Optical Illusions by Gianni Sarcone and Marie Jo Waeber
| Optical Illusions by Gianni Sarcone and Marie Jo Waeber | |
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| Category: Popular Science | |
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Reviewer: Louise Jones
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| Summary: Some of the best examples of optical illusions both old and new, in one concise volume; which also shows us how to create our own. | |
| Buy? yes | Borrow? yes |
| Pages: 96 | Date: October 2017 |
| Publisher: QED Publishing | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781784938475 | |
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I used to work as a library assistant and I remember arriving to work one morning to find all of my fellow librarians crowded around a book, chattering excitedly and...squinting rather oddly. The book was called Magic Eye and promised a magical 3D viewing experience if you looked at the psychadelic pictures in a certain way. For a brief period in the early 90s, the pictures had a sudden spike in popularity, until everyone presumably got eye strain and went back to their everyday lives. Well good news Magic Eye fans! The pictures are back (albeit only two images), in the engrossing and immersive new book Optical Illusions.
As well as the infamous Magic Eye pictures (I was pleased to see I hadn't lost the knack after all these years!), there are plenty of mind-bending illusions both old and new to fascinate and delight readers of all ages. It really is amazing to see how the mind plays tricks, and how, in some cases, the eye 'sees' images that are entirely constructed in the mind. Static pictures appear to move off the page and tiny dots sparkle and shimmer around complex geometric patterns. A Cheshire cat disappears into a green fog before our eyes and our perception of size and colour are challenged.
The book also has a practical section, with some fun experiments that are easily replicated at home with a few basic materials. We can perform a magic trick that removes a glass from a tray, see a picture of a fish magically reverse itself and make our own holographic projector using a mobile phone. We even learn how to levitate…
The book itself is beautifully presented, with a thick, high-quality cover that contains a spinning image that rotates when manipulated with your finger. The images inside the book are bold and bright and the optical illusions are mesmerising and very entertaining.
This book will appeal to everyone, as it is a visual delight and it is like having your own personal box of magic tricks to dip into whenever you please. Many thanks to the publishers for my review copy.
Hungry for more? Bookbag also loved Eye Benders: The Science of Seeing and Believing by Clive Gifford and Professor Anil Seth, another mind-bending book that adults will love as much as their children do. We think you might also enjoy Sleights of Mind by Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Optical Illusions by Gianni Sarcone and Marie Jo Waeber at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Optical Illusions by Gianni Sarcone and Marie Jo Waeber at Amazon.com.
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