John Novak Vol 6 By Art of Escape
The first volume deals with basics of handcuff escapes, and developes a complete modern handcuff act from bits and pieces of the old challenge acts. , as well as the authors's experiences with modern working conditions and audience expectations. It also deals with picking, shimming and the use of gimmicked cuffs.

Partial list of the contents: The Fifteen Steps; In Defense of the Shim; Picking Open Takeda Cuffs; Thumbcuffs; The Cocoon; and An Easy Way to Deal With a Challenger's Handcuffs.

Here the author introduces you to the equipment and principles necessary to accomplish chain escapes. It investigates the various methods of positioning key rings and explains chaining configurations.

Partial list of the contents: The Siberian Chain Escape; The Manacle Configuration; An Easy Underwater Escape; The Tower Circus Chain Escape; and Novak's Bike Lock Chain Escape.

The Metamorphosis is covered in detail, along with variations and a complete treatise on the most modern form of police restraint - The Flex Cuffs. Also included is a basic television interview that can be used to advantage in promoting your feats of escape.

Partial list of the contents: Costume Changes; the Substitution Trunk; Siegfried and Roy; Hatboxes and Elephant Stands; Houdini's 1910 Stock Escape; and An Essay in Speculation.

Here is a comparison of the various forms of popular straight jackets and an evaluation of each on their merits for speed, ease and availability. You should read this book if you now own a straight jacket or if you're thinking about buying one. It is loaded with ideas on various presentations of the escape, and explains the various gaffs you can work into the jacket you own.

Partial list of the contents: The Secret of the Straight Jacket; Basic Straight Jacket Moves; The Randi Ankle Stocks; Inside a Packing Box; The Burning Rope; and Ron 

This volume features an escape of John Novak's own devising. The Bohemian Torture Crib is comparable to escapes in Norman Bigelow's Door of Death, Markini's Electrified Mummy Lid Torture Board, Trudel's Chinese Torture Board, and Abbott's The Ghost Walks, but its inspiration stems from Phalhinha's Australian Torture Crib.

Complete in its treatment of this novel effect, this volume also covers Insane Muffs, Buzz Saw Escape, Australian Belt, leather handcuffs and the presentation of escapes. 

Here is a presentation of several variations of the Mail Bag Escape, as well as a brief history of the escape and marketed versions of the effect. Different presentation ideas are covered.

Included are the basic plans for building your own escape cabinet, cabana hoop cabinet, stock escape, steam cabinet escape box and PVC torture anchor. Additional material includes The Refrigerator Escape, Slave Collar, and Zanadu Death Device, and much more. 

This volume begins with a discussion of the Harry Willard Thumb Tie and quickly moves on to a discussion of the various Thumb Ties and their presentations. The coverage given to the thumb tie is complete and to the point.

Also covered are Dana Taylor's Upside Down Torture Stocks, the Christie Wrist Stocks, the Texas Straight Jacket (Rope Escape), a number of other rope escapes, the Poison Snake Mystery Bag, Guillotine Cuff Escape, the Perch Escape, and the Prisoner of War Escape Cage.