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First of all, that's great! I'm always happy to meet someone who wants to give magic a start! Don't worry about being good at it yet, it's a very involved performance art, but once you know the core fundamentals (misdirection, audience management, sleight of hand, banterful patter) it's super easy to get into.

If you want to know how I personally started seeking out magic to learn, it was around age 12 with a book called Now You See It, Now You Don't by Bill Tarr. That was my first book on sleight of hand and it covers a multitude of moves and sleights with various objects like coins, cards, and balls. I studied that book like it was a holy text and learned every move, though I didn't quite know how routines worked yet and I wasn't especially charismatic at the time. Not to sound dramatic, but that book had a huge impact on my life and very much shaped the person I would become. I still have that same copy on my shelf. After that it was the Royal Road to Card Magic for my first real introduction to card magic and card routines, but that was a much denser book. It wasn't until a bit later that I discovered online magic stores and downloadable instructional videos. They were so accessible and easy to diget, my desire to learn skyrocketed.

The first I found was penguinmagic.com when I was maybe 13? It's still my gold standard for online magic shopping; my first purchase was Sponge by Jay Noblezada, game changing magic for a kid. From there I graduated to coin magic routines from In the Beginning There Were Coins (also Jay). I recommend sponge or coin magic to start if you want an easy introduction to the principles and fundamentals of sleight of hand.

After that, just before starting high school, I found ellusionist.com and the "leather coat" magicians like Brad Christian and Justin Miller (they've since become more hipsterish, and still a great resource). They were edgy, cool, and influenced my personal style an unfortunate amount... I wore a lot of black and gray back then.

Just before high school I stumbled onto theory11.com, which had more of an artful feel to it, but it's there that I found out about Daniel Madison's Dangerous video. His card magic shaped my performance style in a huge way. He was so laid back and casual about his massive skill. I got really into gambling sleights and card control and manipulation around that time. Cards became almost my exclusive medium for years after that.

I'm 27 now and I'm more into organic magic that fits in one pocket, so less cards and more coins, rubber bands, and mentalism. I use a lot of different resources and it's mostly advanced stuff, I love the challenge of complex sleights though! Those books, those sites and those names guided me into the world of magic.

You can find some other great starting resources on the r/Magic subreddit they have a pretty comprehensive list. There are also a ton of free materials in the public domain available through libraries, google, youtube, tons of effects and fun routines you can learn quickly and easily. If you ever have any questions, need some direction, or just want to chat about where to start, I'm happy to help!

Do you have a type of magic or magician you especially enjoy?

Can I give you a list? Imma give you a list with a little from each category. I LOVE books and posts like this!

Non-fiction or Books About Things:

The Lost City of Z: In 1925, the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett ventured into the Amazon jungle, in search of a fabled civilization. He never returned. Over the years countless perished trying to find evidence of his party and the place he called “The Lost City of Z.” In this masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, journalist David Grann interweaves the spellbinding stories of Fawcett’s quest for “Z” and his own journey into the deadly jungle, as he unravels the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century. Cumberbatch will play him in the movie version of this.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers: Hilariously gross and just super interesting. Her writing is like a non-fiction Terry Pratchett. Everything she's written is great, but this one is my favorite.

Devil in the White City: All about HH Holmes and his murder hotel during the Chicago World's Fair. Incredibly well-written and interesting.

The Outlaw Trail: Written in 1920 by the first superintendent of Capitol Reef National Park (aka, the area around Robber's Roost). He went around interviewing the guys who were still alive from the original Wild Bunch, plus some of the other outlaws that were active during that time. Never read anything else with actual interviews from these guys and it's a little slice of life from the end of the Wild West.

Fiction, Fantasy, Sci-Fi:

Here I'm only going to give you the less known stuff. You can find Sanderson (light epic fantasy), Pratchett (humor / satire fantasy), Adams (humor fantasy), etc easily in any bookstore. They are fantastic and should be read, but they are easy to find. I suggest:

The Cloud Roads: Martha Wells is an anthropologist and it shows in her world building in every series. She creates societies instead of landscapes. These are very character-driven and sometimes emotional.

The Lion of Senet: Jennifer Fallon starts a great political thriller series with this book. If you like shows like House of Cards or things where there's a lot of political plotting, sudden twists, and a dash of science v. religion, then you'll love these.

