Best of 2024: The Death of Harry Houdini [VIDEO]

This biography, written by William Kalush and Larry Sloman, delves into the life of Harry Houdini from his desperate poverty to his worldwide fame. It details his passions for performing increasingly dangerous feats, his alleged role as a spy, and the plot by fanatical Spiritualists, led by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to subvert his legacy. The book provides an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, both the man and the legend, drawing from millions of pages of research and initiating the reader into the arcane world of professional magic.

In this book, Harry Houdini chronicles his extensive investigations into the spiritualist movement, particularly focusing on the fraudulent practices of mediums. Houdini's journey began with a personal quest to contact his deceased mother, which led him to infiltrate the spiritualist community. He reveals the tricks and methods used by mediums, including spirit slate writing, spirit photography, and obtaining personal information to deceive their clients. The book also discusses the founders of modern spiritualism, such as the Fox Sisters, and notable figures like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Houdini argues that magicians are crucial in detecting and exposing these frauds, and he approaches his research with a scientific and systematic mindset[1][2][5].