Books On Board

Derek Delgaudio Books in Order

  • 1 Books
  • 2021 Published

Amazon links here are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reading order
01
Amoralman: A True Story and Other Lies
Amoralman: A True Story and Other Lies
2021
Amazon
1 of 1 reading orders shown

The Recommended Reading Path

Derek DelGaudio is not a prolific novelist, but his written works are highly specialized and deeply tied to his performance art. Because his books cover distinct genres—ranging from a narrative memoir to a conceptual art catalog—we recommend starting with his solo memoir to establish a baseline of his voice, before diving into his collaborative art projects.

1. AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies (2021)

Start here. Published by Dutton in 2021, this memoir is a gripping, self-reflective account of DelGaudio's life. It traces his journey from a secretive childhood in Southern California to his time working as a professional "card mechanic" (a card cheat) in high-stakes, underground Hollywood poker games. The book explores the blurred lines between magic, deception, and morality, framing his personal history around the discovery of an old journal. It serves as the perfect introduction to his philosophy on truth and the roles we play in our daily lives.

2. A.Bandit: A Secret Has Two Faces (2018)

Read this second. Co-authored with conceptual artist Glenn Kaino under the name of their performance-art collective, A.BANDIT, this book was published by DelMonico Books/Prestel. It is a visually rich documentation of their collaborative projects, psycho-spatial interventions, and exhibitions at venues like LAXART and the Geffen Playhouse. The book itself is treated as a performative object, designed to include secret features, and it features interviews and contributions from iconic figures in the worlds of magic and art, including Marina Abramović, David Blaine, Teller, John Baldessari, and Ricky Jay.

Publication Order

If you prefer to read DelGaudio's books in the order they were released to the public, the sequence is straightforward:

  • A.Bandit: A Secret Has Two Faces (DelMonico Books-Prestel, 2018)
  • AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies (Dutton, 2021)

What to Know Before You Start

DelGaudio's writing style is highly reflective and intellectual, prioritizing the psychology of deception over flashy magic trick tutorials. In both books, magic is treated as a metaphor for human relationships, survival, and the creation of personal identity. Readers expecting a standard "how-to" magic book will instead find philosophical inquiries into what it means to live an honest life when deception is your primary trade. DelGaudio's background is heavily influenced by performance art and relational aesthetics, which is apparent in the experimental structure of both books.

Connecting the Books to "In & Of Itself" and Visual Works

To fully appreciate Derek DelGaudio's literary output, it is highly recommended to pair his books with his visual and theatrical work. His highly acclaimed one-man show, In & Of Itself (directed by Frank Oz and executive produced by Neil Patrick Harris), ran off-Broadway and was later released as a Hulu documentary special in 2021. AMORALMAN functions as a companion piece to the show, fleshing out many of the stories, childhood memories, and card-cheating anecdotes that form the thematic backbone of the stage performance. Reading the memoir provides a deeper look at the real-world events that inspired the illusions in the film.

Frequently Asked

Is AMORALMAN a work of fiction or a memoir?

AMORALMAN is a memoir and a work of non-fiction, though it intentionally plays with the nature of truth and deception. It chronicles Derek DelGaudio's real-life experiences growing up, learning sleight-of-hand, and cheating in underground card games, while meditating on the "lies" we tell ourselves and others.

Where should I start reading Derek DelGaudio's work?

You should start with AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies. It is a narrative-driven memoir that is highly accessible and establishes his signature style of storytelling, making it the ideal entry point before exploring his conceptual art book.

What is A Secret Has Two Faces about?

Co-authored with Glenn Kaino under their collective name A.BANDIT, A Secret Has Two Faces is an art book that documents their experimental performance art projects and exhibitions. It explores the intersection between magic and contemporary art, featuring interviews with major figures like David Blaine and Marina Abramović.

How is the book AMORALMAN related to the show In & Of Itself?

The book AMORALMAN serves as a narrative companion to the show. It provides deep autobiographical context and backstory to the themes of identity, card magic, and childhood secrets that DelGaudio performs and explores on stage in In & Of Itself.

Has Derek DelGaudio written any other books?

Apart from AMORALMAN and the collaborative art catalog A Secret Has Two Faces, DelGaudio has not published any other major trade books. He has, however, written specialized magic lecture booklets and project documentation early in his career.