It's Hip To Be Square By Mark Strivings

Arguably the simplest, easiest, most convincing magic square ever created.

I have written well over 30 books and manuscripts on magic and mentalism, and I can tell you this much, there isn't a one of those many titles that I am more proud of or that breaks new ground as much as this one does.

Magic squares have been around the magic arena for more than 150 years, and magic squares themselves go back more than 4,000 years. Ever since magicians got ahold of them there has been a nonstop push to simplify and make them easier to perform. While significant strides have been made, there have also been significant trade-offs, leaving virtually every method, both 'simple' as well as more complex, beyond the reach of the vast majority of would-be magic square performers.

What we have here however is quite different.

The main thing most performers stress about, naturally, is the math involved. To my knowledge there is only one method anywhere wherein no math whatsoever is involved, but trust me, it has its own unique and formidable set of challenges that candidly are beyond most performer's skill set out there. Every other method uses math to at least some extent.

In some methods the math, while not really all that demanding, is still intimidating in that it has to be done under the pressures of performing live on stage. Not to mention you still need to do all you can to make the entire process entertaining. We haven't even scratched the surface yet in terms of potential performing issues and already most performers would quite understandably turn and walk away.

Additionally in most methods you have to memorize formulas of various sorts. These can range from fairly simple to downright complicated. Regardless, they have to be done 'on the fly' and in front of an audience. That's work, my friends! Work that will fail you if not done to perfection.

As if performing a magic square wasn't already demanding enough, there are still other issues. Even in methods where the math is relatively easy, you still have to deal with offering a fairly narrow, and sometimes rather odd range of options ('Please choose a number between 37 and 80.') And even then you can wind up with squares wherein a few of the numbers will be noticeably 'out of range', i.e. much larger when compared to the rest of the numbers.

What we have here addresses ALL of those issues and more. Yes, there are still trade-offs but they are trade-offs that happen before the show even gets booked and are not an issue at all when it comes to show time. What this means is that you can now have at your fingertips a completely convincing magic square that is so easy to do it's almost criminal.

Let's check out the potential issues I mentioned above as pertains to my method.

What about the math involved? YES, there IS some very limited math involved. BUT if you can do just basic 3rd grade math (not even 'complex' 3rd grade math), you CAN do this. I give you THREE different handlings for this method and in the one I use most often, the MOST I have to add or subtract is 5. Even I can add or subtract 1-5 to or from a given number, even in front of a paying audience.

I even give you a version that is easier than that! In the 'ultimate' version of this handing you NEVER subtract AT ALL and you NEVER have to add more than 3 to any given number. If you can do that then you can do this magic square.

PLUS, and I haven't mentioned this yet, there are NO formulas of ANY kind to remember. In fact there is ZERO memorization of ANY kind here.

In fact I can teach a third grader how to do this in about 3 minutes. How's that?

PLUS -

There are no 'odd' looking numbers in the final square. ALL numbers fall within a range that looks right from every perspective.

The range of options that I give my audience is LARGE. In fact I offer them ANY number between 50-150. No matter what number they pick I can do a perfect magic square easily. Once you understand how this works you can extend that range even further if you wish.

Fully 99% of the 'price you pay' to do this method of the effect happens way before the show. When you hit the stage the amount of actual work you have to do is virtually nonexistent, and THAT is where it counts.

When everything is said and done you will have a magic square that adds up to the selected number in more than 25 ways.

So what does all of this actually mean?

You now can do an incredible magic square that is so simple to perform that it leaves literally 99% of your energy available to entertain your audience.

Want to do this as lightning calculation? I challenge you to find a square that can be done more quickly.

Want to do something else along with the square (such as giant memory)? This method leaves you free to focus all of your energies on the other portion of the presentation.

Want to recite poetry while you do the square? Tell jokes? Do sand drawings? Now you can, and not give even a second thought to the magic square that you are constructing at the same time. It's just that simple.

OK, in the interest of equal time here are the answers to some FAQ's.

Q. Is this impromptu?
A. No

Q. Can it be done close up?
Yes
NOTE - while this version CAN be done close-up, the differences between what is found in 'Hip' as opposed to the 'new' version above are substantial and the new version is much more practical for normal close-up conditions.

Q. Can it be done on stage?
A. Yes

Q. How long will it take me to learn this?
A. Actually learn it? About 3 minutes. It might take you 15 minutes at the most to read the manuscript, but you will absolutely KNOW what you are doing in about 3 minutes time.

Q. What if I don't do it for a period of several months? Will I have to re-learn it?
No. Once you understand how this works you will be able to pick it up and do it first time, every time, no matter how long it has been since you last did it.


This is done with a combination of principles that as far as I know have never been used in this way before. When combined all together it makes for a magic square that is the ultimate in simplicity of working while still creating a superb magic square.

As you can tell I am very high on this. What I lay out for you in this booklet literally breaks brand new ground that has not been explored before and makes this amazing feat easy, easy, easy.

Want to do the simplest, most convincing magic square you will EVER do? It's all laid out for you in 24 pages