If you're just starting out in magic or looking to expand your repertoire without spending a fortune, there's no better way than stocking your shelves with tried-and-true classic books. These budget-friendly magic books offer a wealth of knowledge, sleights, routines, and theory—all for a fraction of the cost of modern downloads and props. Divided into categories for Card Magic, Coin Magic, Miscellaneous Magic, and Mental Magic, this list includes foundational texts and hidden gems that every magician should consider.

Card Magic

1. The Royal Road to Card Magic
A true cornerstone of card magic, this book guides you step by step through sleights and routines. Ideal for beginners and intermediate performers, it builds a strong foundation while also teaching full tricks using the skills you’ve just learned.

2. Scarne on Cards
Written by gambling expert John Scarne, this book blends entertainment magic with card cheating techniques. You'll learn valuable sleight-free and practical effects with Scarne’s signature simplistic style.

3. Expert at the Card Table
S.W. Erdnase’s classic text is a must-read for serious students of card sleight of hand. It's dense and technical, but it’s also the bible for close-up card manipulators. A historic and highly respected volume.

4. Expert Card Technique
Authored by Hugard and Braue, this is a comprehensive follow-up to "Royal Road." It goes deeper into advanced sleights and flourishes while introducing a range of polished professional routines.

5. Encyclopedia of Card Tricks
This massive collection by Jean Hugard catalogs hundreds of card tricks across every imaginable method. It’s a reference book you’ll revisit for years, whether you're interested in gimmicks or impromptu magic.

6. Basic Card Magic – by Sam Fury
A beginner-friendly modern primer that simplifies the learning curve. Fury focuses on practical effects that are easy to learn and effective in performance.

7. Card Tricks for Beginners – by Andrew West
Perfect for the true novice, this book outlines easy-to-follow tricks that don’t require complex sleight of hand. West’s teaching style emphasizes fun and quick wins.

8. Mathematics, Magic and Mystery – by Martin Gardner
Blending math and magic, Gardner teaches astonishing self-working effects rooted in arithmetic, permutations, and probability. A thinking magician’s dream.

9. Self-Working Card Tricks – by Karl Fulves
A timeless collection of effects that require no sleight of hand. Fulves’ explanations are clear and concise, making this ideal for those who want to perform powerful magic without knuckle-busting technique.

10. My Best Self-Working Card Tricks – by Karl Fulves
A follow-up to his first volume, this book features Fulves’ hand-picked favorite self-working effects—perfect for beginners or professionals looking for dependable material.

11. Charles Jordan's Best Card Tricks – by Karl Fulves
Fulves compiles and updates the works of Charles Jordan, a prolific early 20th-century creator. The tricks blend clever construction with minimal handling for maximum impact.

Coin Magic

12. Modern Coin Magic – by J.B. Bobo
The definitive encyclopedia of coin magic. Bobo’s work is comprehensive, covering everything from palms and vanishes to routines and theory. No coin magician's library is complete without it.

13. Complete Book of Coin Tricks – by Jean Hugard
An excellent alternative or complement to Bobo’s book, Hugard presents a range of sleights and effects with detailed instruction and logical progression.

14. Self-Working Coin Magic – by Karl Fulves
This slim but potent volume offers coin tricks requiring little to no sleight of hand. Ideal for beginners or stage magicians who want quick, impromptu coin effects.

15. Secrets in Coin Magic – by Leonard Rangel
A lesser-known gem, this book reveals clever, offbeat routines and subtleties. Rangel’s approach is modern and practical, with material suitable for real-world performance.

Miscellaneous Magic

16. Complete Course in Magic – by Mark Wilson
A beloved classic, this book offers hundreds of effects using everyday objects. It’s the perfect general magic book for beginners and hobbyists. Covers cards, coins, mentalism, stage magic, and more—with illustrations throughout.

17. Complete Course in Modern Magic – by Jean Hugard
This all-in-one guide covers a broad range of magical topics including apparatus, presentation, and sleight of hand. Hugard’s language is formal but highly instructive.

18. Magic: The Complete Course – by Joshua Jay
Written by a modern pro with a gift for teaching, Jay’s book is filled with photos, clear instructions, and real-world performance tips. A great first book for anyone new to magic.

19. Mind-Blowing Magic Tricks for Everyone – by Oscar Owen
Accessible and engaging, this book emphasizes visual, modern tricks using cards, coins, and everyday items. Designed for today’s YouTube generation of magicians.

Mental Magic

20. Practical Mental Magic – by Theodore Annemann
Annemann is a legend in mentalism, and this book is his legacy. With timeless effects using billets, playing cards, and psychology, it’s a toolkit for creating the illusion of real mind reading.

21. Self-Working Mental Magic – by Karl Fulves
Like his card and coin books, Fulves delivers easy-to-do yet baffling tricks. This volume focuses on predictions, ESP tests, and thought-of card routines.

22. Easy to Master Close-Up Mentalism – by James Clark
Clark simplifies mentalism for casual performers, offering quick-hit effects that pack strong reactions with minimal preparation.

23. Mental Magic: Spoon Bending, Mind Reading, Clairvoyance – by Max Mindbender & Andreas Arimont
A practical entry into the world of metal bending and psychic stunts. It focuses on bold methods and clever deceptions that play big.

24. Mental Magic – by Al Baker
You can pretty much expect excellence from anything produced by Al Baker. This book digs into the performance mindset, as well as trick principles behind impressive mental feats.

25. Jean Hugard’s Mental Magic
A lesser-known Hugard gem, this book teaches mentalism effects grounded in classic magic structure. A solid addition to any mentalist’s collection.

Bonus: The Chronicles of Declan Pierce
The Chronicles of Declan Pierce are a very budget-friendly option to help build your magic repertoire. They are also a one-of-a-kind means of magic instruction. The series blends fictional storytelling with original, hard-hitting yet easy-to-perform magic for the modern magician. The magic taught focuses on card magic and mentalism, offering new takes on old methods as well as completely new techniques for creating miracles.

 Final Thoughts

You don’t need a massive budget to become a great magician. With these 25 carefully selected books, you can begin mastering the core pillars of magic—card, coin, mentalism, and miscellaneous close-up—all while gaining insights from some of the greatest minds in the history of the art. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate performer looking to expand your range, these books will help you grow your repertoire, sharpen your technique, and build lasting magical knowledge—without breaking the bank.