5)

Sherrilyn Kenyon, Holter Graham, et al

4.6

Be careful what you wish for…

You just might get it.

Nick Gautier is tired of his destiny. He doesn’t want to be the son of a demon who’s fated to end the world. Nor does he want to see another demon or other preternatural creature who wants to kill or enslave him. He just wants to be normal and have normal problems like everyone else.

But normality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. When he gets sucke

6

Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)

E L James

4.5

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants h

Recommended by Aubrey Marcus.

7

Tricks Of The Mind

Derren Brown

4.4

Derren Brown's television and stage performances have entranced and dumbfounded millions. His baffling illusions and stunning set pieces - such as The Seance, Russian Roulette and The Heist - have set new standards of what's possible, as well as causing more than their fair share of controversy. Now, for the first time, he reveals the secrets behind his craft, what makes him tick and just why he g

Recommended by Derek Sivers.

Derek Sivers

Great, little book … that I highly recommend. [source]

8

The Society of the Spectacle

Guy Debord, Donald Nicholson-Smith

4.4

Few works of political and cultural theory have been as enduringly provocative as Guy Debord's The Society of the Spectacle. From its publication amid the social upheavals of the 1960s up to the present, the volatile theses of this book have decisively transformed debates on the shape of modernity, capitalism and everyday life in the late twentieth century. Now finally available in a superb Englis

Recommended by Dave Elitch and Sanja Zepan.

Dave Elitch

Dave Elitch recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show". [source]

Sanja Zepan

The most dramatic change was definitely when I read Guy Debord's The Society of Spectacle in high school. That book made me go study communicology and media, instead of everything else I wanted to study back then. It really cemented my university application. [source]

9

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Wisehouse Classics - Original 1865 Edition with the Complete Illustrations by Sir John Tenniel) (2016)

Lewis Carroll, Sam Vaseghi, et al.

4.3

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a work of children's literature by the English mathematician and author, the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, written under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells the story of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit-hole into a fantasy realm populated by grotesque figures like talking playing cards and anthropomorphic creatures. The Wonderland described in t

Recommended by Georg Grey.

Georg Grey

The best book on programming for the layman is Alice in Wonderland; but that's because it's the best book on anything for laymen. [source]

10

The Ultimate Book of Optical Illusions

Al Seckel

4.3

Cover unavailable

11

The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn, #1)

Peter S. Beagle

4.3

alternate cover editions can be found here, here and here

She was magical, beautiful beyond belief—and completely alone...

The unicorn had lived since before memory in a forest where death could touch nothing. Maidens who caught a glimpse of her glory were blessed by enchantment they would never forget. But outside her wondrous realm, dark whispers and rumours carried a message she could not ignore:

12

Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1)

Jamie McGuire, Emma Galvin, et al

4.3

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tatto

13

Bared to You (Crossfire, #1)

Sylvia Day

4.3

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Day comes the provocative masterstroke of abandon and obsession that redefined the meaning of desire and became a global phenomenon...

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness. He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a dru

14

The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern

4.3

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, wh

15

Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2)

Jamie McGuire

4.3

How much is too much to love? Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster.

Can you love someone too much?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, und

16

Illusions (Wings, #3)

Aprilynne Pike

4.3

"I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life, I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying."

Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden ene

17

The Animator's Survival Kit: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators

Richard Williams

4.3

The definitive book on animation, from the Academy Award-winning animator behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Animation is one of the hottest areas of filmmaking today--and the master animator who bridges the old generation and the new is Richard Williams. During his fifty years in the business, Williams has been one of the true innovators, winning three Academy Awards and serving as the link between D

18

Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades, #2)

E L James

4.3

Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair,

19

Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3)

E L James

4.3

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees.

Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, i

20

Psycho-Cybernetics, Updated and Expanded

Maxwell Maltz

4.3

Cybernetics (loosely translated from the Greek): “a helmsman who steers his ship to port.” Psycho-Cybernetics is a term coined by Dr. Maxwell Maltz, which means, “steering your mind to a productive, useful goal so you can reach the greatest port in the world, peace of mind.”

Since its first publication in 1960, Maltz’s landmark bestseller has inspired and enhanced the lives of more than 30 million

Recommended by Catrinel Hagivreta, Chris Goward, Mark Struczewski, and 1 others.