The Book of Joby: Do you want to cry? This book will make you cry. Mix arthurian legend with some God & Devil archetypes and it's just this very powerful story. Even though it deals with religious themes and icons, I wouldn't say it's a religious book. Reads more like mythology.

On Basilisk Station: Awesome military space opera. Really good sci-fi.

Grimspace: Pulpy space opera. Brain bubble gum instead of serious reading. But that's fun sometimes too!

I also want to talk about your definition of "made it in life." To me, that sounds like you probably mean "rich and/or famous", which I don't think is a sound yardstick by which to measure yourself. I'm pretty successful by the traditional yardstick - I've got a good job and a good house. But I don't really care about that stuff, it just enables me to do what I want to do - to be successful at what I care about. Which is my relationship, my dog (3 months old, woo! A dream 8 years in the making), and woodworking.

You're invested in Psychology, which is an amazing field with so many interesting twists and turns! I've loved books like 'Thinking: Fast and Slow', and it seems like a fantastic field! But you're probably not going into Psychology with an aim to make money - you're probably doing it because it interests you, and you love the idea of being a Psychologist. That's your success measure, not anything extrinsic.

On that note - before I went to University I wanted nothing more than a Ph.D in Physics, and to become an academic. For me, that didn't work out - I started again after finishing my second year in Physics, and started again in Computer Science. I then went on to start a career as a Software Engineer type person. At the time, I thought myself a massive failure for not managing to achieve my dream - but I'm happy now, and I've got no regrets. It didn't take long to get that way either. Remember your yardstick can change, as long as it stays yours.


I'd thoroughly recommend reading "The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck"
It taught me how to care passionately about specific things, and see those goals as successes. And to tune out the rest of it.

I also absolutely loved "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelious which talks about our place in the world, and our duty to it.

A therapist is going to be able to help you with this way more than anyone here (especially since apparently half the people here are suicidal). They're specifically trained for this kind of thing and can give you techniques, behaviors, medications etc. that are tailored just for your situation.

That said it sounds like your problem is concentrating on negative things. There are a lot of options to help with that. Mindfulness helps a lot and can be worked on with meditation. Keeping your life in general good order is another important step (exercise, sleep, nutrition, being social, keeping an active mind). After that I think the important thing is to identify what you really care about (your values) and stay busy working towards them. It's hard to be so negative when you're in the moment and things are going well in your life.

There are tons of books that can help too. Here's a fairly simple one that I enjoyed. Otherwise I'd recommend books on ACT therapy (e.g. "The Happiness Trap"), Stoicism (this one is good), Meditation ("Mindfulness in Plain English" is good and free), and CBT therapy (I like this one, though it's kinda long). "The Happiness Hypothesis" is another good overview type book.

Learning how to do magic might be something to look into. It can get expensive, but if you're smart about it and you're willing to put in a good amount of work it can be pretty cheap. Get a deck of bicycles ($2-3) and The Royal Road to Card Magic (≈$10) and start working. That's an older book and a lot of modern beginners ignore it, but it has great information.

The biggest problem with learning magic as cheaply as possible is that you have to learn primarily from books. It's not a massive problem, but it can get really confusing when someone is trying to describe a slight without any real demonstration. I can list some other pros/cons if you're interested. It's a fantastic hobby and it'll help build creativity and dexterity.

I ordered this, a wake up light. A friend of mine suggested it for waking up easier. I did my research and most every review said it works great. I'm in grad school so I'm usually up early to make it to campus, and I figured it might help me get a better start to my day. So I used a little money from the holidays for a gift from me to me!

I know that feeling. Well. I first wanna say, you're not alone, and second there is a way out. Its in your mind. its how you see and perceive things. try to start in the morning getting up and as soon as you realize your awake - Focus on your breathing, in and out. calm, slow breathing. and start thinking of the things that are good in your life and what you have to be grateful for. Think about the cool things you get to do, or that you want to do. Have those thoughts in your mind when you get up. Try it.

start looking into self help books. Like:
[(https://www.amazon.ca/Power-Now-Guide-Spiritual-Enlightenment/dp/1577314808)]
[http://www.daniellelaporte.com/store/shop/books/the-fire-starter-sessions-paperback.html]

Oh wow that's crazy tounread that in fourth grade! I don't know if I could handled that so young. i could barely do it at 15!



