Final Degree by John Guastaferro

John Guastaferro is one of our favorite magicians for a good reason. His magic is well structured, his presentations are creative, and he is one of the nicest people we’ve ever met. Whenever John tells us he’s working on something, we know it's going to be incredible. That couldn’t be truer than it is with Final Degree.

Final Degree isn’t just a book of John’s best pieces of magic. It’s one of the best books we’ve ever published.

Across twenty-eight card routines, John shares effects he has refined over a course of years, making small, deliberate changes until each routine reaches its final form. While the majority of these routines are being shared here for the very first time, fans of John’s previous works will be incredibly excited to read updated versions of some of his best effects.

You’ll find modern takes on classics, such as “Detour,” John’s streamlined Ambitious Card routine, and “Progressively Wild,” a Wild Card routine using a normal deck. If you enjoy powerful magic with minimal sleight of hand, “Handout Aces” (where spectators cut to all four Aces) will be a highlight. Workers will love effects like “Mind Trip,” a simple yet incredibly strong transposition routine that went straight into our walkaround sets. Don’t worry, fans of sleight of hand will have plenty of moves to play with, such as John’s Double Down Control and the Relay Shuffle.

Beyond the moves and routines, Final Degree also includes several inspirational and informational essays on topics like living with purpose, branding, and building routines. John draws on not just his experience as a magician, but as a speaker, marketer, and philanthropist to give you advice you didn’t even know you needed.

Final Degree builds on the books before it. (Don’t worry, you don’t need to have read them before reading this book!) John first introduced his “one degree” theory in One Degree, changing the way many magicians thought about refinement and construction. He expanded that thinking in The Nth Degree, delivering stronger magic through thoughtful, incremental improvement. With Final Degree, he brings the trilogy to a close, and he certainly left the best till last.

Together, this trilogy includes almost seventy-five practical routines that have been honed over years in front of hundreds of audiences. While each book is incredible on its own, together they make a fantastic collection of card magic from one of magic’s best creators.

You can get each book separately, or, if you purchase all three volumes, we'll provide a bespoke slipcase to display them handsomely on your shelf. This limited edition slipcase was designed by John in collaboration with our team, and is designed to protect and display the books in the best way possible. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the Degree Trilogy. (If you already own the books, you can purchase just the empty slipcase here.)

Whether you’re looking to complete the collection, want to learn powerful routines, or are interested in John’s incredible insights, Final Degree is an essential purchase for any serious magician.

Watch John perform routines from the book at the Magic Castle release party for Final Degree