MCM contains everything you need to know concerning concealment, production and alteration of coins. It has outstanding plots and routines and patter suggestions. It gives detailed accounts of some of the most cherished and "pet" tricks and routines of some of the finest "coin-men" in history. It is laid out very well with a fine index. It also has a history of coin magic. There is so much here that no matter where you start reading, you'll find yourself saying, "hey, I would really like to learn this!". Even though it is a fascinating read and fun to just glance through and dream over, I contend that if you decide to pick an effect, sleight or routine out of MCM and are determined to make it yours NO MATTER WHAT, you will be rewarded with the true wonder of magical study...RESULTS! Many magic books contain great items but lack good explanation which leads to frustration and lack of fulfillment. MCM has a unique quality about it. I think that is what I like most. It really provides the necessary explanation and instruction to actually teach you...if you let it and stay at it. But you have to want to read and study this book if you want the results. Self-working coin tricks are very rare.

While lecturing over the years I had the pleasure to meet many of the contributors of MCM. This was like magic in itself for me. One quick story. I was running the booth for Sasco Magic about 10 years ago at the St. Louis, IBM convention. Needless to say I was demonstrating coin effects, day after day...all day. A number of the true legends of coin magic were at the convention, many of which had effects in the "Bobo Book" (the generic name for MCM). It was a real treat to actually meet them and have them show me the same effects I had read about for years. But the biggest surprise was when Jim Buffaloe, after showing me his phenomenal items, told me that Bobo himself was there and that if I'd like, he'd bring him over to meet me. I could go on and on about the lengthy session that I, along with many other lucky magicians, witnessed that day, but let me say that J.B. Bobo was absolutely no fluke! He could do EVERYTHING in his book to perfection! That was the highlight of the whole convention as far as I was concerned. It was like one of those rare, surreal times we all experience once in a great while. What a trip!

I guess I could go on and on but let me just mention a few of the items I enjoy the most ( it's tough because I could say the whole book!).

Guess which Hand p134

Coin through Ring p171

The Bent Penny p186

Silver Extraction p187

Rattle Box Routine page 207

Presto Chango p245

Stack of Halves p255

Routine #4 p342

You haven't lived until you've curled up with Modern Coin Magic (The "Bobo Book").