I love them too! I love that you get to play through the second game as a Big Dadsy and get to interact with the Little Sisters more. It's really cool to explore Rapture from a different perspective. Is it this book. I have this book and have yet to read it. Did you not like the second one? Doesn't seem like many people do.



It is a lot, and a World History class should be broken down into like 5 classes or so cause that's a ridiculous amount of history to know. I also get mixed uo on differenr battles.-. There really is too much too remember, but finding one or two things that makes it fascinating or ar least stands out, always helped me remember the rest of the "story." Haha I've heard of that, I definitelt have the english/history brain. I can compehend most math, but science goes right over my head. I've always been envious of people who can actuallt understand science. High school does cram a lot way too fast. Going to college I was surprised at the difference in how there was less of a rush to learn it all.

>Whenever i tend to try to meditate i fall asleep.

Are you sitting upright?

My best advice is that mediation isn't only limited to sitting down. What you're essentially doing when meditating is tapping into the present moment, which can also be done during everyday activities. By doing so you can easier experience the benefits from meditation in your everyday life. Just notice the sensations in your body, your breath, your vision, your thoughts etc. while doing the things you normally do, and over time your awareness will be strengthened.

I recommend the book The Power of Now to get an in-depth view of this.

If you haven't read it, you should check out Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. Each chapter is about a different use for bodies that have been donated to science. It's humorous, engaging informative, and fun. Really great read!

If you like video games and delving into backstories...

Bioshock: Rapture by John Shirley

Sci-Fi / Horror(?)

I particularly like it because it was able to capture the feel of the Bioshock series - dark, mysterious, dramatic and sometimes creepy. I love the fact that radical political ideologies come into play, and the story line is much deeper than most common video games out there. It enriches your experience for the series, and John's writing is easy to read.

I was going through this thinking that I guess I don't really have any brand loyalties, but I think this one applies. Really though, if anyone is looking for a great set of headphones the HD202s are a phenomenal set in the 25 USD range. I've had mine for about 7 months and couldn't be happier.

They also make higher-end stuff. That being said, the entry-level stuff is great for the layman, and the more expensive stuff is probably just for the most affluent audiophiles.

Strong recommendation for David Mitchell's The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (Dutch clerk in late 18th/early 19th century Dejima, lots of depth, gorgeous prose) and for Walter Moers's Rumo and his Miraculous Adventures (fantastical but oddly profound; I'd pick it up even if it doesn't sound like something you'd enjoy). I finished both of these very recently and they were amazing. They hopped right on my list of favourite books, if I'm honest.

Otherwise, I'd very much recommend my all-time favourites: Le Petit Prince (in French or English), Under Milk Wood, Cloud Atlas, and To Kill a Mockingbird (which is always worth a re-read, too).

I included Amazon links so that you know exactly which books I'm talking about, but please consider buying from local bookshops!

I actually have three "diaries":

1. Q&A a day journal. Different prompts that I need to respond to each day. This I am getting a little bored of, but I have to continue.
   
   
2. A small notebook for "A Statement a Day". This is where I write one statement (or a couple statements or questions) every day about anything. What I was thinking, what I feel, what happened, ect.
   
   
3. An online private blog. This is written in less frequently, but when I do write an entry, it can be quite extensive. I write about things that have been on my mind for a long time, feelings about events or people, my life, myself. The "deep" stuff, but also whatever stuff scattered throughout.
   
   I have these journals and write in them because I usually don't have anyone else to discuss whatever it is I write about. It's not only that I don't have anyone to talk to, but is also that I can't really talk to them about the matters. I also enjoy looking back at the stuff I write. Some of it is just storing memories. It's a time capsule and they're always fun and nostalgic.

There are so many great books! The Brontes' work, Jane Austen, War and Peace, everything by Dostoyevsky....Sometimes it takes a while to get into certain of the great books, but they always pay off.

Also, in case you haven't read them, check out David Mitchell's early work--Ghostwritten, Number9Dream, and Cloud Atlas all are brilliant.

Thanks. I do use Flux, and also have a sun-esque light alarm which is super cool. I used to have an alarm where I had to go outside and take a picture of a certain tree for the alarm to turn off.

