The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists Imitation Leather – Illustrated, 25 Sept. 2005

This didn't quite go in the direction I was led to believe it would by others who claimed to have read it (goes to once again assert my theory that ALL reviews and reviewers should be ignored - in fact I wouldn't bother reading this in your place!)However, there are a couple of things I would suggest a reader could do after turning that first page...1 - put the thing down! Its compelling!2 - Not enjoy some of the 'methods' of pick-up detailed within. I found myself oft times thinking "oh I seeeee!"3 - Not end up really liking this guy! He is definitely charming and dare I say, cool, but to that lovely place where he also knows how to laugh at himself as well. I found myself in awe of the way he let negative things just bounce off of him....and there it is really! This book is NOT the one stop guide to becoming a MPUA (look it up!) that people have told me it was.What it is is a few brief insights into a world I wasn't even aware existed, a person who I would like to be, and a compelling account of going zero to legend in about 18 months!Whilst the author does come across as genuine, decent and grounded, from time to time he does appear to be a little dismissive of people who make their money from posing as pick up masters (he does name names!)So seductive was this book that I too was compelled to finding out more and went to his website, only to be greeted by the exact same cash driven rubbish all the "others" in the field do!I still admire the guy greatly (fantastic writer) but I couldn't help but feel Id somehow been let down. Reason?! Because, I don't know how he does it, but Neil Strauss' style (ironic!) is such that he almost feels like he is a pal! And that in itself makes this worth a read!And I hasten to add - for both men and women alike!

This book traces the journey of Neil Strauss, a writer for the New York Times, from an "average frustrated chump" to use the lingo of pick up artists, into one of the best and most respected within two years. Pick up artists are dedicated to finding out ways to seduce women, and when Strauss started the movement was fairly unknown. He is taught by Mystery, and they become good friends and move into a house in Hollywood with some other pick up artists including Herbal, Playboy, Papa and Tyler Durden. There is a lot of drama throughout the book, with betrayals, fallouts and breakdowns and it culminates in Strauss' honed and proven techniques failing completely when he falls in love with the woman of his dreams, Lisa.It was a very entertaining and enlightening read because although it is a documentation of what actually happened, there are tips and techniques spread along the way such as negs, time constraints and various openers. However one is left wondering at the end whether it is the canned routines that did the work or just one man's confidence to approach and talk to more women, and believing in himself. In any case, it is a great read and a fascinating insight into a subculture that most people didn't know existed before the book was released.

Recommended to me by friends telling me it had changed 'their entire perspective on dating', not to mention their 'success rate', the book follows a self-confessed dating loser who hooks up to a community of pick-up artists and then becomes a master himself.Techniques in seduction are expanded upon and success follows, as our hero 'Style' gets to date women way out of his supposed league, and basically lives the life of Riley with a group of fellow serial daters in Hollywood until egos tear apart the lifestyle they had built together.Very well written and a real eye-opener. Many will baulk at the morality of how far the PUAs are willing to go to hit on women, (it's not really lying, but the whole truth just isn't as interesting...) but the story also focuses on the importance of self improvement in the quest to become more attractive to the opposite sex.The only disappointment come as the story reaches the final act, and our hero, after ridiculing the chumps hankering after the one special girl, then proceeds to fall in love himself, give up his lifestyle and, well, you can guess the rest. But don't let the denouement put you off, if you are interested in personal growth and development, you won't find a more inspirational and funny story to point the way.

I purchased this book at the recommendation of a friend and although Neil Strauss' story is indeed an interesting one, I felt that a lot of the tips in this book on how to pick up girls are not very helpful at all.The advice he gives requires you to manipulate women and present yourself as some one you aren't. His advice on 'Negging' is a bit extreme and some of his examples I thought came across as pretty offensive. I can see how it would work on certain women with low confidence levels but if you want to pick up hot girls that are also smart and have confidence then this isn't the book for you.If you want to attract women through honesty and being yourself then I would highly recommend a book called 'Models - How To Attract Women Through Honesty' by Mark Manson, it is by far the best book I've read on picking up women.In summary, this book has a great story and is an interesting read but I definitely wouldn't use it a guide on picking up girls.