One of the books I would put on my list of 10 magic books to be stranded on a desert island with...  Marvin Kaye wrote a very serious and instructive magic book that teaches many different kinds of magic, and emphasizes theatricality and presentation.  Excellent lessons on sleights, mentalism, ropes, iompromptu and beginning magic.  This is the 1975 paperback edition.  Spine has some cracks, but it is solid and all pages attached an intact.  If you do not have this book, you should have it.  Buy it, and I guarantee you will find it to be one of the best books on magic you have read.  300 pages.