The Mysteries of my Life

1998
Written by Richard Kaufman, René Lavand
Work of René Lavand
170 pages (Hardcover), published by Kaufman and Company
Illustrated with drawings by Earle Oakes
Language: English
73 entries
This publication has been reviewed by
Cover photograph
Creators Title Comments & References Page Categories
René Lavand Prologue
8
Darwin Ortiz Introduction
9
Richard Kaufman Preface
11
René Lavand Preparation for The Act about the act
  • René's stack as modified for this act
  • The Pocket Divider (a half-deck switcher)
  • The Double Pocket (a full-deck switcher)
 		14
Breather Crimp
15
René Lavand My Visiting Card (Presenting My Credentials: A Transposition) two card transposition, one-handed on the table
Also published here 17
René Lavand One-Hand False Shuffle strip-out shuffle
 		18
René Lavand One-Hand Double Lift No. 1
25
René Lavand One-Hand Double Undercut
26
René Lavand, T. Nelson Downs One-Hand Downs Change
26
René Lavand One-Hand Scoop Addition (Single Card) tabled card
 		28
René Lavand Another Credential Trick (A Triumph) slop shuffle triumph with signed card, tabled
 		31
René Lavand One-Hand False Cut No.1 deck turned over in process
 		32
René Lavand One-Hand Second Deal
Related to 34
René Lavand One-Hand Double Undercut
40
René Lavand A Little Diversion deck is cut and same card ends up at the bottom various times, card ens up at named number, half the deck is switched during routine
Related to 42
René Lavand One-Hand Table Bottom Slip Cut
44
René Lavand One-Hand Triple Lift From the Bottom
46
René Lavand One-Hand Double Lift No. 2
47
René Lavand One-Hand False Cut No. 2
49
René Lavand Why Do the Colors Alternate Themselves? (A Call to the Colors)
53
René Lavand One-Hand Third Deal
58
René Lavand A Few Red Cards, A Few Black Cards (A Follow the Leader)
Related to 62
René Lavand It Can't Be Done Any Slower (An Oil and Water) 3x3
 		68
René Lavand One-Hand Displacement in a fan
 		75
René Lavand Ace, Two, Three, Four (A Light Diversion and Transition) several phases
Inspired by
  • Dr. Daley's "Jacob's Ladder" in "The Sphinx" September 1951
Related to 		80
René Lavand One-Hand Scoop Addition (Multiple Cards)
83
René Lavand Divining divination of multiple cards, deck is shuffled in process
 		87
René Lavand One-Hand Glimpse No. 1 heel
 		91
René Lavand One-Hand Glimpse No. 2 while turning hand over
 		93
René Lavand In Search of Excellence (A Card to Pocket) thought of card is found folded in pocket, deck is switched during routine
 		95
René Lavand I Know Them and I Don't Know How (A Standing Ovation) all cards are named in order
 		101
René Lavand The Deck is Feminine II (A Second Standing Ovation) cards are named and divined
 		104
René Lavand Remembering My Credentials (Resolution) selection ends up at named position
 		109
My Life: Shuffling Memories
113
René Lavand Preface
114
René Lavand Buenos Aires, Zeppelin Chang
114
René Lavand The Accident
115
René Lavand Early Life
116
René Lavand My Father
118
René Lavand The Sports In My Life
118
René Lavand Breaking The Norm
119
René Lavand And I Left Gambling Forever
119
René Lavand Thank You, My Blind Child
121
René Lavand What A Paradox!
121
René Lavand Conventions And Contracts Fu Manchu, Billy Burguin
 		123
René Lavand The Greats Slydini, Cardini, David Bamberg
 		124
René Lavand The Birth Of My Style
125
René Lavand Mine: A Style Of Life
126
René Lavand Motivations
128
René Lavand The Gentler Path
128
René Lavand This Art Which I Practice
129
René Lavand Spectators
130
René Lavand Freedom to Choose
131
René Lavand The Truth In The Lie
131
René Lavand The Need to Believe
132
René Lavand We Artists Do Not Work
133
René Lavand Magiaderias
133
René Lavand Learning to Learn Channing Pollock, Dai Vernon
 		134
René Lavand Tricks and Tricksters Darwin Ortiz
 		135
René Lavand Through The Streets Of Mexico Beautiful And Dear
138
René Lavand Taking the Adventure Toward Old Europe
142
René Lavand My Four Nights In Cali
143
René Lavand The Indian Boy FISM Lausanne 1991
 		150
René Lavand The Magic Castle of Hollywood
151
René Lavand White Footprints and Japanese Lacquer Bowls Ton Onosaka, Tina Lenert
 		152
René Lavand The Language of the Aft of Illusion
154
René Lavand The Spanish Deck
160
René Lavand The Story of "Duel In The West"
161
René Lavand Gamblers
162
René Lavand Antonio the Gypsy
164
René Lavand My Stories, My Constant Companions
165
René Lavand Epilogue
168
Data entered by Lorenz Schär, June 2021.