Our distant ancestors took a magician’s tricks at face value and were either amazed or outraged that these showmen would harness the demonic arts. Today, we enjoy illusions and magic tricks as skillful entertainment. How did they do that? There’s a lot involved. Not only is there the basic trick, but the magician’s patter, eye contact, and pacing affect how well the trick works. Elliot Morgan has some facts about not only how magic works but also the history of the art and other neat tidbits about magic, in this week’s episode of the mental_floss List Show.