Catrinel Hagivreta

Psycho-Cybernetics, written in 1960 by Maxwell Maltz, an American surgeon; you understand about how your mind works and how you can take control over your actions and results. This book helped me understand that there is no context or circumstances that prevent you from getting where you want, but only consequences of our own habits. [source]

Chris Goward

Here are some of the books that have been very impactful for me, or taught me a new way of thinking: … Psycho Cybernetics. [source]

Mark Struczewski

Grant Cardone: The 10X Rule and Be Obsessed or Be Average; Tony Robbins: Awaken the Giant Within; Mel Robbins: The 5 Second Rule; and Maxwell Maltz: The New Psycho-Cybernetics. These books will encourage you but more than that EQUIP you to win! [source]

21

The Invisible Gorilla: And Other Ways Our Intuitions Deceive Us

Christopher Chabris, Daniel Simons

4.3

Reading this book will make you less sure of yourself—and that’s a good thing. In The Invisible Gorilla, Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons, creators of one of psychology’s most famous experiments, use remarkable stories and counterintuitive scientific findings to demonstrate an important truth: Our minds don’t work the way we think they do. We think we see ourselves and the world as they reall

Recommended by Dan Ariely.

Dan Ariely

Author

These guys did one of the most important pieces of research in social science, to show how little we actually see in the world around us. [source]

22

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic

Mark Anthony Wilson

4.3

The ultimate book of magic for kids from a world-famous magician, complete with photographs for easy to follow instructions.
From one of the world's premier practitioners of classic magic, with years of experience instructing younger readers in the magical arts, comes this new revision of his complete guide to learning and performing fantastic feats of prestidigitation. Acclaimed by the Los Angel

23

Dark Illusion (Carpathian Novel, A)

Christine Feehan

4.2

24

Messiah's Handbook: Reminders for the Advanced Soul

Richard Bach

4.2

In Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, Richard Bach met Donald Shimoda, a fellow pilot with the keys to the universe who barnstormed the Midwest in a Travel Air biplane. Part of Shimoda's secret was a small book, bound in what looked like suede--Messiah's Handbook: Reminders for the Advanced Soul. "Open it," he said, "and whatever you need to know is there." Lost for decades and redi

25

Miller's Review of Critical Vaccine Studies: 400 Important Scientific Papers Summarized for Parents and Researchers

Neil Z. Miller

4.2

Many people sincerely believe that all vaccines are safe, adverse reactions are rare, and no peer-reviewed scientific studies exist showing that vaccines can cause harm. This book — Miller’s Review of Critical Vaccine Studies — provides the other side of the story that is not commonly told. It contains summaries of 400 important scientific papers to help parents and researchers enhance their under

26

Imagine a Day

Sarah L. Thomson, Rob Gonsalves

4.2

Imagine a day when your swing swings you higher than the highest treetops. Imagine a day when you can ride your bike up a path of falling leaves into the very tree they are falling from. Imagine a day when you release a handful of blue balloons into a cloudy, gray sky to create a postcard-perfect day. Imagine a day when the ordinary becomes the extraordinary...a day when anything is possible.

Imag

27

Being and Time

Martin Heidegger, John Macquarrie, et al.

4.2

One of the most important philosophical works of our time, a work that has had tremendous influence on philosophy, literature, and psychology, and has literally changed the intellectual map of the modern world.

Recommended by Simon Critchley.

Simon Critchley

Heidegger gives us the analytical tools for understanding human existence in the world. [source]

28

Duck! Rabbit!

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Tom Lichtenheld

4.2

New York Times bestselling children's book!

Smart, simple story that will make readers of all ages eager to take a side: From the award-winning author of Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink comes a clever take on the age-old optical illusion: is it a duck or a rabbit? Depends on how you look at it! Readers will find more than just Amy Krouse Rosenthal's signature humor here; there's also a su

29

Grandpa Magic: 116 Easy Tricks, Amazing Brainteasers, and Simple Stunts to Wow the Grandkids

Allan Zola Kronzek

4.2

From a professional magician and New York Times bestselling author, 116 tricks, stunts, and brainteasers that will engage the grandchildren and provide giggles, jaw-dropping awe, and wonderful memories.

