 In addition to teaching specific tricks, "The Tarbell Course" also teaches patter, marketing, the history of magic, ethics, advertising, routining, presentation, diction and elocution, magic theory, performance theory, acting, misdirection, timing and showmanship.Volume 7 of the series was written by Harry Lorayne and compiled from contributions by other magicians; it is valued largely for its comprehensive index, subdivided by title, contributor, and properties, to the first seven volumes.Volume 8 of the series was compiled and edited by Richard J. Kaufman and Steve Burton.