Persi Diaconis Radio Interview

[Dustin Stinett]

Please to enjoy:

http://7thavenueproject.com/post/923532 ... athematics

[MManchester]

Many thanks for this! My preferred walk is an hour and a half round trip and I'm running out of magic-related audio to listen to, having exhausted the Magic Newswire podcasts that appeal to me. A long interview readily available as a download is fantastic. If anyone has other suggestions they would be appreciated. (Of course I'm aware of the Skinner Tapes, but cost and the need to rip physical CDs are a barrier to that purchase right now.)

[Joe Mckay]

This is an amazing interview. Thanks so much for the link.

It is one of the best interviews I have ever heard in magic. And the best that Persi has given. He seems a lot more relaxed and open here than in previous interviews. I have never heard him discuss his experiences in magic in this way before.

Quick question. Persi Diaconis discussed why he doesn't like sharing magic tricks with other magicians. And he then talks about an elegant trick he invented with just a single playing card.

Apparently - 40 years ago - he shared this trick with Paul Swinford. And Paul Swinford started to show it around at different lectures. And eventually Diaconis heard about this, got upset and asked Swinford to stop demonstrating his prized creation that he had spent years creating.

Anyway - a couple of years ago, Diaconis got a letter from a magician who had seen this trick at a Swinford lecture - and wanted Diaconis's permission to share his own variation.

Diaconis refused. And hinted that he may reprint the trick in the second volume of 'Magical Mathematics'.

The magician then ignored Diaconis's request - and in the past 6 months - went ahead and published the trick under his own name. With no credit to Diaconis.

Anyone know what the trick is? I am racking my brain and nothing comes to mind.

Diaconis tells the story at the 1 hour mark in the interview above.

[Richard Kaufman]

It should be pretty easy to locate a trick with a single playing card.

[Chris Aguilar]

Fun interview. In terms of the unknown card trick, these days I don't have much interest in work that is unpublished by the choice of the creator. Goodness knows there's no shortage of great stuff already on my shelf to which I could devote my time.

[Joe Mckay]

I have a theory as to which trick Diaconis thinks is a rip off of one of his.

My lips are sealed. Partly because I suspect I am probably wrong.

But who knows?

[erdnasephile]

Dustin:

Thanks for posting the interview--very much enjoyed it.

I have to confess: I had always felt that Dr. Diaconis' comment regarding animals and tools was a little over the top. However, after listening to the story he relates Re: folks blatantly stealing his stuff, I can begin to understand his and Mr. Jay's reticence to talk magic with anyone who hasn't already earned their respect. (I'm not saying I would handle things the same way, but having been a victim of people stealing my professional work, I can certainly empathize.)

Such an interesting contrast how he feels towards teaching mathematics versus magic. I suspect the big difference there is that 1) the grad students he mentors have already earned the chance to be taught by him, and 2) have a far greater chance of accomplishing great things with the knowledge he imparts, as opposed to the typical magic lumpen.

He really sounds like a fascinating person, and I'm sorry I'll never get to meet him.

[Joe Mckay]

I am happy for those guys to keep their secrets.

I am in no doubt it will not compare to the brilliant ideas which can be freely found in the books of Elmsley, Walton and Sadowitz.

Let them keep their tiny tiny secrets.

Remember the hype about the legendary Castle Notebooks?

Where is that hype now?

Most of the people who bought the first one never bothered trying to buy the rest of the series.

[John McDonald]

Listening to this (twice so far) was pure unadulterated joy!

[Brad Henderson]

those grapes were surely sour anyway. - the crow.

[Joe Mckay]

lol - I am not sure if that is aimed at me.

But my interests in magic have changed. I will take a single Lubor Fiedler trick over the complete works of Ricky Jay and Persi Diaconis.

If Lubor Fiedler suddenly became a 'secret monger' - I would be pretty devastated. The guy is the only legit genius in the history of magic.

As for Diaconis and Ricky Jay. And Dai Vernon for that matter. Nothing they have produced is as good as what Roy Walton and Alex Elmsley put in print.

People get so precious about card tricks and secrets. I remember reading about Stephen Minch telling Elmsley that he deserved credit for Marlo's ATFUS move.

"It's just card tricks...", he responded. With a shrug.

That is the reaction of a guy who knows he has ten more great ideas for every one that is stolen from him.

[Ted M]

It's possible to praise someone without putting down someone else.

You can do it!

[Joe Mckay]

Man - I'm a jerk.

Apologies if I upset anyone!

[prodigy]

I'm starting to suspect "bits and pieces"