Person
Every book Joshua Jay recommended on podcasts
Joshua Jay is a professional magician and author whose appearance on People I (Mostly) Admire sheds light on the psychology, history, and neuroscience behind illusion and human gullibility. During the episode, Jay discussed several foundational texts that intersect with his craft. He recalled being hired to perform for a college psychology department where students had been assigned to read Sleights of Mind, a book exploring the neuroscience of magic that underscores how easily humans can be fooled. Jay also referenced Paul E. Johnson's The Kingdom of Matthias, a work he encountered in a university class focusing on the historical founding of religions and alternate Messiahs around the time of Jesus Christ. Additionally, Jay cited Reginald Scot's 1584 publication The Discovery of Witchcraft as a pivotal historical milestone that helped separate the practice of conjuring from accusations of witchcraft, illustrating his deep engagement with the historical and intellectual foundations of magic.
Books recommended by Joshua Jay
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Sleights of mind
Discussed“the way it happened was I was hired to do a show for the psychology department of college of New Jersey and so they're I don't know 250 kids in this Hall and they had all been assigned to read a book called slights of mine which is a book on the Neuroscience of magic”
Where to get it
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The Discovery of Witchcraft
The Discovery of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot is a landmark 1584 publication that historically sought to expose fraudulent magical practices while defending people wrongly accused of witchcraft.
Discussed“and in the west we sort of put that at the year 1584 with the publication of a book called the discovery of Witchcraft by Reginald Scott”
Where to get it
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The kingdom of Matthias
Discussed“I took a class at University the founding of religions and we read this book The Kingdom of Matthias about alternate Messiahs in and around the time of Jesus Christ”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Jay: “Humans Are So, So Easy to Fool.” | People I (Mostly) Admire | Episode 16 | People I (Mostly) Admire | 2023-01-23 | 3 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“There were, I don't know, 250 kids in this hall, and they had all been assigned to read a book called 'Slight of Mind,' which is a book on the neuroscience of magic. I did my show, and afterwards they were asking great questions, and one after the next, I realized we don't know the answers to these questions.”