Kodell, Do Something Different

Read exclusive online reviews of products and discuss them.
Kent Gunn
Posts: 753
Joined: May 15th, 2008, 2:05 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Kodell, Do Something Different

Postby Kent Gunn » June 30th, 2011, 11:36 am

This book is available from Jeff Pierce Magic for 59.95. You can click on this link to order it.
http://jeffpiercemagic.com/store/

This is a biography. It has no instructions on how to produce parakeets while you're riding around on ice skates. It shouldn't have any of that stuff in it anyway.

Simply put, the book is about Jack Kodell and his equally famous wife, the former Mary Naylor. Jack has a laundry list of firsts as a magician. Read the book, I'm not tipping all the good stuff!

I literally read the book, cover to cover the day it arrived. I was lucky enough to live near to Jack and Mary and got to see them quite often at the Magic Luncheons close to where I lived.

Little is written in the book about Jack's knowledge and proficiency with a deck of cards. He quietly mentored many fine magicians in Orlando. He also gave me quite a few tips. He was always charming and very giving of his knowledge. His wife remains a stunning beauty to this day. The story in the book of their courtship reads like a movie script. That great story alone is worth the read.

You won't find any tips on how to improve your DPS in this book. You will find a grand story of magic, innovation, inspiration and magic.

Oh, the book comes with some great swag!

Buy this book, read it and be inspired by Jack and Mary's story. Do Something Different!

Kent Gunn
Redwood City, California, U.S.A.

Jeff Pierce Magic
Posts: 670
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Re: Kodell, Do Something Different

Postby Jeff Pierce Magic » June 30th, 2011, 1:54 pm

Hi Kent, thank you for the kind words. Jack and Mary say "hi". I did want to correct one thing, the regular edition for $59.95 does not come with any swag, only the 99.95 Special Edition. I did not want anyone to be confused about that.

Thank you again and more info can be had at www.jeffpiercemagic.com

Jeff Pierce

Kent Gunn
Posts: 753
Joined: May 15th, 2008, 2:05 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Kodell, Do Something Different

Postby Kent Gunn » June 30th, 2011, 4:00 pm

Jeff,

I apologize for my oversight. I'm a swag kinda-guy. Didn't even realize I must've ordered the Special Edition. I'm glad you caught that.

You've done a grand thing by getting Jack's story to us. A grand thing!

Kent

Rick Ruhl
Posts: 686
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Rialto, Ca

Re: Kodell, Do Something Different

Postby Rick Ruhl » July 20th, 2011, 12:49 pm

I met Jack and Mary Monday night and got the book. Read it here at work between software builds.

Talking to Jack and Mary was amazing! And of course, I got pics of us and them to sign it.

Jeff Pierce Magic
Posts: 670
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Re: Kodell, Do Something Different

Postby Jeff Pierce Magic » July 25th, 2011, 8:36 am

Thanks Rick, we had a great evening at Wizards that ended with a book signing by Jack and Mary. I could not be more well deserved.

BTW Deney Haney says the "KODELL Do Something Different" is the best biography he's ever read.

Jeff Pierce

Jeff Pierce Magic
Posts: 670
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Re: Kodell, Do Something Different

Postby Jeff Pierce Magic » August 10th, 2011, 8:58 pm

Read Jamy Ian Swiss's review of Jacks biography "Kodell: Do Something Different" in the September issue.

Thank you
Jeff Pierce

User avatar
Dustin Stinett
Posts: 7254
Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Sometimes
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: Kodell, Do Something Different

Postby Dustin Stinett » September 19th, 2011, 7:58 am

One of the reasons I do not do book reviews for Genii is that I read slowly. I savor books and, now that I'm finally done, here are my thoughts on this most savory autobiography:


Of my top ten favorite books on magic, several are biographical. To make it in my top ten, a book has to be one that I have read more than twice, so a biography needs to be particularly well done for me to revisit it that often. I love well-written biographies. A student of magic can learn more than just the what, where, and when of its subject. There are often lessons on performance, show business, and even life lessons.

Id read the name Jack Kodell here and there; usually in articles about other performers. But I knew nothing about him. I saw video of his unique act in the collection of magicians performances on the You Asked For It DVDs (released by Todd Karr and Bill McIlhany). I could certainly see how that act would take him around the world, but that clip tells us nothing of the man. Thank goodness for biographies, for now I not only know about Jack Kodell, I feel like I now know him.

Reading Jack Kodells autobiography, Kodell: Do Something Different (published by Jeff Pierce) is like sitting in a room with him speaking. Instead of sitting in a comfortable chair, reading alone under the warm, soft glow of incandescent light, its easy to imagine two matching chairs, the warm, soft glow of a fire, and Jack Kodell sitting across from you telling his amazing stories of a young life in magic.

His one-of-a-kind magic act (and later a second completely different one-of-a-kind act) carried him from the United States (including being the first magician to ever perform in one of Las Vegass three hotel/casinos) to Europe, the Middle East, the Subcontinent of Asia, and North Africa. He performed in the best and most famous venues in those parts of the world. And his magic accompanied him through love, personal tragedy, hard times, and prosperityand all during a period when the Golden Age of Magic was in its death throes; when being a magician was anything but easy. And the reader can tell, by sometimes reading between the lines and sometimes not, that he did it through perseverance, faith, and an impeccable work ethic.

His conversational and chatty prose is often interrupted by notes. Instead of dry, academic footnotes, these interruptions of the narrative clarify, callback, or foreshadow his thoughtsjust the way someone would do when verbally telling a story. On a few occasions, the direct words of Kodells wife, Marya star of stage and screen in her native Englandare inserted into the story. Again, one can easily imagine her interrupting her husband so the listener gets the whole story, and gets it right. A lesser writeror perhaps one with a greater egowould have (and easily could have) recounted these stories himself. But all these welcome interjectionsthere are also others from friendsgive us an insight to Jack Kodells character as well as his love, respect, and deep devotion to his wife.

Besides being part love story, the book makes it quite clear that Kodell is also devoted to his family and friends. Several of themand the list of friends often reads like a whos who of magic and show businessreceive special and extended recognition in the book. Sometimes heart wrenching, and in another testament to his character, Kodell always seems able to find the positivesthe beauty and lessons of lifein these inescapable moments experienced during a lifetime.

The book is profusely illustrated with photos, clippings, brochures, and other graphics that follow the timeline of the book, versus having them clustered in one or two sections. This visual record adds greatly to the narrative, and again its as if Kodell is handing the listener the ephemeral evidence of his story as hes telling it.

And through it all are these remarkable stories; stories thateven though he often says, you wont believe this, but are so wild that they must be true because, well, who could make them up? Really, who the world would even consider putting a trailer hitch on a Jag?

Jack Kodells life in magic (and beyond) is a wonder-filled story told by a wonderful storyteller. Im thrilled to have read through it this first time and look forward to the second; and likely more. So my only problem now is figuring out which current title in my top ten loses its place.

Dustin Stinett

Kodell: Do Something Different can be found at jeffpiercemagic.com


Return to “Light from the Lamp ONLINE.”