Books

The following is a list of books we recommend relating to flying trapeze or other circus disciplines. If you would like to amend a review or ask about any of these items, please contact us! Learning to Fly: Reflections on Fear, Trust, and the Joy of Letting Go by Sam Keen Sam Keen started trapeze at the age of 62. Part memoir, part metaphor, Keen's book is filled with daring leaps, midair turns, somersaults, and catches. For Keen, the trapeze is a good teacher. From his six-year love affair with the trapeze, he derives insights into fear, trust, letting go, and what it means to live life passionately. Although this is primarily a motivational text, it gives an excellent insight into flying trapeze in the United States. Click here to view paperback at Amazon.com Click here to view hardback at Amazon.com Surprised by Hope by Vickie Baker Vickie is was a professional trapeze artist whose career was unfortunately cut short by an accident. This book is a profound yet humour-filled story of spiritual, physical, and emotional resurrection. Click here to view this item at Amazon.com Méthodologie Trapézoïdale ('Trapeze Techniques') by Yvette Challande This excellent book is the only one of it's kind that we have seen. It demonstrates, by way of realistic drawings, many many techniques for the static or fixed trapeze, from beginner to advanced level. Although the tricks are all labelled in French, this should not deter the non-French speaker, since all the techniques are clearly explained by the pictures. Highly recommended. The best way to purchase this website is directly from the Geneva Circus School's website. If you don't speak French...just email them and they will talk you through the process. Méthodologie Trapézoïdale 2 ('Trapeze Techniques 2') by Yvette Challande The sequel to the above book, this book explains a very large number of positions for two people on a double trapeze. Highly recommended. Méthodologie de Corde et Tissus ('Techniques on rope and silks') by Yvette Challande A continuation of the above series, this book demonstrates positions on a rope (corde lisse) and tissu (silks). Highly recommended. Méthodologie de Cerceau ('Aerial Hoop Techniques') by Yvette Challande A continuation of the above series, this book demonstrates positions in an aerial hoop. Highly recommended. A Reckless Era of Aerial Performance, The Evolution of Trapeze by Steve Gossard Although this book is currently out of print, it can sometimes be found on Amazon or eBay. If you own this title and can provide a review, please contact us.   The Biggest Trick: Miguel Vasquez' Quadruple Somersault by Harry Graham Although this book is currently out of print, it can sometimes be found on Amazon or eBay. If you own this title and can provide a review, please contact us.