(If anone is interested: https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Wake-Up-Colored-Simulation-HF3520/dp/B0093162RM/ref=pd_cp_121_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0093162RM&pd_rd_r=4VXJN99CQ009Z4TQYW9W&pd_rd_w=ccJd6&pd_rd_wg=wr8Yq&psc=1&refRID=4VXJN99CQ009Z4TQYW9W)

I think I am just some kind of night creature.

Early to mid 20s suck ass. I guess it's not a HUGE sample size to go off of, but both my sister and I agreed that the 20s suck, and both of our lives started really getting a bit better around the late 20's/early 30s...and I feel like a lot of people would agree with that. I know for people with bipolar (which is a part of my illness), you start to age out of it around the mid-30s...if you have been practicing healthy habits up to that point as best as you can, and maturing as a normal human being.

Do you believe that suicide will take one to hell? Also, yeah, I have met a lot of people who don't believe I'm going to hell...I think it's possible, since I have accepted Jesus as my savior, but I also think I may be too late. Can't really control it at this point. But I have other varying beliefs such as, the intensity of hell may depend upon what I do from here on out, so I still have some sort of control over my fate.

I tried practicing mindfulness a few times over the past few years, and did it wrong which actually made me feel worse (I found out the hard way that the key to living in the present is to also be equally nonjudgmental and accepting of the present moment) but I have been reading "The Mindful Way through Depression" and it has explained it better than any other book or website I have come across. Also I have finally gotten back into the habit of meditating which helps too, LOL

Well, you could pick up the dnd starter set which has all the basics for starting out. /r/dnd also has a ton of great resources.

I've got one of those too! (As you may have guessed, I do not do well with the lack of sunlight during winter months.) I like this one because it's a little tinted – starts out with a reddish hue when it's dim and then gets really bright, like an actual sunrise.

For what it's worth, I don't ruminate during the day either — only at night lying in bed. My mom does it too, though she unfortunately doesn't see how it's affecting her sleep.

When we're in these kinds of mental states, like feeling worthless or ineffectual, it's difficult to apply logic. So it's hard for me think of something specific to say that you probably haven't thought of, other than to remind you that you are doing what you can.

If it helps, or you haven't, I can't recommend meditation or a mindful practice like yoga enough. Our ego only has the power that we give it. All these internal thoughts come from a part of your brain that's trying to protect you - it's a mental fight or flight mode. It's like we're so bored and feeling so safe that we need to create "problems" for ourselves when we're just trying to sleep.

Yoga helped me because if you stop paying attention, you fall. It lead me to meditation, though I don't practice as often as I should. If you want a meditation buddy, I'm down.

This book is great. It explains a lot from a scientific as well as philosophical and practical level:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286

Since you're listing shyness and social anxiety, I'm going to assume you're introverted. You should spend some time exploring the strengths of introversion and help separate your shyness from your introverted nature, because they're not the same and it's helpful to understand the difference. I'd recommend this book, for starters.

I bought these magnificent headphones: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86

The point is to draw, it's the process, not the end.

Do this program https://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Right-Side-Brain-Definitive/dp/1585429201 it works, and not just for nudes! LOL

These beauties changed my music life forever.

Celebrate and Promote:

3 years ago, I wanted to give up my life and end it all.

Today, I bought my poetry book which I published on Amazon.

Keep living, it helps.

Links for Kindle eBook and Paperback

I was very confused initially as well. I did assume most people knew what extrovercy/introvercy are. Well, I almost finished reading a book on the topic but still.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

I found that I always have an easier time getting up if light wakes me up. So I got this alarm clock that slowly wakes me up with light and sound. Expensive but it's so much better not being jolted awake in the morning.

Even if I have to wake up at 3 am to catch a flight, it feels better than an alarm.

If you’re looking for headphones a model that recommended around Reddit and by me personally are the Audio Technica ATH-M50X. There are relatively inexpensive and there is even a Bluetooth model available if you find your using a phone that doesn’t have an audio jack a lot.

I have seen "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" recommended a few times when this question has came up: http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Right-Side-Brain-Definitive/dp/1585429201/

Essentially the book teaches you to draw 'what you see' and not what you know is there.

Long story short:Wanted to learn about the destruction of Carthage on Wikipedia, closed the browser after learning how to make an atomic bomb

bonus: amazon.com sells uranium. The reviews are glorious.

Edit:added link

If you're feeling learn-y.

