Performing Magic

Comedy is king. From multimillion-dollar TV specials to sold-out stand-up shows and TikTok stardom, comedy has never been more popular, democratized, or influential. Comedians have become organizing forces across culture—as trusted as politicians and as fawned-over as celebrities—yet comedy as an art form has gone under-considered throughout its history, even as it has ascended as a cultural force.

Guy Grand, an eccentric billionaire prankster, is rich enough to do whatever he likes. And what he likes is to carefully execute projects where he can cauterize by ridicule what the rest of the world ignores: Complacency, greed, corruption, and idiocy. Determined to "make it hot for people," Grand spends his billions staging a series of hilarious, sometimes bewildering stunts, lampooning along the way the American holy cows of money, status, power, beauty, media, and stardom.

Harry Houdini never met a lock he didn’t like. Handcuffs, leg irons, and thumbscrews were child’s play for the world’s greatest escape artist. During his stunning career he invented some of the most mind-boggling escapes of all time. Join Houdini as he attempts his most dangerous stunts and unlock the secrets of the illusionist’s lasting legacy.

An engrossing and insightful memoir by Peter Shapiro, the best known and most influential concert promoter of his generation Peter Shapiro is perhaps the most notable independent concert promoter since Bill Graham. He owned the legendary Wetlands in Tribeca and has gone onto much bigger things...

If you are locked into a relationship with a narcissist, such as an employer, a high-conflict partner, an ex-spouse with shared custody, or perhaps a family member, this audiobook is for you. Based upon years of research and experience coaching victims of narcissistic abuse, Lindsey Ellison has masterminded a communication strategy that will allow you to protect your interests without conflict or drama.

With Portland about to descend into chaos, Allie Beckstrom needs to find a way to purify the wells of tainted magic beneath the city. But the only options left to her are grim: attempt to close down magic forever or follow her father's plan to set magic into the right hands - even though she's learned to never trust his word. Now Allie will have to make a choice and face the darkness of her own deepest fears before time runs out for them all....

Have you ever been curious about magic? Have you dreamed of being able to do magic with water? Have you ever felt an intuitive nudge to learn more about how to manifest your desires using water? Then this audiobook is for you. With this audiobook as a starting point, you will learn all you need to know about working with this powerful and abundant element. You will find yourself becoming adept at working with water and developing a strong connection with its mighty and sacred deities.

Years of experience as a magician taught Tim David that real magic is all about words, and the way they influence the minds of the audience. What sets a professional magician apart from an amateur are people skills like communication, influence, and engagement - skills that are also effective in the workplace. By applying seven "magic" words in a business setting, David offers tools for effective and persuasive communication.

If you read a standard history of magic, you learn that it begins in ancient Egypt with the resurrection of a goose in front of the Pharaoh. You discover how magicians were tortured and killed during the age of witchcraft. You are told how conjuring tricks were used to quell rebellious colonial natives. The history of magic is full of such stories, which turn out not to be true. Behind the smoke and mirrors, however, lies the real story of magic.

Before he was an Elfin Lord—before he even joined that secret group of Mages—Jamie Riley was a Mage recruited by the FBI and the Office of Supernatural Policing and Investigation. A new-minted Inspector sent into one of the most complicated supernatural regions in the country: Los Angeles. The rest of OSPI’s LA team has grown comfortable with allowing politics and pragmatism to decide which cases they pursue—but when Jamie’s investigation suggests that a pillar of the supernatural community has killed in cold blood, he will let nothing get in the way of getting the murderer.

How does magic in J. K. Rowling’s universe work? Finally, the scientific secrets of the Harry Potter universe are revealed! The Science of Harry Potter examines the scientific principles behind some of the spells, scenes, and games that Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Dumbledore love best. Author Mark Brake, whose The Science of Star Wars was a knockout success, has found the answers to satisfy the curious spirits of muggles everywhere.

A parody for fans of Harry Potter and The Crown, Harry Windzor and the Magic of Monarchy is an irreverent, satirical twist on the life of Prince Harry and the House of Windsor. There are spats between heirs and spares, dodgy deals between the Palace and the press, and so many scandals swept under the rug that even the corgis are suspicious. Maybe this isn’t a satire after all...

Steven Adler examines the dynamic life and workings of the theatre company responsible for some of the world's most compelling performances and influential productions of the last 40 years, including Marat/Sade, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Les Misérables, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and Nicholas Nickleby.

Jonathan Taplin’s extraordinary journey has put him at the crest of every major cultural wave in the past half century. His is a lifetime marked not only by good timing but by impeccable instincts - from the folk scene of Woodstock, to Hollywood’s rebellious film movement and beyond, Taplin is not just a witness but a lifelong producer, the right-hand man to some of the greatest talents of both pop culture and the underground. The Magic Years is both a rock memoir and a work of cultural criticism from a key player who watched a nation turn from idealism to nihilism.

Hawk Koch is a renowned film producer who has served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has produced some of the most iconic films of all time, including The Way We Were, Chinatown, Heaven Can Wait, Gorky Park, and Wayne’s World, among many others. He was born into the business, the son of legendary Howard W. Koch, who ran Frank Sinatra’s production company, was head of Paramount Studios, and was president of the Academy. Growing up, Hawk was dealt an immense amount of privilege.

Looking for a unique one of a kind name or password combo? Magic Eight Name & Password Flipper has over 14,000 interesting names. Think of this flipper book as a giant Magic Eight Name ball. This book is packed with tons of clever noteworthy names and passwords. If you need an interesting Baby, Avatar, Password, or Pet name, then you'll want to start listening to see what you discover.

Caught in a war between the rebels and the invading colonizers, Jetta must make an impossible choice—save her people or protect her sanity. The second book in Heidi Heilig’s acclaimed Shadow Players trilogy blends traditional storytelling with ephemera to weave an enthralling fantasy that...

"Impossible to predict... Your new obsession." —Mark Oshiro, co-author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Sun and the Star This new middle grade fantasy series follows Keynan's quest to unlock his freestyling magic and unravel the secrets of Peerless Academy. Keynan Masters doesn't know the...

Son rebeldes, divertidas y odian el protocolo. Pero, además, son princesas herederas al trono. Forman un grupo conocido como Las Princesas Rebeldes. Y ocultan un gran secreto: desde que cumplieron once años… ¡tienen superpoderes! Ahora tienen una cita en el palacio milenario de As-Dhram, un lugar mágico rodeado de leyendas y profecías. Allí se van a celebrar los diez días de luz, una conmemoración en honor a la joven Qamra, la futura reina de Jordania.

In this audiobook, learn how to: leave a great first impression; never let an opportunity pass you by; deal with toxic people; overcome self-limiting beliefs; get people to be interested in you; fail and not be a failure; take appropriate risks; be confident in social settings; minimize life's disappointments; not let past wounds hold up your future; and much more!