JHostler wrote:Steve Mills wrote:I always enjoyed HLs Last Word and frequently read the tricks he mentioned there first.
Of course, there was/is always a huge price to pay for HL's excitement. Many (including myself) have found the tone... if yaknowwhatImean... "difficult." IMHO, Kaufman and Minch have set the modern standard.
Oh, I am a massive fan of Harry Lorayne's "excitement". And his writing style is superb. Learning is a serious thing and it can be hard going for some. Anything that can sweeten the process and make it more interesting has to be a good thing. It encourages you to keep reading. I learned more from the teachers at school that imparted the facts in an interesting or even amusing way than the ones who droned on and on in a boring manner.
And of course this kind of thing gives you an insight into the personality of the author. Somehow (and I confess I don't know quite how) this makes the subject easier to learn.
Perhaps this is why I found the Thirteen Steps to Mentalism easier to digest than Annemann's Practical Mental Effects which I have hardly looked at even though the material is probably much stronger than that in the Corinda book. The 13 Steps is easier and more entertaining to read with little quips and flashes of humour from Corinda which make the learning easier.
No. I am all for Harry's "excitement" and enthusiasm. It makes his writing come alive. And apart from anything else his clarity in describing technical moves is extraordinary. I have done a little writing myself trying to describe moves and sleights. It is a surprisingly difficult thing to do. I have tried my best but I wish I had that innate instinct for clarity that Harry has.