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4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Best source for magic squares Mar 28, 2007
By I. Thomson
This book is probably the definitive source for magic squares. Although simple instructions appear in other works (notably Corinda, which is flawed), this little book contains all the logic and methodology for creating all types of magic squares.
And why is that important? Well, that's important because a magic square is a killer magical stage or platform item. Professionals such as John Archer, Geoffrey Durham and Derren Brown (to name three UK magicians) show just what you can do with magic squares. And it's very impressive.
Plus, this book comes with routines of its own. So you're onto a winner from the start.
I highly recommend this book.
Magic Squares Revealed Aug 01, 2011
By Cathy Sisson
"Runs With Cats"
I didn't know much about magic squares before reading the book "Magic Squares," and I didn't realize how old they were. I'm in awe of people who can create them using letters, but even more so for those who have the mathematical genius to create such symmetrical and geometric puzzles using numbers.
The book explains step-by-step how to create a variety of magic squares, from the simplest forms to more advanced formulas that form patterns that are beautiful to behold. At first glance, they resemble the simple number puzzles kids used to get as party favors back in the day - a unique way to teach math. The author has included a bit of history, providing readers with an idea on just how long these puzzles have been in existence. The book also references works by about 40 masters of the art that can be perused for further information.
I had a little difficulty wrapping my mind around the concepts at first, primarily because I'm a word-oriented person, but the explanations and instructions are clear once you're in the right frame of mind. I've seen magic squares referred to as a recreational form of math, and it's easy to see why. Even for those who aren't good at math, it's hard to miss the symmetry inherent in the squares presented in the book. Magic squares have been in existence for over 4,000 years, a testament to their fascination for people throughout the ages. They're a favorite of magicians, even today.
They were once used as talismans for good luck, believed to hold magical properties and give wearers the ability to divine the unknown. They were also connected with astrology at one time. They've been used to send messages, determine the magical "number" of demons and angels, and used by magicians of ancient times. The author gives detailed information on a number of different types of magic squares, allowing readers to build their own. However, many aren't explained, as their secrets belong to their creators.
Farrar examines 3x3, 4x4 and 5x5 magic squares, variations and examples of each. He also provides information on the general formula for numerical squares, along with examples of the best-known squares using letters. There are two basic types, odd and even, indicating the number of squares on each side of the "magic square" itself. The book breaks them down even further, into semi-magic, associative, panmagic and bimagic squares. He also provides extensive appendices.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Magic Squares" and Farrar makes them easy to understand. I particularly enjoyed the section on how dominoes and simple playing cards can be used to create magic squares. Farrar also includes his own magic square creation. The prestigious professional magic society, The Magic Circle, awarded him an Associate of The Inner Magic Circle degree for his contribution to the art. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about magic squares and how to create them.
 Basic book of magic squares May 18, 2010
By E. Bradley
This book is very basic and does not have many of the standard squares one might expect to find in it
It is very lacking compared to Magic Squares and Cubes [Paperback], by W. S. Andrews
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