Becoming Better

I'm afraid that this will be a negative review, and I want to emphasize that your mileage may vary.

When the book arrived and I realized it was a Createspace-published item I was disappointed and a bit concerned. Createspace is a Print on Demand system used by many people publishing themselves.

Physically Createspace books all look pretty much the same. Many magic books are objects of beauty. No Createspace volumes are. Fine, fair enough, what about the content?

Everything in the book seems fine and sensible, but the author doesn't really go deeply into anything. Paragraphs are short, most often three sentences or less. Perhaps that is a silly critique, why don't I talk about the font? (It's quite large), but the fact is that while the book is full of useful and actionable advice, probably hard-won by the author, there's very little in the way of ideas or new ways of thinking.

Bottom line; I regret the purchase. But your mileage may vary.

This book contains material assembled from years of professional working by a seasoned pro. A panacea of concepts and ideas are covered: about you (personality, authenticity, commitment, self-help) - through to guidance on performance, showmanship, staging, approach, and character; as well as bigger issues such as lighting, music, and stage choreography. It is not a book about tricks and methods, but how you as a performer can learn and improve. Chris drives you to think about you and the person you are. By critiquing everything you do (including self-analysis by video) it guides you to evolve and be the performer you aspire to be. In places it’s brutal; in others it’s that light bulb moment. Contextual quotes set the scene for each section, which ring true. Energy and impetus are the order of the day, with a focus on an honest assessment of what you do and how you do it: examine it, review it, improve it, and set yourself on a path to enhancement.

The style is casual, written by someone who has much to impart and has got the words down quickly, and in places is clearly an unloading of what needs to be said before it’s lost - almost a ‘brain dump’ with structure and clarity - but very readable.

The principles and the approach offered fit any genre of magic: from stage to close-up. How you dress, the personality and warmth you display, the skills you demonstrate, the way you interact with people - as your assistants, your guests and as your audience. All magic requires an audience who want to be entertained - so by following the advice Chris gives, you can up your game and take many of the ideas to your close-up performance. If you are a stage magician, then much can be directly translated.

The section “101 Ideas Expanded” is 40 pages of absolute gold and I have not seen a collection like this elsewhere: ideas we may have considered, others that are well developed and some that are completely new (to me anyway).

I believe it complements current literature, but also adds new ideas (‘lags’ for instance). 150 pages long makes this book very accessible, with chapters that are short and that incrementally build; it is a great read. Are there better books out there? Probably. Are there books out there that are as candid? Maybe not. Think of ‘Maximum Entertainment’ by Ken Weber and you are in the right ballpark; but written in a very simple direct way by a current working pro in the twenty first century who is currently ‘walking the walk’ – and at the height of his career.

I have read this in one afternoon and came away inspired. I now intend to read it again with a notebook and pencil and find all my takeaways - there are lots.

This book has motivated me to not only expedite my ambitions but improve and focus on what I am good at and leave behind what I am not, so time is spent productively. Take heed from the advice given in here about taking action and get on with it - an inch moving forward is better than a mile planning it!

This is like having an honest mentor in your hands! Read at leisure; re-read to develop. But enjoy, I did

I would like to be able to be positive about this book. It takes a lot of effort to write a book and so a poor review can seem harsh. I had high expectations based on what I knew about Chris. However, the production quality is nothing like a vanishing inc publication and I am a little surprised they sell a book like this. I was still excited when I opened the book because Craig Petty was so positive about the publication. Alas, the more I read the more the author's ego eclipsed any useful information he wished to share. I do not doubt the author has useful experience that deserves to be shared, but not in this format.