It's about $115 now

Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-HF3520-Wake-Up-Colored-Simulation/dp/B0093162RM/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1451703068&sr=1-1&keywords=philips+wake+up+light

Heads up that I just checked Amazon's page for the M50x headphones and it says they're on sale!

Non-mobile: you can buy uranium ore on Amazon

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

Bruh. A blog has been out for a while and a book is coming out in a few months.

https://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Burgers-Burger-Book-Recipes/dp/0789331144/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481297082&sr=8-1&keywords=bob%27s+burgers+cook+book

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

http://www.amazon.com/Day-5-Year-Journal-Potter-Style/dp/0307719774/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418778978&sr=8-3&keywords=journal

kinda obvious huh

U bet. amazon. Sorry, I was going to but I'm on iPad and got lazy:)

We're social creatures. It's literally been bred into our DNA for millions of years, spanning species upon species. By our basic biology humans (like the other apes, with the exception of orangutans) are geared towards living in groups from the moment we are born until death.

We were never really meant to be alone. We've learned to be more solitary as overpopulation and population density increases. However that's for comfortable scenarios. Introduce new stimuli (traveling, going out among other humans, etc.) then that instinctual heritage we have expresses itself over our learned behaviours. We seek out the familiarity of tribe and connection.

I'm an anthro nerd if you couldn't tell. You may be interested in this book. It touches a lot on this subject,

Read my book. Actually no, don't...

>Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.


-- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

Learn to live in that space. It takes time. But, within that space, you can determine whether or not your anger is justified, and how to respond appropriately.

You sound like you've got something(s) in your life which are pissing you off. Not dealing with those things or being unable to do so may be leading you to displace that anger onto things you feel empowered to show frustration towards. It's a power dynamic. If one feels helpless to change a thing, one tends to ignore it as much as possible. In that situation, one will often have a shorter fuse toward other things.

Uranium-238 has a half-life of about 4.5 billion years. So it's slow to emit radiation, and most of it is alpha particles which your skin will stop. The only danger is if you eat it. Heck you can buy uranium ore on Amazon.

Once it's been through a cycle (burned is the phrase used), and a fuel assembly will be used 2 or 3 times depending on the reactor type, there is a ton of byproducts like thorium, iodine, etc. They have increasingly shorter half lives as they decay down (I think, is been a few years since my rad con training) which means they'll emit a lot more radiation and of the stronger beta and gamma types that will cut through you and fuck up your cells.

Another fun fact, younger people are more susceptible to radiation because they have more frequent cell division. So there's a higher chance a cell that was wrecked by radiation splits.

oooo, spelunking!

Also, pro-tip, get full over the ear headphones for music. You will put them on and be like "HOLY SHIT THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS SONG WTF!?!?!?"

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-202-Professional-Headphones-Black/dp/B003LPTAYI

The book is Tribe and it's all about humans, namely war vets and all and how they behave during war and their readjustments into society, touching briefly upon the author's grander view upon the status of modern society and how the average person functions within it. Wasn't... a type of book that really appealed to me, in that the way it was told was kind of more emotionally appealing and told the stories and anecdotes rather than tossing out numbers and dwelling on a thinking/logistic process (which I guess I prefer :p), but it was a solid and well written book anyway.

And thanks for the well wishes :), I'm stressed usually most of the time subconsciously but it becomes a real problem when I start noticing it and I stress out even more, so I think I'll just have to wait for it to die down and get back into a healthy cycle of life. And I get the eating thing too, I always know that I'm full and I don't need to eat but I still do and then I worry about that and it's ust a feedback loop of death

I think it’d an important topic to think about in a daily basis - not in a weepy fearful way, but just to appreciate the time left here on earth. When my dad passed, it hit me hard and I realized how much I had squandered my life being miserable, tense, and angry. I think death helps break you out of your shell. I do imagine myself near death every so often, and it helps take me out of the worries and concerns I have during the day.

Here’s a solid book on the topic:

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Dying-Doctors-Nurses-Families/dp/1476775540

And of course the classic by Viktor Frankl:

https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429X

And if Alan Watts is up your alley:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M7KRgluYeps

Where do you live? I live in NYC and I'm in constant fear that this winter will suck as much as last winter did.

It's not so bad here now, but I'm preparing for the worst. I bought myself a new coat and some kick ass boots. I'm also going to get one of these bad boys to cope with the lack of sunlight.