Second Thoughts by Ramon Rioboo and Hermetic Press
Second Thoughts by Ramon Rioboo and Hermetic Press
Couldn't load pickup availability
A collection of magic that fools the most knowledgeable audiences, designed to be performed with an air of casualness.
Full Description
Ramon Rioboo has a reputation as an innovator of card tricks capable of fooling and entertaining the most knowledgeable audiences, whether magicians or the public. His methods defy the common expectations of mathematically based solutions. They are at the same time simple and sophisticated, often seasoned with a touch of sleight-of-hand. His constructions make the math and the manipulation invisible. They are pointedly designed to fool everyone, and they do. Riobóo delights in taking what spectators know or suspect and using it against their reasoning to leave them with a sense of pure astonishment.
While his first book, Thinking the Impossible showed Riobóo’s ability to fool the best and brightest, all who have read Second Thoughts, his newest collection of card magic, judge it to be not a sequel but a step up to a new level of ingenious deception. It is a substantial gathering of truly baffling card magic, designed to be performed with an air of casualness that baits the trap and then springs it down hard onto your rational mind.
For those who have read Thinking the Impossible, Second Thoughts will delight with its advanced skullduggery. For those just meeting the card magic of Señor Riobóo, take a deep breath; you’re going to need it when his magic leaves you gasping in disbelief.
As befits a longtime friend of Juan Tamariz, Ramón Riobóo knows what makes a baffling card trick and how to manipulate minds as adroitly as hands do playing cards. When you open this book, be prepared to marvel at familiar effects that suddenly take a turn into the twilight zone, as well as effects you’ve never dreamed possible.
Riobóo’s magic is like no other’s. Procedures that appear totally innocent and unpremeditated conceal a level of deceit and cunning that produces events seemingly beyond explanation.
Second Thoughts is a generous second helping of Riobóo magic. In it he explains nearly fifty tricks and routines, gives a selection of his favorite tools for constructing marvels and rounds things out with essays explaining his thinking and the theory behind his unique brand of card magic.
Second Thoughts will have you rethinking your approach to card magic and applying Riobóo’s ideas to make its effects entertaining, its methods impenetrable. Second thoughts for everyone!
After graduating with degrees in screen writing, direction and journalism Ramón Riobóo settled into a twenty-year career as a writer and director for TVE (Television Española). He began to practice magic as a hobby in 1987. While his discovery of magic was later in life than usual, his deep passion has made up for lost time. His main interest is card magic and the principles of psychological deception. He is the recipient of the Ascanio Award (1992) and the First Prize in Card Magic from the XIX National Magic Congress (1993, Barcelona). Riobóo is also a member of the prestigious Escuela Magica de Madrid. He is the author of two books on card magic, Thinking the Impossible, being the first.
Page Count - 356
What You Get
What the Pros Say
"Ramon Rioboo constructs card tricks with so many devious and interlocking layers of deception you just can't crack the code." -Steve Beam
Wow! This new book is an incredible compendium of some genius-level thinking about card magic. Ramon’s forte is methods based on hidden mathematical principles, cunning psychological ploys and crafty stacks. Add in several innovative new sleights, some inspired use of gaffs and some extraordinary yet commercial presentations and you have a collection of fabulous new material that will be used by magicians for decades to come. But this book contains so much more. The theoretical underpinnings of Ramon’s style and approach are thoroughly examined and explained. And keener students will be pleased to know that’s just the start; Ramon discusses much of his philosophical research and conclusions about what makes for strong magic, powerful tricks and successful magicians.
If you like fooling other magicians, then this book has your name written all over it. If you are a professional performer, there are at least half-a-dozen killer tricks that you’ll want to add to your repertoire immediately. And I finally have an answer to my question: “If Einstein had been into card magic, I wonder what kind of book he would have written?” Now I know. Highest recommendation. - Mark Elsdon
Every card magician will be fooled by his creativity and deeper concepts and thinking about card magic. I suggest you get his book before you become fooled, fried and Rioboo'd by somebody else." -Raj Madhok
"I was super impressed. Not just the volume of tricks (which there were a ton of!) but I found very often I was highlighting things throughout the book. Tools and insights within those tricks that I can apply to other areas. If you're looking for a book with a lot of really great material plus a lot of nuances you can apply to other areas of magic that you do, check out Second Thoughts." -David Corsaro
More Videos
Quick Links
Contact Us
At Penguin Magic, we believe in real magic—and that starts with real people helping you. Our friendly support team is made up of passionate magicians who understand your needs and are here to help every step of the way.
Whether you're placing your first order or you're a seasoned pro with a tricky question, you're never just a number to us—we’ve got your back!
