In 1950, something occurred that would serve as a catalyst to change our old way of life. For the next two generations, American culture underwent a major change, moving from a nation of humble and selfless people and turning in a direction of materialism, pretentiousness, and insecurity. In Magic Cards, James Ballard suggests that to understand why our current society is so focused on 'things,' we must look into our past to learn what we valued before this swift change began to occur. Through personal reflection, James takes readers on a ride through the past while explaining the dangers of our present times and suggests ways to find freedom from the materialism that currently plagues our world.