Guaranteed to make grandparenting even more fun, Grandpa Magic is sure to entertain—and crack up—the grandkids. From the old pull-a-quarter-from-behind-a-kid’'s-ear trick and “removing your thumb”

30

Dark Sentinel

Christine Feehan

4.2

In an explosive novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan, a human woman ignites the desire of her Carpathian lifemate--and of an ancient vampire with a score to settle.

After the devastating loss of her entire family, Lorraine Peters heads to the woods searching for peace of mind and anything to quell the anger in her soul. Instead, she stumbles upon a scene of horrific viol

31

Six of Hearts (Hearts, #1)

L.H. Cosway

4.2

Step right up and meet Jay Fields: Illusionist. Mentalist. Trickster.

I think in triangles. You think in straight lines.
I show you a table and make you believe it’s a chair.
Smoke and mirrors, sleight of hand, misdirection. I trick and deceive.
But most of all, I put on a good show.
The world thinks I killed a man, but I didn't. Bear with me. It’s all a part of the plan.
Revenge is what I want. I wan

32

Illusion

Frank Peretti

4.2

Dane and Mandy, a popular magic act for forty years, are tragically separated by a car wreck that claims Mandy's life -- or so everyone thinks. Even as Dane mourns and tries to rebuild his life without her, Mandy, supposedly dead, awakes in the present as the nineteen-year-old she was in 1970. Distraught and disoriented in what to her is the future, she is confined to a mental ward until she disco

33

Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children about Their Art

Eric Carle Museum Pict. Bk Art, Eric Carle, Various

4.2

In this remarkable and beautiful anthology featuring the likes of Maurice Sendak, Robert Sabuda, Rosemary Wells, and Eric Carle, twenty-three of the most honored and beloved artists in children’s literature talk informally to children—sharing secrets about their art and how they began their adventures into illustration. Fold-out pages featuring photographs of their early work, their studios and ma

34

How to Draw Cool Things, Optical Illusions, 3D Letters, Cartoons and Stuff: A Cool Drawing Guide for Older Kids, Teens, Teachers, and Students

Rachel A Goldstein

4.2

Your kids will love learning how to draw cool stuff with the following easy-to-follow step by step illustrations and tutorials. The simple steps in this drawing book will show you and your kids how to draw optical illusions, 3-dimensional letters that pop out of the page, 3d cartooning effects, and cool things that will blow your mind. Each easy art lesson starts with easy geometric shapes that wi

35

Freedom from Illusion: The Book of Ego

Osho and Osho International Foundation

4.2

An anthology of the complex issues of the ego, ambition, power and destructiveness from the perspective of a contemporary mystic. Osho shows the way to liberation from the illusions of the personality through an internal revolution - the psychology of the Buddhas. The ego is just the opposite of your real self. The ego is not you. It never allows you even a glimpse of your real authentic self, and

36

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less

Barry Schwartz

4.2

Preview Summary

About the Book: The Paradox of Choice. In the spirit of Alvin Tofflers Future Shock, a social critique of our obsession with choice, and how it contributes to anxiety, dissatisfaction and regret. Whether we're buying a pair of jeans, ordering a cup of coffee, selecting a long-distance carrier, applying to college, choosing a doctor, or setting up a 401K, everyday decisions have become increasingly

Recommended by Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Noah Kagan.

Noah Kagan

Founder/Sumo

A few months ago, I was drinking a Noah’s Mill whiskey (cute) with my good buddy Brian Balfour and talking about life... During the conversation, we got on the topic of books that changed our lives. I want to share them with you. I judge a book's success if a year later I'm still using at least 1 thing from the book. [source]

37

Infinite Love is the Only Truth: Everything Else is Illusion

David Icke, Neil Hague

4.2

38

Magic Eye Gallery: A Showing of 88 Images

Magic Eye Inc.

4.2

This paperback treasury is perfect for the insatiable Magic Eye fan.

This paperback treasury is perfect for the insatiable Magic Eye fan. Challenge family and friends to see who can view these 88 new eye-popping 3D images the fastest! This book is popular among many Magic Eye fans, and a waiting room favorite in offices and schools.

