Martin Gardner's Foreword to Diamond Jim Tyler's book, Bamboozlers, covers many of the points I wanted to include in this review.  But that's okay!  Since you haven't read the book, you haven't read the Foreword.

Long Foreword short:  Mr. Gardner likes the book.  Long review short: So do I.  And it goes without saying, so will you.

If you're already a student or a fan of bar or tabletop bets and betchas, many of these will be familiar to you.  And there's a good reason for that.  Many of these are classics and will be your favorites, so you'll thank Diamond Jim for collecting them in one convenient place.  I betcha you'll also find a few new ones or ones that you've forgotten.  And if this is a new area of interest for you, you couldn't ask for a better place to get started down this crooked path.

A new one (to me, at least) is the second scam in the book, Full of Bull.  This no-gimmick puzzler will have you scurrying to the store for some cans of Red Bull so you can try this out.  (For a two-page sneak peek at this one and five other betchas from the book, go back to your October issue of MUM and turn to page 58.)

An oldie that I've been doing for a long time, ever since Bob Steiner first showed it to me almost 15 years ago, is Kid Coins.  Although Bob's wording was slightly different, it's the same mind-scratching puzzler that will make your spectators think until they finally arrive at that Aha! moment.  It usually takes several repetitions for that to happen and, sadly, for some it never occurs.  It's ideal for small groups and requires only that you have a penny, a nickel and a dime.

Subtitled The Book of Bankable Bar Betchas, Brain Bogglers, Belly Busters & Bewitchery, Bamboozlers is an impressive collection of 75 tricks, bar bets, puzzles and challenges packed into this little 128-page book.  And when I say "little", I mean exactly that.  The book measures 3 by 5 inches.

You'll find dozens of cute scams with coins, cards, straws, matches, glasses, bills, bottles, corks and other items you'll find on most tabletops and bar tops.

Although I can't personally verify that any of these are "chick magnet" quality (and my wife didn't want me to field-test that assertion), I can say that you will undoubtedly be able to score some free beers or drinks from your friends.  Do that often enough and, as the ads say, it will pay for itself.

In spite of its small size, the book is quite easy to read, thanks to the bright white pages; a crisp, readable typeface; clear, professional illustrations by Benjamin Vincent; and excellent graphic design and page layout by Brad Aldridge.

With a faux leather binding, silver-gilt edges, a ribbon marker for your favorite "gotcha", what's not to like?  And the words "Volume One" on the cover more than just hints at other books down the line.  Let's encourage that.  Buy this book.