An insider's look at what goes on at a magic show behind-the-scenes. Schiffman explains the principles of deception, exposing those seemingly innocent motions that conceal vital actions from onlookers; how the conjurer uses misdirection of space and time to mislead the audience; how silly and simple optical illusions can fool us; and what to look for during a magic show. Also explores the world of offstage magic, the magicians who use various techniques to deceive and influence you: advertisers, politicians, spies, con artists, computer programmers, movie directors, faith healers, psychics, and others. This is not a how-to book for aspiring magicians, but a layperson's guide to methods used to mislead or fool you. 441 pgs, paperback, 2005