The Spectacle of Illusion: Matthew Tompkins

The tricks and props of magic and spiritualism: how magicians and psychics fooled the world—and what scientists can learn from them
In The Spectacle of Illusion, professional magician-turned experimental psychologist Dr. Matthew L. Tompkins investigates the arts of deception as practised and popularised by mesmerists, magicians and psychics since the early 18th century. Organised thematically within a broadly chronological trajectory, this compelling book explores how illusions perpetuated by magicians and fraudulent mystics can not only deceive our senses but also teach us about the inner workings of our minds. DAP, 2019. Hardcover, 7 x 9.5 in. / 224 pgs