The technology of the 21st century has blown the doors wide open for magic, allowing more people than ever before to learn and practice any trick they could ever dream of. But even with the immediacy of DVDs and streaming video, there’s still something to be said for the power books still have.

In part one of our five-part interview with legendary French close-up magician Bernard Bilis at GeniiCon 2017, he talks about the process of learning magic through books. While illusionists may struggle with translating the words on the page into action, Bilis says that’s all part of the process, and making your brain work will make you a better illusionist.

For more clips from the interview, check out the links below:  

Part two: Bernard Bilis prefers close-up because you can “you can make it all around the world with only a pack of cards”

Part three: Bernard Bilis’ favorite trick? “The next one”

Part four: On posting magic online: “If they see everything on the web, they don’t come to see the lecture”

Part five: The two words that describe what magic means to Bernard Bilis