39

Imagine a Night

Sarah L. Thomson, Rob Gonsalves

4.2

Imagine a night when you can ride your bike right up the stairs to your bed. Imagine a night when your toy train rumbles on its tracks out of your room and roars back in, full sized, ready for you to hop on for a nighttime adventure. Imagine a night when a farmer plays a lullaby on his fiddle, and his field of sunflowers begins to dip and sway to the rhythm. Imagine a night when ordinary objects m

40

Memento Mori

Theresa Aletheia Noble FSP

4.2

A man named Earl has anterograde amnesia. Because of his inability to remember things for more than a few minutes, he uses notes and tattoos to keep track of new information.

41

The Royal Road to Card Magic

Jean Hugard and Frederick Braué

4.2

Would you like to confound your friends, amaze your acquaintances, amuse and dazzle crowds at parties and gatherings? Mastering a few card tricks will allow you to do all that and more. With the help of this book, anyone can develop a versatile repertoire of first-rate card tricks. In fact, mastery of just the first chapter will enable you to perform a half-dozen astounding and entertaining sleigh

42

The Magic Book

Mike Caveney

4.2

Art of Enchantment
The world's greatest magicians from the Middle Ages through the 1950
Magic has enchanted humankind for millennia, evoking terror, laughter, shock, and amazement. Once persecuted as heretics and sorcerers, magicians have always been conduits to a parallel universe of limitless possibility--whether invoking spirits, reading minds, or inverting the laws of nature by sleight of hand

43

Pokemon Go: Complete Guide and Tips, Tricks, Secret Everything You Need To Know

Ali Eden

4.2

44

Being Singular Plural

Jean-Luc Nancy, Robert Richardson, Anne O’Byrne

4.2

This book, by one of the most innovative and challenging contemporary thinkers, consists of an extensive essay from which the book takes its title and five shorter essays that are internally related to “Being Singular Plural.”

One of the strongest strands in Nancy’s philosophy is his attempt to rethink community and the very idea of the social in a way that does not ground these ideas in some indiv

45

Art and Illusion: A Study in the Psychology of Pictorial Representation

E.H. Gombrich

4.2

Described by Kenneth Clark as 'one of the most brilliant books of art criticism that I have ever read', Art and Illusion is a classic study of image-making. It seeks to answer a simple question: why is there such a thing as style? The question may be simple but there is no easy answer, and Professor Gombrich's brilliant and wide-ranging exploration of the history and psychology of pictorial repres

46

Expert Card Technique

Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue

4.2

If you have ever tried to do a card trick and failed, you know what it is to be embarrassed. You may try to cover up by doing a more difficult trick and fail again. The way out of this dilemma, however, is not immediate, but it is reliable: a surer mastery of technique. This means the proper instruction book, and practice.
In this definitive work on card technique, step-by-step instructions teach y

47

Wilderness: The Lost Writings, Vol. 1

Jim Morrison

4.2

"Listen, real poetry doesn't say anything, it just ticks off the possibilities. Opens all the doors. You can walk through any one that suits you." -- Jim Morrison

As the lead singer and song writer for The Doors, Jim Morrison brought the poetry of the damned to rock'n'roll. As a poet, he infused verse with the wild lyricism and mesmerizing beat of rock. By the time of his death in 1971, Morrison ha

48

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi

Chris Van Allsburg

4.2

THE GARDEN OF ABDUL GASAZI, the imaginative Van Allsburg tale of a boy, a dog, a duck, and a nasty old magician.

49

The New Book of Optical Illusions

Georg Ruschemeyer

4.2

How 33 ancient, familiar and new optical illusions work, with 150 examples.

The New Book of Optical Illusions is a mind-bending collection of 150 of the most significant optical phenomena, loosely grouped into 33 chapters according to particular visual effect.

An optical illusion has two elements. One is the perceived illusion, what you see. It may be merging lines, moving shapes or conflicting size

50

Blood is Red

John T. Becker and Stanli K. Becker

4.2

A collection of eight horror stories created by New York Times best-selling novelist Scott Sigler, author of Infected, Contagious and Ancestor.

This eBook-only title features seven tales from Scott's six years of free audiobook podcasts, including the Parsec Award-winning "Red Man," plus the brand-new novella "Hunter Hunterson & Sons."