💬 Talk to a Real Human
Need help? Have a question? Just want to say hi?
Our support team is quick, kind, and genuinely excited to connect with fellow magic lovers.
Email us anytime:
📧 support@penguinmagic.com
We respond fast—usually within one business day or sooner!
☎️ Give Us a Call
We’re always happy to chat magic.
Toll-Free (U.S.): 800-880-2592
International: +1 707-317-6733
Please leave a message with your name, order number (if applicable), and callback number. We’ll return your call within 24 business hours.
🕒 Hours of Availability
Our team is based in California and available:
Monday – Friday
🕗 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Pacific Time)
📦 Mailing Address
For returns, mail orders, or fan mail:
Penguin Magic
3299 Monier Circle, Unit A
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
United States
🪄 We're Here For You
No bots. No scripts. Just real people who love magic as much as you do.
Got a question? A shipping hiccup? A product suggestion? We’d love to hear from you.
Reach out—we’re always happy to help. 💙
Want to partner with Penguin Magic?
Partnering with Penguin Magic offers creators a unique opportunity to showcase their magic tricks on one of the world's largest magic platforms. By joining the Penguin Partner Program, you can:
- Earn Generous Royalties: Receive a 50% royalty for exclusive products, with Penguin handling order fulfillment, credit card processing, and shipping.
- Engage Directly with Customers: Utilize a private FAQ section to interact with your audience, answer questions, and provide updates or improvements to your products.
- Monitor Real-Time Sales: Access daily sales tracking tools to evaluate the impact of your marketing efforts and understand customer feedback through reviews.
- Benefit from Free Order Fulfillment: Avoid additional fees as Penguin manages the storage and shipping of your products from their California warehouse.
To become a partner, sign up for a partner account and email partner@penguinmagic.com to express your interest. Your submission will be reviewed by Penguin's team to ensure it aligns with their quality standards and community ethics.
For more details, visit the Penguin Partner Program page.
About Us
Welcome to Penguin Magic – Where Magic Begins.
At Penguin Magic, we believe in the power of wonder. Since 2002, we’ve been on a mission to inspire, teach, and connect magicians around the world—whether you're a seasoned professional or just picking up your first deck of cards.
We’re more than just a magic shop. We're a global community of creators, performers, and dreamers who share a passion for the art of astonishment. From exclusive, cutting-edge tricks to timeless classics, we curate the best magic in the world—and make it accessible to everyone.
What We Do
- Unmatched Selection: Our massive online catalog features thousands of tricks, props, and accessories—meticulously selected by magicians, for magicians.
- Exclusive Content: We produce high-quality tutorials and performances with some of the biggest names in magic. Only at Penguin will you find original, mind-blowing effects you won’t see anywhere else.
- Community & Support: We're proud to support one of the most active and welcoming communities of magicians online. Need help or advice? Our team is here for you every step of the way.
Why Penguin?
Because we love magic. Every member of our team is a magician, and that passion drives everything we do—from hand-packing your order to filming the next blockbuster tutorial. We’re committed to helping you grow your skills, build your act, and perform with confidence.
Whether you're performing on stage, up close, or online, Penguin Magic is your partner in magic.
Thank you for letting us be part of your journey.
Stay magical,
The Penguin Magic Team 🐧✨
Return Policy
At Penguin Magic, your satisfaction is our top priority. We want you to feel confident with every purchase. While magic is full of surprises, your order shouldn’t be one of them.
🧾 General Return Guidelines
Because of the secretive nature of magic, many items are non-returnable once opened. However, we’ll always do our best to make things right.
Here’s how our return policy works:
- Unopened Physical Products: You may return new, unused, and unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund or store credit.
- Defective or Damaged Items: If a product arrives damaged or doesn’t work as expected, we’ll replace it or refund you—no hassle.
- Digital Downloads: All instant downloads, streaming videos, and digital content are non-refundable once purchased.
- Opened Tricks or Props: Due to the exposure of magical methods, we cannot accept returns on opened or used magic effects (unless defective).
📦 How to Start a Return
1. Contact our support team at support@penguinmagic.com with:
- Your order number
- A brief explanation of the issue
- Photos if there’s damage or a defect
2. We’ll respond within 1 business day to help you out.
3. If approved, we’ll provide return instructions. Once we receive the item, we’ll process your refund or store credit within 3–5 business days.
❗Important Notes
- Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer unless the item was defective or sent in error.
- All refunds are issued to the original payment method or as store credit.
- Items marked Final Sale or Non-Returnable cannot be returned.
Still Have Questions?
