Harry Houdini exposes the tricks that astonish folks in this book that he himself authored - This is a book on how common psychology, special effects and trickery can create miracles for audiences. The author tries to explain that there may be nothing supernatural in magic but only science and illusion. He refers to miracle mongers are mere mortal men without any supernatural powers but have the knowledge of how to create illusions and wow audiences. Readers will find interesting tricks and objects used to create illusions. Definitely, a must-read book for magicians and anyone engaged in entertainment business! Contents LETTERI. EVERY MAN SHOULD HAVE A HOMEII. A GRATEFUL CLIENTIII. THE BEAUTY OF TRUTH AND UTILITYIV. PROFESSIONAL FOLLYV. BUILDING-SITES AND FOUNDATION-WALLSVI. GRAVEL-BANKS AND QUAGMIRESVII. NATURE'S BRICKS ARE BETTER THAN OURSVIII. THERE IS A SOFT SIDE EVEN TO A STONE WALLIX. A BROAD HOUSE IS BETTER THAN A HIGH ONEX. TROUT BROOKS ARE BETTER THAN STREET SEWERSXI. THE STRENGTH AND DURABILITY OF BRICKXII. THE WEAKNESS AND SHAM OF BRICKWORKXIII. SKILL DIGNIFIES THE MOST HUMBLE MATERIALXIV. EVERY MAN TO HIS TRADEXV. THE COMING HOUSE WILL BE FAIR TO SEE AND MADE OF BRICKXVI. DOMESTIC DISCIPLINEXVII. GOOD TASTE IS NOT A FOE BUT A FRIEND TO ECONOMYXVIII. OUR PICTURESQUE ANCESTORSXIX. THE USE AND THE ABUSE OF WOODXX. A SURRENDER AND CHANGE OF BASEXXI. HOSPITALITY AND SUNLIGHTXXII. UNPROFESSIONAL SAGACITYXXIII. STAIRWAYS AND OUTLOOKSXXIV. IN A MULTITUDE OF COUNSELLORS IS SAFETYXXV. DOORS AND SLIDING-DOORS, WINDOWS AND BAY-WINDOWSXXVI. EXPERIENCE KEEPS A DEAR SCHOOLXXVII. FASHION AND ORNAMENT, HARD WOOD AND PAINTXXVIII. THOUGHT PROVOKES INQUIRYXXIX. CONSISTENCY, COMFORT, AND CARPETSXXX. AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE, POTATOES AND POSTSCRIPTSXXXI. DOMESTIC-SERVICE REFORMXXXII. GO TO; LET US BUILD A TOWERXXXIII. BASEMENTS AND BALCONIESXXXIV. FOUR ROOMS ENOUGHXXXV. CONVENIENCES AND CONJECTURESXXXVI. THE LESSON OF THE ICE-HOUSEXXXVII. SHINGLES, SUNSHINE, AND FRESH AIRXXXVIII. WHERE THE DOCTORS DIFFERXXXIX. HOW TO DO ITXL. THE BREATH OF LIFEXLI. ETERNAL VIGILANCELII. SAVED BY CONSCIENCEXLIII. FINAL AND PERSONAL