Books and kit for illusion hunters
A short, sensible list. A ruler and a bit of patience will get you a long way.
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Books
- Optical illusion books (affiliate link)Big picture books of classic tricks, to flick through and argue over.
- Illusion books for children (affiliate link)Lots of pictures, not many words, plenty of “no way!”.
- Books on how we see (affiliate link)For grown-ups who want the why, not just the wow.
Measuring
- A good steel ruler (affiliate link)The one tool every size illusion fears.
- Digital calipers (affiliate link)Measure circles and gaps to a tenth of a millimetre.
Drawing your own
- Geometry sets (affiliate link)Compass, protractor and ruler for drawing your own illusions.
- Fineliner pens (affiliate link)Crisp lines make sharper illusions.
- Dot grid paper (affiliate link)Perfect for drawing equal lines that won’t look equal.
Experiments
- Clear acetate sheets (affiliate link)For tracing the moon at arm’s length, as the Exploratorium suggests.
- Dry-wipe markers (affiliate link)To draw on the acetate, and wipe it clean for the next full moon.
- Craft straws (affiliate link)For the Exploratorium’s shoebox size-and-distance experiment.
- Binoculars (affiliate link)For a closer look at the moon, high or low.
Puzzles and kits
- Optical illusion jigsaws (affiliate link)A thousand pieces of not believing your eyes.
- Illusion science kits (affiliate link)Make-and-test kits for the kitchen table.