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Houdini!!!: The Career of Ehrich Weiss | 
| Author: Kenneth Silverman
Publisher: Perennial (HarperCollins)
Category: Book
List Price: $18.00
Buy Used: $5.62
You Save: $12.38 (69%)
Rating:  11 reviews
Media: Paperback
Pages: 544
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.4
ISBN: 006092862X
Dewey Decimal Number: 794.8092
EAN: 9780060928629
ASIN: 006092862X
Publication Date: October 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: The book is clean but may have highlights.
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| Customer Reviews:
 conflict of interest February 18, 2006
ROBERT REESE (EASTON, PA United States)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
The author had a conflict of interest while writing this book. On the one hand, as a former magician, he didn't want to give away any trade "secrets." But as a writer he had the responsibility not to short-change the reader by omitting important details. I found the second half of the book that covered Houdini's bitter relationship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the exposing of fraudulant mediums much more interesting than the first half where Silverman "kept the secrets." How can the reader fully appreciate Houdini's performances if the preparations that went into them are omitted? Besides, there are few magic "secrets" left to be guarded as most have already been published--see Jim Steinmeyer's "Hiding the Elephant" for a recent example. I can understand Silverman's decision to abide by "the code," but it does detract from the book's appeal, hence only three stars.
Houdini Escapes!!! January 4, 2006
J. Lang (Internetsville)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Silverman's biography on Mr Erich Weiss (Houdini), in my opinion, is the best out there on the bookshelf. It's a little long and dry
at parts, but it's packed with interesting information about a mystery man and the life he lived. It's a wonderful insight on his life and the time he lived in. Much recommended for the magic buff, historian, or inquiring mind.
Informative - Yes. But, boring June 27, 2003
MooonChild (Denver, CO United States)
2 out of 16 found this review helpful
I bought this book for my father, who is a huge magic-buff, and recalls hearing about Houdini while growing up. Of course, I knew then that my father never reads books, and my hopes that he would break that pattern and read this one were lost. So, I took it home and read it. Er, read most of it. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the story, but I couldn't get past the fact that the manner in which the book is written was less than enthralling. I just couldn't stay interested! I wanted to, I wanted to!! If you're interested in learning about Houdini, I'd find something smaller to being your foray - like a three-fold brochure or something. Houdini ROCKED! This book doesn't.
 Revisiting a Childhood Hero March 19, 2001
B. PERKINS (Denton, TX United States)
25 out of 25 found this review helpful
From the time I could count my age on my fingers, Houdini fascinated me; I read everything regarding him that I could get my hands on. So I already knew a lot of what Silverman mentions in Houdini!!! However, this book actually managed to surprise me. First of all, most of what I read from the ages of seven to fifteen were biographies written in the "Boy's Life" mode, heroic tales which read more like dime novels than actual biography. Not only does Silverman present an accurate, well-researched account of Houdini's life, he also accounts for many of the myths surrouding Houdini, even in some cases explaining how Houdini himself contributed to some of the confusion. Because the book is so even-handed, I walked away from the book still admiring my childhood hero. Second, Silverman brings a magician's perspective to this biography. He describes at length the presentation and details of the effects that Houdini accomplished, such as the Metamorphoses, the Milk Can Escape, the Chinese Water Torture, and numerous jail and handcuff escapes. However, he does not "give away the store" by spilling the secrets to the man's life. Sure, some of Houdini's secrets are now known, others not, but Silverman refrains from writing a kiss-and-tell book, and I had to admire that. Lastly, Silverman went a lot further than I've ever seen in describing both the man and his times. While I've known for years that Houdini lived in a very exciting time, Silverman portrays him as truly a man for his age. From Houdini's interactions with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Theodore Roosevelt, H.P. Lovecraft, Sarah Bernhardt, and Hollwood's silent film stars, to his involvement with aviation, spiritualism, movie making, and more, Silverman makes a case that Houdini brought together much of what first made the modern age modern. Houdini!!! did not perpetuate the same tall tales that all the movies and Houdini himself put forwrd. Instead, this biography exposed Houdini for what he was--a physically accomplished, master showman, sometimes ego-driven, yet principled man who always struggled to accomplish more. Given the wide array of misinformation that exists about Harry Houdini, this book outshines the rest. Quite enjoyable.
the Index of all Biographies for Houdini August 25, 2000
A. Kral (U.S.A.)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
Informational source containing very detailed events in Houdini's career from birth to death. Is very accurate and well written. This award-winning biography was written with the help of the experts at the Houdini Museum at Scranton, PA. A very reliable source with many unique photos and illustrations. To learn more about Houdini, go to ... .
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