When watching a magician the question that is most pressing on people’s minds is how did he do it?

This is not the only question that can be asked of a magic performance. A psychologists might ask why it is possible that the mind can be deceived, occupational therapists are interested in how performing magic tricks can help people with physical disabilities and sociologists research the subculture of magicians.

This book explores some answers to the questions that scholars from different fields of science have asked about the performances of magicians. For magicians this book provides new perspectives on their performance art. For people with only a passive interest in magic, this book provides an insight into a quaint performance art that is surrounded in secrecy and clichés.