We are the world-wide only source for the PDF version of this exciting book.  In the USA, print copies will be available here; outside the USA, print copies will be available here.

Amaze is a category-defying, hard-to-describe book. Breaking disciplinary and conceptual boundaries, it is not a book about magic tricks, but it is indeed a most magical book that introduces a magical perspective into everyday life.

Widely acclaimed by people from the worlds of magic, business, and experience design, Amaze is a manual on how to create "magical experiences" and make magical things happen in daily life--for friends, family, colleagues, clients, and even strangers. It is a book about "thinking like a magician" to unleash the power of wonder and surprise in everyday life. Creating Magical Experiences is like a nonfiction version of magical realism. 

The authors move seamlessly between the realms of science, art, and magic, seeking wonder at every turn. They delight in inspiring us all to cultivate curiosity and embrace astonishment in our daily lives. This brilliant book is an empowering grimoire for hacking reality and giving the gift of magical experiences to others. 

Product details

PDF:  231 pages, plus covers

Praise for Amaze

Derren Brown (from the preface):

"Wonder, then, is a tricky business. Mariano and Ferdinando admirably avoid the trap of... posturing and step respectfully around their target. Like a rainbow that disappears when approached too closely, some things are best tackled indirectly. The examples and discussions in this book form an homage to [Wonder], an elusive state of mind, which is in part something childlike and primeval, but often requires the intellectual engagement of an adult to stir us most powerfully."

Joshua Jay:

Amaze is an insightful meditation on what makes magic… magical. While it draws on the authors' vast experience in making magical experiences, it can and will be enjoyed by anyone with a curiosity about human nature and the role of magic plays in our lives.

Jeff McBride:

The authors trailblaze new territory in the world of magic. Amaze full of fresh ideas and techniques that will inspire you to create your own extraordinary magical experiences.

Robert E. Neale:

Amaze is surely a "museum of wonders."  It is equally a house of fun.  Either way it is an astonishing collection of incidents and comments on the theme of designing magical experiences.  Enjoy it as easy reading of delightful examples that will make you grin and laugh at outrageous exploits.  Or explore it by reflecting on the possibilities that will challenge you to function as a magician in a highly theatrical way without either the traditional theater or even the performing magician.  The text is a lively exploration of how fully entertaining and magical that can be.  Amazing!

 

Authors bio:

Ferdinando Buscema

Ferdinando is a designer of magical experiences for personal and organizational growth. With a background in mechanical engineering, humanistic psychology, and hermetic traditions, Ferdinando has been chosen as a partner by leading companies to create high-value events, learning experiences, and edutainment-based trainings. An award winning magician and sleight-of-hand artist, Ferdinando is a member of and performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, the most exclusive stage for magical entertainment. He is presently the Magician-in-Residence at the Palo Alto based think tank Institute For The Future, and he collaborates with the blog Boing Boing.

www.ferdinando.biz

Mariano Tomatis

Writer and magician, Mariano is professionally devoted to wonder and its cultural, historical ,and political implications. He has published several books on the topic. Curator of Rennes-le-Château Museum and the People’s Magic Library, he was granted a visiting fellowship by the University of Warwick (UK) for the event Mesmerized! Deception, Belief, and Enchantment. As a militant storyteller, he is a member of the Wu Ming Foundation and collaborates with the blog Giap. 

www.marianotomatis.it