Scott still gives away his audio stories -- for free -- every w

51

The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size

Tor Norretranders

4.2

As John Casti wrote, "Finally, a book that really does explain consciousness." This groundbreaking work by Denmark's leading science writer draws on psychology, evolutionary biology, information theory, and other disciplines to argue its revolutionary point: that consciousness represents only an infinitesimal fraction of our ability to process information. Although we are unaware of it, our brains

Recommended by Stephen Baker.

Stephen Baker

It’s about how our minds and our memories work and the tiny bit of bandwidth through which information can go into our brains. [source]

52

How to Draw Cool Stuff: Basic, Shading, Textures and Optical Illusions

Catherine Holmes

4.2

"How to Draw Cool Stuff: Basics, Shading, Texture, Pattern and Optical Illusions" is the second book in the How to Draw Cool Stuff series. Inside you will find simple illustrations that cover the necessities of drawing cool stuff. Specific exercises are provided that offer step-by-step guidelines for drawing a variety of subjects. Each lesson starts with an easy-to-draw shape that will become the

53

The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It

Robert B. Reich

4.1

From the best-selling author of Saving Capitalism and The Common Good, an urgent analysis of how the "rigged" systems of American politics and power operate, how this status quo came to be, and how average citizens can enact change.

Millions of Americans have lost confidence in our political and economic system. After years of stagnant wages, volatile job markets, and an unwillingness by those in p

54

What I Didn't Say

Keary Taylor

4.1

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Ja

55

The Unofficial Harry Potter Spell book Wand Movement Illustrated: Magic Spell book contains all the spells

Eva Smith

4.1

56

The Rules of Art: Genesis and Structure of the Literary Field (Meridian-Crossing Aesthetics)

Pierre Bourdieu, Susan Emanuel

4.1

Written with verve and intensity (and a good bit of wordplay), this is the long-awaited study of Flaubert and the modern literary field that constitutes the definitive work on the sociology of art by one of the world’s leading social theorists. Drawing upon the history of literature and art from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, Bourdieu develops an original theory of art conceived as an

57

Magic Eye 1: A New Way of Looking at the World (Magic Eye, #1)

N.E.Thing Enterprises

4.1

Family and friends will enjoy hours of entertainment while viewing the amazing 3D illustrations found in this #1 New York Times bestseller.

Embedded within each image of Magic Eye: A New Way of Looking at the World is an enchanting 3D object or scene that materializes before the viewer's eyes. Simple viewing instructions and a solution key are included.

58

The Last Unicorn

Peter S. Beagle, Peter Gillis, Renae DeLiz, Ray Dillon

4.1

Adapted for the first time from the novel by Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn is a tale for any age about the wonders of magic, the power of love, and the tragedy of loss. The unicorn, alone in her enchanted wood, discovers that she may be the last of her kind. Reluctant at first, she sets out on a journey to find her fellow unicorns, even if it means facing the terrifying anger of the Red Bull a

59

The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone - Especially Ourselves

Dan Ariely

4.1

The New York Times bestselling author of Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality returns with thought-provoking work to challenge our preconceptions about dishonesty and urge us to take an honest look at ourselves.

Does the chance of getting caught affect how likely we are to cheat?
How do companies pave the way for dishonesty?
Does collaboration make us more honest or less so?
Does rel

60

Learn Magic with Jim Stott: Magic for Beginners and Kids 5 and Up Plus Magic for Grownups!

Jim Stott

4.1

61

The Palace of Illusions

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

4.1

A reimagining of the world-famous Indian epic, the Mahabharat—told from the point of view of an amazing woman.

Relevant to today’s war-torn world, The Palace of Illusions takes us back to a time that is half history, half myth, and wholly magical. Narrated by Panchaali, the wife of the legendary Pandavas brothers in the Mahabharat, the novel gives us a new interpretation of this ancient tale.

The n

62

Optical Illusions Coloring Book: 52 Mesmerizing Abstract Designs, Tessellations, 3D Swirls, Geometrical Intertwining Distortions, Paradoxes and Illusions

Marija Carpe Diem Yoga and Djape

4.1

63

Drawing on the Artist Within

Betty Edwards

4.1

Whether you are a business manager, teacher, writer, technician, or student, you'll find Drawing on the Artist Within the most effective program ever created for tapping your creative powers. Profusely illustrated with hundreds of instructional drawings and the work of master artists, this book is written for people with no previous experience in art.

