Good Overall But Does Not Carry The Same Punch as "Beyond The Digits"
SUMMARY
Overall Rating:
7.7
Effectiveness:
9.0
Ease of Implementation:
5.0
Innovativeness:
8.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:
8.0
Value for Money:
8.0
Reviewed by Syboh Seven
Last updated: January 25, 2010
The Good: Quality information and tips; most of the key concepts from Janka’s DVD set “Beyond the Digits” are laid out here for a cheaper price.
The Bad: The most original and important concepts are better explained in the videos; some of the drive and originality doesn’t transfer as much to the written format; not much on approach anxiety.
The Bottom Line:If you can afford it, the DVD set is a better buy, as seeing Janka explaining the techniques in depth with enthusiasm and conviction makes a big difference in understanding and internalizing. This book is most useful as a companion to the DVDs, to get the material in written, organized format.
DETAILED REVIEW
Same material, a bit less power
This is the book version of Paul Janka’s material, written a couple of months before the recording of the 6 DVD set “Beyond the Digits”. The concept and techniques are basically the same, so you might want to read my review of "Beyond the Digits" , where I elaborate in depth on the content and its pros and cons.
The book is well written (Janka is a Harvard graduate after all); it ties up some loose ends he did not have time to elaborate on in the video program.
There is, among the new information, a nice breakdown on his numbers, approaches, rejections, etc. To his credit, Janka does not pretend to be a Superman and he is candid about his failures. He teaches that rejection is normal and to be expected, no matter your level, and admits he still gets it all the time. You just learn to shrug it off and move on.
Just like in the DVD set, the focus here is exclusively on day & street game, and it feels at the same time advanced (because of how ballsy the whole system is) and basic (because the approach to meeting women couldn’t be simpler).
Unfortunately, there is still no explanation on how to actually cold approach, besides saying “just do it”. You do get a lot of solid, original tips on how to have the right vibe and create sexual tension within the first few minutes.
Some of the concepts are more easy to grasp in written form, but many of the key ideas have been explained more at length, or just plain better, in the DVD set. If you want to understand Assuming Familiarity, Pulling the Sex Forward, etc, the videos will hammer those home much better than the book.
Too industrial?
Presented in the written form without the swagger of a live Janka selling it, the industrial, mechanical aspect of the system that bothered me in the DVDs is also more striking.
Interestingly, Janka himself realizes this, and he has a few pages discussing the deep psychological consequences of “being a player”, including feelings of loneliness and alienation; this is “the burden of the hustle”, when “your reality becomes the consumption of women”. He evens hint at quitting pick up and finding a soul mate.
This is a welcome, sobering chapter and again Janka deserves credit for his openness, although one could wonder why none of this was mentioned in “Beyond The Digits”.
Further, Janka has a blind spot here - the problems described do not come from “being a player” per se, but from the extremeness of Janka’s system itself. Moving on to new conquests almost immediately after getting each new girl, going for quantity over quality, limiting your interactions to a very narrow set of steps, over the long run this stuff is not necessarily psychologically healthy. Janka’s own rigid rules are setting him up for trouble, but he doesn’t seem to realize that – yet.
Still, there is a lot of good stuff in this book, and you can learn from extreme characters without copying their lifestyle 100%. Get the good tips and disregard the crazy stuff.
Invest in the DVDs
If you have to choose, I would strongly recommend buying the excellent DVD set (Paul Janka’s "Beyond the Digits") over the book, because seeing Janka’s presence and conviction on video helps to understand and internalize his points. Many of the key concepts are also better explained in the DVD set – this is especially true for the more advanced, original ideas.
This book is very reasonably priced, and worth buying if you would like structured notes of the material for review, or can’t afford the DVD set.
Table of Contents/ List of Topics Covered:
1. PREPARATION: Philosophy and Mindset
2. ENGAGEMENT: Bringing Her into Your Reality
3. MIDGAME: Moving Beyond the Digits
4. SEXUAL LOGISTICS: Making It Happen
5. RELATIONSHIPS: The Final Frontier
6. LUXURY PROBLEMS: Consequences of the Player Lifestyle
7. APPENDIX : Case Studies
It includes:
- The correct way to pick up an attractive woman
- What never to say to a woman when you're asking her for her phone number
- How to create an atmosphere that is conducive to sex
- Boost your confidence by learning how to manage rejection
- How to eliminate approach anxiety so that you can comfortably talk to a woman
- How to have fun, playful chat that makes a woman feel at ease
- Examples of how to pick up women in different venues
- How to make your masculine qualities stand out
What You Get:
1 Ebook
Bonus Item:
- 30-day trial to Advanced Training Video Series (you will be billed $39/month after the trial period)
Janka's book is quite interesting - there are some great insights that alone are already worth the $19.95 ("Women are conservative animals; they’ll wait
until the energy or money has been bled dry and then still, they may not make the move. The timing is your domain. Remember that: timing is your domain."; what is more important than money to sleep with many women). However, if you expect special openers and techniques, you probably will be disappointed. the book is a collection of (great) thoughts by a guy who has had a lof of success with women. he just tells his perspective. he doesn't break it all down to stages like the Mystery Method, but you can still learn a lot from this reasonably priced book.
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