On Second Thought... Mentalism, Meaning, and Performance by Paul Draper
Most magic books teach you what to do. This one teaches you why it works, and that distinction changes everything.
On Second Thought collects the first eight years of Paul Draper's column from M-U-M, the official magazine of the Society of American Magicians, and the result is one of the most honest, intelligent, and genuinely useful books written for working performers in years. Not a trick compilation. Not a theory manifesto. A window into the real working life of one of mentalism's most respected and decorated professionals, written with the kind of clarity, depth, and dry wit that makes you want to keep reading long after you planned to stop.
Paul Draper is not a name that needs much introduction. He has headlined The Magic Castle in Hollywood, The Magic Circle in London, and major Las Vegas casinos including The Venetian and Planet Hollywood. He has appeared on the History Channel, HBO, A&E, TNT, and Discovery, and across shows including Pawn Stars, Hell's Kitchen, and Ghost Adventures. He has delivered keynote talks at Apple, Yale, Cambridge, and the United Nations. He is also a trained anthropologist with deep expertise in psychology, human consciousness, leadership, and the science of influence. He brings all of that to every page of this book.
The columns are presented chronologically, which gives the book a natural sense of movement: looking back at formative experiences while pushing forward into new thinking. Each section stands on its own, so you can dip in and out freely, but the cumulative picture that builds across the full book is something richer than the sum of its parts. Guest contributors provide specialist insights throughout, and recommended sources point you toward further exploration whenever a topic earns it.
What you will find inside is a rare combination: complete mentalism and magic effects with the background knowledge that makes them land, side by side with deep dives into performance theory, theatrical presentation, the psychology of belief, and the conditions under which magic genuinely connects with people. The effects are practical and immediately usable. The thinking around them is the kind that quietly reshapes how you approach your entire act.
Lance Burton calls Draper one of the very few people who have both thought deeply about magic and done it in front of paying customers. Richard Osterlind says he has a special connection with his audiences that raises the art to a higher level. Jeff McBride says this book will make your magic and your life better. When performers of that calibre agree this enthusiastically, it is worth paying attention.
"Few people can conjure lucid and creative thoughts to text the way Paul Draper does. Your journey through his writings will bring you joy and enlightenment." Scott Wells, Host of The Magic Word Podcast
"This book will make you a better performer because it invites you to think more deeply about the conditions in which magic truly thrives." Jeff McBride, Founder of the McBride Magic and Mystery School
"These essays move effortlessly from practical how-to insights to bigger questions about why audiences believe, remember, and care." Tobias Beckwith, Theatre author, director, and manager
"Paul Draper is one of the most thoughtful and insightful voices in magic today. He also has a mountain of real-world experience. That is exactly who we should listen to." Lance Burton, Master Magician
Difficulty: Intermediate
Best for: Mentalists, magicians, and performers at every level who want to think more deeply about what they do and why it works
