If you are even marginally interested in card sleight of hand or want to do packet tricks, this book
is a must. It combines in one small volume all those weird little moves, sleights, and subtleties
that you see described in the directions for packet tricks. I bought this book circa 1982, and it
remains a tour de force of magic instruction as evidenced by how many editions and reprintings its
had. I've moved away from card magic but recently saw a mentalism effect that used the Olram (Marlo
spelled backwards) Subtlety. And, of course, it's covered here along with the more famous Elmsley or
Ghost Count and the more obscure Biddle Move.
For it's low price, you will get a lot of
mileage out of this book. Back when I was in school, before the Internet or magic DVDs (or even
VHS), I studied these instructions like they were a holy writ and practiced all of the moves
thousands of times while watching TV or just relaxing. And while I don't use many of them
currently, I am a better, more dexterous person and performer because of this book. I can't
recommend it enough to any card magician, from beginner to expert (and some of these moves really
are advanced). I love Counts, Cuts, Moves and Subtleties, and I think that you will too. It's like
a musician's book of scales and arpeggios for magicians, no tunes (or tricks) but just necessary
fundamentals.