AH-HA! I SEE IT NOW!
Everyone has experienced t

64

Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions

Stephen Macknik

4.1

Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde, the founders of the exciting new discipline of neuromagic, have convinced some of the world's greatest magicians to allow scientists to study their techniques for tricking the brain. The implications of neuromagic go beyond illuminating our behavior; early research points to new approaches for everything from the diagnosis of autism to marketing technique

65

Modern Coin Magic

J. B. Bobo

4.1

When party guests request a few tricks, be prepared. Ask for a coin, and perform some of the tricks in this book. Because you will not have been aided by special stage apparatus, the results will be all the more astonishing. As tricks with coins are so readily improvised, they are among the most impressive forms of legerdemain.
This book is the most complete treatise ever written on sleight-of-hand

66

Card College, Volume 1: A Complete Course in Sleight of Hand Card Magic

Roberto Giobbi

4.1

Card College is the largest and most up-to-date work of its kind. It is written to be used as a complete course in sleight-of-hand card magic, as well as a reference work for research on the best and most practical sleight-of-hand methods. Swiss professional close-up magician Robert Giobbi holds nothing back. From his years of performing experience he brings to his Card College knowledge and an ex

67

Optical Illusions: The Science of Visual Perception

Al Seckel

4.1

This intriguing collection contains more than 275 optical illusions that appear to change before your eyes. Al Seckel carefully selected both well-known images, such as Shepard's tabletop, Wade's spiral, Ames room and Rubin's face/vase, and many lesser-known, but no less effective, illusions.

Every type of optical illusion is here, along with notes about the science of each visual perception and ho

Cover unavailable

68

101 Clever Card Tricks

Cara Frost-Sharratt

4.1

This simple step-by-step guide makes magic easy no matter what your age. Use 'Brain power' tricks that use mathematics and exercise your memory skills to perform mind-reading stunts. Inventive tricks using mobile phones will delight more experienced magicians looking for something new.

Cover unavailable

69

Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Complete Guide and Tips, Tricks How to win the game, the secret from the gamers

Antony Min

4.1

70

Confessions of a Conjuror

Derren Brown

4.1

The inside of Derren Brown's head is a strange and mysterious place. Now you can climb inside and wander around. Find out just how Derren's mind works, see what motivates him and discover what made him the weird and wonderful person he is today.

Obsessed with magic and illusions since childhood, Derren's life to date has been an extraordinary journey and here, in Confessions of a Conjuror, he allow

71

The Prestige

Christopher Priest

4.1

In 1878, two young stage magicians clash in the dark during the course of a fraudulent séance. From this moment on, their lives become webs of deceit and revelation as they vie to outwit and expose one another.

Their rivalry will take them to the peaks of their careers, but with terrible consequences. In the course of pursuing each other's ruin, they will deploy all the deception their magicians' c

72

The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss

David Bentley Hart

4.1

Despite the recent ferocious public debate about belief, the concept most central to the discussion—God—frequently remains vaguely and obscurely described. Are those engaged in these arguments even talking about the same thing? In a wide-ranging response to this confusion, esteemed scholar David Bentley Hart pursues a clarification of how the word “God” functions in the world’s great theistic fait

73

The Book of Illusions

Paul Auster

4.1

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW NOTABLE BOOK

Six months after losing his wife and two young sons, Vermont Professor David Zimmer spends his waking hours mired in a blur of alcoholic grief and self-pity. One night, he stumbles upon a clip from a lost film by silent comedian Hector Mann. His interest is piqued, and he soon finds himself embarking on a journey around the world to res

Cover unavailable

74

Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark

Lucia Peters

4.1

What begins as a test of bravery or a sleepover activity—chanting in front of a mirror, riding an elevator alone, taking pictures in the dark—can become something . . . dangerous.

