Make Believe: Discovering and Creating Magical Experiences

In this collection of twenty-eight essays, D. Michael Smith, a retired pastoral/family psychotherapist and life-long magician, explores the meanings and implications of make-belief, imagination, creativity, play, wonder and the theatrical arts for magical performances. The essays, divided into three sections, explore the life enriching and entertaining psychologies, philosophies, and presentations involved in the "make-believing" art of performance magic.

In addition, the author fully describes and presents the scripts for his own close-up and stand-up presentations of three classics of magic: (1) "A Fantasy Vacation" (Scotch and Soda); (2) "Deeper Mystery Egg Bag" (Egg Bag); and (3) "A Whole Ball of Wax" (Gypsy Floss).

The book also includes a detailed reading list, as well as an appendix comparing and contrasting the world of imaginative make-believe with the autistic and realistic worlds, and an online link to a twenty-one page index of thirteen primaryl themes found in the major publications of magic philosopher, prolific writer, and creator of original origami and magic effects and stories.