The Secret Life of Houdini

The Making of America's First Superhero

By: William Kalush, Larry Sloman

Narrated by: Adam Grupper

Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar.

Since his death eighty-eight years ago, Harry Houdini’s life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.

The Secret Life of Houdini traces the arc of the master magician’s life from desperate poverty to worldwide fame—his legacy later threatened by a group of fanatical Spiritualists led by esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.©2006 Light and Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved; (P)2006 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon and Schuster Audio Division, Simon and Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"Kalush and Sloman appear to have raked through every known Houdini archive to produce the most comprehensive and controversial biography ever written about the man, with its contention that he was a spy who may have been murdered by a cult." -- Tony Barrell, London Sunday Times

Very good, but wanted more.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot about Houdini that I didn't know. But this was an abridged book and I felt there were some things left out or overly summarized. I'll check out the unabridged version from the library.

JUST WHEN YOU THOGHT YOU KNEW THE STORY>>>

A great book. I could not put it down. Just when I thought I knew the whole story, this book comes around, and now I have a renewed interest . I am also full of questions. Just what every book should do. Bravo...

Absolutely Captivating

A friend of mine recommended this book to me and it turned out to be awesome. especially the part about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the author of Sherlock Holmes towards the end there certainly some sides of your day of the Houdini story probably never heard

Great listen

This story had enough detail about his life to keep you interested but not so much that it became boring. It was really interesting and kept me listening to the whole book on one long road trip.

Good Story. Just general overview

This is a well laid out 10,000 feet look at Houdini’s life. It is enjoyable and has good information and production. Like all abridgments, it is somewhat choppy in the storyline and does not give you much detail. It was an average, enjoyable book nonetheless