The Game

Is it for real? Is The Game by Neill Strauss an assiduously detailed, highly entertaining exposé of a fascinating secret society -- the international community of pickup artists who have refined their talents for getting women into bed to the nth degree? Or is it an extremely funny hoax? Early drafts of the book had people wondering, and men in particular speculated if the book would deliver some valuable `how to' tips as an aid to entering a sexual wonderland. In fact, it doesn't really matter whether you take the basic premise seriously or not: Strauss' wonderfully diverting book delivers great entertainment whatever your point of view.

According to Strauss, the clandestine society of men he describes here take wagers in clubs and bars throughout the Western world over just who can chalk up the most Casanova-like quantities of pickups and seductions. But this isn't merely for the thrill of an army of sexual conquests -- all of this is coded and organised according to an almost military-style ritual, with an elaborate series of rules and regulations that the participants rigorously follow. Strauss went undercover in this glamorous world, and learned the secrets of these top-drawer seducers. But, for him, there was a useful corollary affect: Strauss found himself transformed from a nerdish, unconfident journalist into a silver-tongued Lothario, quite the equal of many of the ladykilling males he had been enjoying the company of. For him, the ultimate accolade was being noted The World's Number One Pickup Artist -- and then he made the mistake of setting his sights on a woman who could give every bit as good as she got.

The world of excess presented here is not one most of us move in, but (if the truth were told) it has its irresistible attractions. Strauss wheels in such celebrities as Tom Cruise and Courtney Love, and this unblushing peek into a secret world where sex and seduction are treated with cool scientific detachment is mesmerisingly readable. --Barry Forshaw

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I haven't read it yet, but... - Rated
I have a few friends who have shared it around in order to have more confidence with the fairer sex. They are all good people, a world away from the 'scumbags' that some of the hypocritical ignorant negative reviews have spoken of (the same people who hated the generalisations of women in the book itself), and within a few weeks they'd ALL managed to find potential long-term girlfriends. Therefore, I might as well give it a go.

Must-read!!! - Rated
The book is a real eye-opener for me as a woman... I had no idea that it could be such a labour or even a tragedy for many men who have no clue...

Having said this, the book and all the methods train robots, not a spontaneous and fun artists - the moment when those tedious convo starters became familiar to every girl at any L.A. bar (no surprises), the PUA community gets stuck as it ran out of material which wasn't impressive to begin with. Would i talk to a weird guy asking for a personal advice from a total stranger - probably NO! Would i talk to a guy who seemed spontaneous up to the moment, easy and fun - ABSOLUTELY!

Also the quality of women in the book - gross....... strippers and other hired guns that one doesn't need any skill to pick up as they are sitting there waiting for it, hoes that they are.

So the method overall is highly laughable but the book is entertaining for a woman as much as for a guy.

Pick-Up is fun! Not a labour! - Rated
This book is very interesting and definitely entertaining. However, I wouldn't recommend this book for its pick-up.

I found Neil's evolving ethos through the book very insightful and intriguing. Rather than a pick-up book, I'd recommend this book as a moral stand point for all those desperate guys who just want to get laid.
- Toward the end of the book, the ethical sub-text seems more prominent. He has learnt that it isn't about quantity... it's the quality. If you want a full on PUA Guidebook, try Mystery Method or Natural Seduction - very similar in tactic, but differring in ethics and perception.

IMPORTANT!!!
- The skills in Pick-Up shouldn't be focused on dehumanizing women, but in giving yourself the CHANCE to meet the RIGHT woman.

What this book will do more so than any other PUA book (I've read) is inspire you. It's a story that provokes those caged hormones to break free, inspire and motivate the reader to get out of their sorry hole of self-doubt and push themselves out the door and try something new. To actually meet women. Not a woman, but women. To actually engage in conversation - and enjoy it.

So how and why is it Neil changed from a geek to a PUA? He put himself into so many strange situations that 'strange' were no longer strange. He became comfortable with himself. He became confident. He learned to enjoy the journey, rather than focus on the destination. Which isn't so ironic as you might think, but enjoying the journey makes getting to the destination that much easier.

I never really struggled with women, but I have learned why sometimes things didn't work out, and why sometimes they did and from this I've now refined my personality to drop bad habbits and improve on my good habits.

Enjoy the book ;]

not bad at all! - Rated
This proved to be e very interesting read. The book itself is very well written and, even if you dont agree with everything in the book, it is still a very good story.
I think this book does have many useful tips as regards picking up women. Some of the tips are so obscure that you wouldnt believe that they work. However, it seems they do!
In all, i found this book interesting, a good easy read and full of useful information. Much better than some of the other books that are available on a similar subject

very entertaining - Rated
This book is written as a story exploring one mans change from a girlfriendless geek to ultimate seducer. The tactics that are used are often ones which are allready known and often just common sense. Some of the tactics however i wouldnt believe would ever work for the regular day to day guy. I struggled to believe some of it actually works! However, this is still a pretty entertaining read with plent of useful tips if you have the nerve to use them! My only critisism would be that the method is mainly geared towards picking up in big clubs in big cities. It would be quite useful to learn what to do in the workplace or the swimmingbaths or somewhere slightly more mundane