Thinking the Impossible is a book on card magic by Ramon Rioboo, a member of the Spanish school who has had the opportunity to study with, among others, the Maestro, Juan Tamariz. The book is a collection of (to use Steve Beam’s term) semi-automatic card tricks, which is to say there are both “self-working” effects, as well as those needing sleight of hand, though the sleight of hand needed isn’t knuckle busting. If you’re put off by the category “self-working” (or even semi-automatic), you’re doing yourself a disservice in dismissing this book. Had I not received it to review, I probably would not have bought it myself, and I would have missed out on a tremendous resource.

Thinking the Impossible is filled with amazing, mind blowing effects, many of which, it should be noted, aren’t card locations. There are sandwich effects, 4 ace productions, matching effects and even a card to impossible location. Further, many of these plots include the element of surprise, something missing in many “self-working” effects. From a method construction point of view, the emphasis is on the subtle, rather than the difficult. This isn’t to say performing these effects will be easy. Audience management, acting ability, rehearsal and serious thought will be required to fully take advantage of the power of this material.

This leads to where much of the value of this book lies. Mr. Rioboo shows how powerful simple methods can be when they are well designed and combined with an intentional presentation. He explains how scripting and attitude can clarify and amplify an effect beyond what most magicians (including myself) think possible. He goes on to discuss how presentation itself can be part of the method. Many of the effects in this book will leave the spectator not wondering “How did you do that?” but believing that the performer didn’t do anything at all, yet magic occurred. This is an extraordinarily difficult goal to achieve, and many of the effects taught will do just that.

Certainly there are a few entries that have more counting or dealing than I like to see in a card effect, but even in those instances Mr. Rioboo demonstrates how to effectively increase magical impact while downplaying a strange procedure. These lessons can be applied to many other effects, including those, I would argue, in any reader’s repertoire.

Sections of the book include an introduction to some of the basic sleights and tools Mr. Rioboo uses in his work, sections on impromptu effects both requiring and not requiring sleights, two chapters using gimmicked cards of one type or another and some of his work on the memorized deck. His version of Simon Aronson’s “Shufflebored” (created independently) and his basic method of controlling a card (which will devastate even a well posted magician) are both worth the price of admission.

Thinking the Impossible is an outstanding work filled with astonishing magic. While there are some sections on theory that felt incomplete or not fully developed, the book as a whole contains not only magic for virtually any magician, but thought provoking ideas and approaches that can’t help but make your magic more powerful, engaging and effective. It’s an extremely valuable addition to the literature.