The most spine-chilling games based on urban legends from around the world: Centuries-old games such as Bloody Mary, Light as a Feather, and Stiff as a Board are detailed alongside new games from the internet age, like Th

75

Card College, Volume 3: A Complete Course in Sleight of Hand Card Magic

Roberto Giobbi

4.1

Volume Three contains instruction on such invaluable sleights as the push-off double turnover, one-handed top palm, the Ascanio spread, gambler's cop, the Vernon addition, false displays and riffle shuffles, the convincing control, the Olram subtlety, and much more-including many powerful card tricks and routines. Mr. Giobbi includes original ideas and refinements, guaranteeing every reader fresh

Cover unavailable

76

Simulacra and Simulation

Jean Baudrillard, Sheila Faria Glaser

4.0

The publication of Simulacra et Simulation in 1981 marked Jean Baudrillard's first important step toward theorizing the postmodern. Moving away from the Marxist/Freudian approaches that had concerned him earlier, Baudrillard developed in this book a theory of contemporary culture that relies on displacing economic notions of cultural production with notions of cultural expenditure.

Baudrillard uses

77

Subway Surfers Guide - Walkthrough – How to win – Tips and Tricks

Constant

4.0

78

Magic Eye 2: Now You See It... (Magic Eye, #2)

Magic Eye Inc.

4.0

You need to see it to believe it! Exercise your eyes and imagination with 29 new mind-bending 3D illusions. 2D illustrations will magically morph before your eyes to reveal what is secretly hidden in 3D. The images will not simply appear to be 3D, they will become 3D! Viewing instructions and a solution key are included. The longer you look, the clearer the hidden 3D image will become. The further

79

Wisdom of the Mystic Masters

Joseph J. Weed

4.0

The author offers guidelines for expanding one's psychic consciousness and achieving success and happiness by following the teachings of the mystic masters.

80

The Stellar Man (Hermetic Philosophy, Bk. 2)

John Baines

4.0

81

Sapphique (Incarceron, #2)

Catherine Fisher

4.0

The only one who escaped... and the one who could destroy them all.

Incarceron, the living prison, has lost one of its inmates to the outside world: Finn's escaped, only to find that Outside is not at all what he expected. Used to the technologically advanced, if violently harsh, conditions of the prison, Finn is now forced to obey the rules of Protocol, which require all people to live without tec

82

Illusion (The Heirs of Watson Island, #3)

Martina Boone

4.0

Caged by secrets all around her and haunted by mistakes that have estranged her from Eight Beaufort, Barrie Watson is desperate to break the curse that puts her family in danger—without breaking the beautiful magic that protects Watson’s Landing. To do that, she must heal the rifts that have split the families of the island apart for three hundred years, unravel the mystery of the Fire Carrier and

83

Blue Jacket: War Chief of the Shawnees

Allan W. Eckert

4.0

In the year 1771, a white boy named Marmaduke Van Swearingen was captured by Shawnee Indians in what is now West Virginia, but was then the edge of the American frontier. Impressed with his bravery, he was not killed but instead was taken to Ohio where he was adopted into the tribe and given the name Blue Jacket, from the blue shirt he was wearing at the time of his capture. The boy grew to excel

84

Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking

Hadnagy

4.0

Harden the human firewall against the most current threats

Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking reveals the craftier side of the hacker's repertoire--why hack into something when you could just ask for access? Undetectable by firewalls and antivirus software, social engineering relies on human fault to gain access to sensitive spaces; in this book, renowned expert Christopher Hadnagy ex

85

The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory

Julia Shaw

4.0

Think you have a good memory? Think again.

Memories are our most cherished possessions. We rely on them every day of our lives. They make us who we are. And yet the truth is they are far from being the accurate record of the past we like to think they are. True, we can all admit to having suffered occasional memory lapses, such as entering a room and immediately forgetting why, or suddenly being un

Cover unavailable

86

Scarne on Card Tricks

John Scarne

4.0

This marvelous treasury of card magic presents the exact details of 155 professional card tricks — none of them requiring sleight-of-hand dexterity — assembled by the world's number-one card wizard, John Scarne. An authority on gambling and card tricks, Scarne won renown for teaching professional gamblers how to sharpen their skills and avoid being fleeced. For this collection of mystifying and ef

87

The Diabolist (Dominic Grey #3)

Layton Green

4.0

In this gripping thriller, the bizarre murder of a Satanic priest in San Francisco draws Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, to the scene. Witnesses claim a robed figure, seemingly able to appear and disappear at will, set fire to the priest. When the leader of another Satanic cult in Paris dies under similar circumstances, the case only grows stranger… and more dangerou

