Ricky Jay

[Brown]

I heard Ricky Jay interviewed on public radio tonight "("Fresh Air"). He has just written a new book on the subject of dice. ("Dice: Deception, Fate, and Rotten Luck," available at Amazon.com.) It may be worth a look.

Jay has also written about various curiosities and scams. Has anyone read any of his books? Would you recommend them?

 

[SteveW]

I enjoy both his books and his work in Mamet films. He is an odd bird in RL though.

 

[headscratcher4]

Saw him perform in St. Louis a couple of years ago...great fun. Mostly card stunts, but in a very intimate setting...only about 200 people (on purpose). It was a great show.

I also read one of his books....Learned Pigs and Fire Proof Women, I recall enjoying it very much, though it was a couple of years back and I can't really tell you anymore what it was about, save the art of circus and carnival tricks and performing....

 

[rustypouch]

I have never seen him live, but he is one of my favorires.

I would love to get a copy of 'Cards as Weapons.' Right now I can throw a card with reasonable accuracy across a room, but cannot make it penetrate a watermelon.

 

[homunculus]

I think Ricky Jay is in a league of his own, so far as throwing cards goes. We're talking hundreds and hundreds of hours practice here, literally...

Paul.