We're here to help. Email us at support@penguinmagic.com — our customer happiness team is standing by.
🪄 Thanks for shopping with Penguin Magic. We appreciate your trust—and we’ll always work to make your experience magical.
Shipping Options
At Penguin Magic, we're committed to delivering your magical products promptly and reliably. Below is our comprehensive shipping policy to guide you through our shipping processes.
📦 Order Processing & Fulfillment
- Same-Day Shipping: Orders placed before 4 PM Eastern Time (1 PM Pacific), Monday through Friday, are typically shipped the same day. Orders placed after this cutoff will ship the next business day.
- Shipping Origin: All orders are shipped from our warehouse located in Rancho Cordova, California.
US Domestic Shipping (U.S. Orders)
- Free Standard Shipping: We offer free standard shipping on all orders over $100. For orders under $100, a $5 flat-rate shipping fee applies.
-
Shipping Methods: Depending on the weight and destination, we utilize the following carriers:
- USPS: First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Media Mail, Parcel Select Ground
- FedEx: Ground, Overnight, 2-Day
- UPS: Ground, Overnight Saver
- ePacket (for certain items)
Delivery Times:
- USPS First-Class Mail: 2–7 business days
- USPS Priority Mail: 1–3 business days
- FedEx Ground: 1–7 business days
- FedEx Overnight: Next business day
- FedEx 2-Day: 2 business days
- UPS Ground: 1–7 business days
- UPS Overnight Saver: Next business day by 3 PM
Note: Delivery times are estimates and may vary based on location and carrier.
🌍 International Shipping
- Flat-Rate Shipping: For international orders, a $10 flat-rate shipping fee applies.
-
Shipping Methods:
- FedEx International: 2–6 business days with tracking
- FedEx Connect Plus: 4–8 business days with tracking
- ePacket: 2–6 weeks (tracking availability varies)
- UPS Mail Innovations: 2–6 weeks (tracking availability varies)
Note: Delivery times are estimates and may vary based on destination and customs processing.
📌 Important Shipping Information
- Business Days: All shipping timeframes are based on normal business days (Monday–Friday).
- PO Boxes: FedEx and UPS cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Please provide a physical address for these shipping methods.
- Customs & Duties: International shipments require a Customs Declaration Form detailing the contents and value. Import duties, taxes, and fees are the responsibility of the customer. In some cases, carriers may pay these fees in advance and bill the recipient an advancement fee. Please research your country's customs procedures before placing an order.
- APO/FPO Addresses: Orders to APO/FPO addresses will be shipped via U.S. Mail.
- Holiday Delays: Please anticipate potential delays during peak holiday seasons.
📦 Tracking Your Order
Once your order ships, you'll receive a confirmation email with tracking information. You can also track your order by logging into your Penguin Magic account.
❓ Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or concerns about your shipment, please contact our Customer Support team:
- Email: support@penguinmagic.com
-
Phone:
- Toll-Free (U.S.): 800-880-2592
- International: +1 707-317-6733
- Please leave a message with your name, order number (if applicable), and callback number. We’ll return your call within 24 business hours.
Thank you for choosing Penguin Magic. We're dedicated to ensuring your magical journey begins with a seamless delivery experience.
Price Match Guarantee
At Penguin Magic, we're committed to offering you the best prices in the magic community. If you find a lower price on an identical item at a reputable magic shop—even during sales or members-only promotions—we'll match it without hesitation.
How It Works
- Place Your Order: Shop as usual on PenguinMagic.com and complete your purchase.
-
Submit Your Price Match Request: Before your order ships, email us at support@penguinmagic.com with:
- Your order number
- A link or copy of the competitor's promotion or sale flyer
- Relax and Enjoy: We'll review your request promptly and adjust your order accordingly.
Important Details
- Timing: Price match requests must be made after placing your order but before it ships
- Eligible Competitors: We match prices from reputable magic shops.
-
Exclusions:
- No additional discounts can be applied with a price match.
- If the competitor doesn't offer free shipping and you've chosen free shipping with us, we'll deduct our shipping cost from the price match amount.
- We cannot match generic products without a brand name, as quality and pricing can vary significantly.
Example
If you find an item for $12 less at another shop, and our shipping cost is $3.42:
- With Free Shipping: You'll receive a refund of $8.58.
- If You Paid for Shipping: You'll receive the full $12 refund.
Our shipping costs are based on actual rates from the courier, with no added fees.
Questions?
We're here to help! Contact us at support@penguinmagic.com or call us at 800-880-2592 (International: +1 707-317-6733).
Shop with confidence knowing you're getting the best deal at Penguin Magic!