88

Creative Haven Tessellation Patterns Coloring Book

John Wik

4.0

More than 30 hypnotic designs form delightful distractions for dedicated colorists. The full-page patterns feature stars, geometric motifs, and other interlocking shapes that create eye-popping optical illusions and three-dimensional effects. Pages are perforated and printed on one side only for easy removal and display. Specially designed for experienced colorists, Tessellation Patterns and other

89

Vaccine Epidemic: How Corporate Greed, Biased Science, and Coercive Government Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health, and Our Children

Louise Kuo Habakus

4.0

National polls show that Americans are increasingly concerned about vaccine safety and the right to make individual, informed choices together with their healthcare practitioners. "Vaccine Epidemic" focuses on the searing debate surrounding individual and parental vaccination choice in the United States. Featuring more than twenty experts from the fields of ethics, law, science, medicine, business

90

The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility, and Other Writings on Media

Walter Benjamin, Michael W. Jennings, et al.

4.0

Benjamin’s famous 'Work of Art' essay sets out his boldest thoughts--on media and on culture in general--in their most realized form, while retaining an edge that gets under the skin of everyone who reads it. In this essay the visual arts of the machine age morph into literature and theory and then back again to images, gestures, and thought.

This essay, however, is only the beginning of a vast c

91

Ultra 3-D

W. Mark

4.0

92

Deeper Illusions (Illusions, #2)

Annie Jocoby

4.0

Iris and her beautiful Prince Charming, Ryan, are now married. But the issues facing the two only get more complicated and dark. Iris is finding that being married to a man with such a dark past keeps threatening her present and the couple's future.

But the issues from the past do not compare to the devastating issues in the present. A tragic chain of events leads to a possible end of the fairytal

93

The Expert at the Card Table: The Classic Treatise on Card Manipulation

S. W. Erdnase

4.0

"The Expert at the Card Table is the most famous, the most carefully studied book ever published on the art of manipulating cards at gaming tables." —from the Foreword by Martin Gardner.
For almost a century, this book has been considered indispensable to attaining the highest level of card mastery. In it, S. W. Erdnase, a supreme master of card manipulation, teaches card enthusiasts how to perform

94

The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero

William Kalush, Larry Sloman

4.0

Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and best-selling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the

Cover unavailable

95

Patterns of the Universe: A Coloring Adventure in Math and Beauty

Alex Bellos and Edmund Harriss

4.0

An ingenious coloring book that reveals math’s hidden beauty—and contemplative power—as never before

Publisher's note:This coloring book has also been published in the UK, under the title Snowflake, Seashell, Star and in somewhat different form. Patterns of the Universe is the North American edition.

Contemplate the Patterns of the Universe as you color! Math is at the heart of many natural wonders

Cover unavailable

96

The Book of Wizard Magic: In Which the Apprentice Finds Marvelous Magic Tricks, Mystifying Illusions Astonishing Tales

Inc. Sterling Publishing Co.

4.0

Are you ready to expand your powers and learn the secrets of conjurers from throughout the ages? Then grab your wand, open this book of magic, and start practicing tricks once understood only by master wizards.

SHAZAAM! The 600-year-old Wizard is back, and he's conjured a fantastic companion to the Book of Wizard Crafts and Book of Wizard Parties. Best of all, he wants YOU to become his apprentice

97

Fooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind

Alex Stone

4.0

An exploration of the world of magic that teaches the reader many tricks--including how better to understand the real world.

Alex Stone--journalist and part-time conjurer--is here to amaze you. But first he had to amaze his fellow magicians. Fooling Houdini is his fascinating, revealing, and nailbiting account of his attempt to win the 23rd World Championships of Magic, the "Magic Olympics," the l

98

After School Nightmare, Volume 1

Setona Mizushiro

4.0

99

Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

Chris Hedges

4.0

We now live in two Americas. One - now the minority - functions in a print-based, literate world that can cope with complexity and can separate illusion from truth. The other - the majority - is retreating from a reality-based world into one of false certainty and magic. To this majority - which crosses social class lines, though the poor are overwhelmingly affected - presidential debate and polit

100

Ricky Tims' Convergence Quilts: Mysterious, Magical, Easy, and Fun

Ricky Tims

4.0

Quilting expert Ricky Tims presents an imaginative, new piecing technique that quilters will adore! Convergence quilts feature two or more fabrics cut into strips, sewn together, then cut and pieced again.