NPR

Penn Jillette: Fool Us Once

Ask Me Another rises from the ashes in Phoenix, AZ with Penn Jillette! He pulls back the curtain on his distaste for magic, his strictly working relationship with Teller, and his love of being fooled.
Penn Jillette on Ask Me Another in Phoenix, Arizona.

Magician Penn Jillette prefers tricks to illusions: "which is just gluing two front surface mirrors together at 45 degree angles, and then the sides look like the back!" He doesn't particularly like spending time with his stage partner Teller: "We wanted to work together, but there was no sort of affection." And he doesn't even like magic: "I was never fond of it."

So whatthis renowned performer, whose show at the Rio Hotel and Casino is the longest-running headliner act in Las Vegas, enjoy? Being fooled. "It's the best feeling in the world," he told host Ophira Eisenberg at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. "You don't get into magic 'cause you wanna fool people. You get into magic 'cause you wanna be fooled. And then you keep chasing that first high."

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min readAmerican Government
House Foreign Aid Bills Advance With Democrats' Help; Johnson May Still Be In Peril
With Democratic support, the legislation overcomes a major procedural hurdle and is expected to head to a weekend vote by the full House.
NPR3 min read
A Cartoonist's Guide To Navigating 'Normal'
Cartoonist Liana Finck has spent years learning the "rules" of social interactions. She's not convinced. Her comics poke fun at the contradictions and absurdities of daily life and modern parenting.
NPR4 min read
From Jailhouse Melodies To Vanishing Salmon, Rejuvenate Your Listening History
Enjoy the spring bloom, get outside, listen to a new podcast! The NPR One team has gathered a few returning favorites as well as some fresh releases from across public media.

Related Books & Audiobooks