User Reviews: The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Pre-reading for the Bootcamp

For any of you that are thinking about taking a bootcamp, please, do yourself a favor and READ the Venusian Arts Handbook. It's incredible to me how many people haven't read this book. It's the basis for the M3 model and you will be so much further along if you understand the concepts inside. Also, read 'The Game' by Neil Strauss. This goes without saying.

If you get a chance you should also check out the Mystery Method DVD's and the Mind of Mystery DVD's and audio. (Oh, and the Annihilation Method is great too.)

Originally posted on the Venusian Arts Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

8.6

Effectiveness:		8.0
Ease of Implementation:		8.0
Innovativeness:		9.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		8.0
Value for Money:		10.0

Reviewed by Dr Mike Sex Therapist
March 26, 2008

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This Thing have me HOOKED!

just picked the book up 2 days ago and im like 75 pgs in, i was never really a big 'book reader', but boy does this thing have me HOOKED! i definatly feel anyone and everyone should pick it up if you havent alreadyâ€¦

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

8.5

Effectiveness:		9.0
Ease of Implementation:		9.0
Innovativeness:		8.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		7.0
Value for Money:		8.0

Reviewed by DoMjUan
January 29, 2007

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Insider Look to How its Done.

The Game shows the actual sargina at clubs, the experiences kissing, getting back t the room. It truely gives you and insider look to how its done. It gives you specific openers for different situations and how each situation plays out. It notonly gives examples but it gives the inenr thoughts and Psychology of the worlds 2 greats PUAs. If you have read Mysteyr and Davids book read the games and rice and repeat read both again!

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

8.3

Effectiveness:		8.0
Ease of Implementation:		8.0
Innovativeness:		9.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		7.0
Value for Money:		9.0

Reviewed by Darklind
September 04, 2006

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Helps You to Get the Idea of the System

You are better off grabbing Mystery method(the book) or even The Game to help you get a general idea of the whole system. In the absence of The New Mystery model, the VAH and MB are very good recommendations.

Originally posted on the Venusian Arts Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

8.3

Effectiveness:		8.0
Ease of Implementation:		8.0
Innovativeness:		9.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		9.0
Value for Money:		8.0

Reviewed by Greystroke
November 29, 2012

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A Must Read For Anyone Considering A PUA Lifestyle.

The game was a great read, but is far from teaching a person how "the game" is actually played. I think it's a must read for anyone considering a pua lifestyle. I think a great lesson taught in that book is that nothing comes free. In order to achieve greatness, you must be willing to sacrifice things that mean something to you.

Originally posted on The Venusian Arts Forum. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

8.1

Effectiveness:		8.0
Ease of Implementation:		9.0
Innovativeness:		7.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		7.0
Value for Money:		8.0

Reviewed by Insomniac
January 02, 2010

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It does Touches Nerves on us Geeks and Losers.

I just finnished the book. It was really good until Lisa comes along and hogs a lot of pages. Reading about how cool, mature, and awesome Style is in comparison to the rest of the people living in project hollywood was vomit inducing, i mean... the guy loves himself so much its disgusting. The ending is too disney like, and the 'hero' styles comes out triunphant, the book was clearly set for a more tragic ending, or at least with some tragic elements. He doesnt realize the story is not about him, its about the true PUAs, he never was one in my opinion, he was a writer all along. He never mentions any pick up failures of him, not real failures without a bright side to them, he makes it seem like he never fudged a set. By the end of the book you would think he has a 99% batting average, which really takes a lot of credibility out of the book.
I lost respect for Styles as a writer (not that anyone would care), and I realize his conquers are not that great, he would have never done so good if he 1)wasnt a respected writer already, 2)had money problems like some other real PUAs, 3)he didnt live in a mansion in hollywood.
If they ever make a movie out of this, i really hope they take Style's romance out of the scenery and center it more about mystery and the real legends. No one wants to watch a movie (or read a book) in which everything deescalates so smoothly. I for one like movies in which the lead characters are the ones who get lost in their quest to almost insane levels of depth in whatever they do. Im sure style is a great guy, but he is not hero material.
PS: realizing how this book made me write about it, and made me think about all this and go out of character and speak my mind (not to mention that i enjoyed most of it), I really recommend it. It does touches nerves on us geeks and losers.

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

8.0

Effectiveness:		9.0
Ease of Implementation:		7.0
Innovativeness:		8.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		8.0
Value for Money:		8.0

Reviewed by Zapata
June 21, 2006

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I Love the Book

I love the book and all, and ive shown it to a couple people!! But just one warning here id like to talk about!! I mean learn from what ever books you like whether its 'The Venusian Arts Handbook' by Mystery Double your dating by David Deangelo or The Game by Neil Strausse, all three great books!! But dont coppie them, use them as inspiration, and if youÃ‚Â´re game just isnÃ‚Â´t working then maybe maybe whip one or two things from these books!!
Build up youÃ‚Â´re own game and share it with others... and maybe one day you will get copied!!

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

7.9

Effectiveness:		8.0
Ease of Implementation:		7.0
Innovativeness:		8.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		8.0
Value for Money:		9.0

Reviewed by Dec
December 30, 2005

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A Lot Of The Material We Use Is Invented by Style

If you read "The Game," alot of the material we use is invented by Style. He is actually The #1 mPUA voted by everyone in the community.

He's a great guy I'd like to meet him.

Originally posted on The Venusian Arts Forum. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

7.9

Effectiveness:		8.0
Ease of Implementation:		8.0
Innovativeness:		9.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		7.0
Value for Money:		7.0

Reviewed by Cupid
January 02, 2010

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Definitely Worth the Read

Good book. Definately worth a read for anyone who is interested in pick-up stuff.
For someone who's been in the community for a while though, the book will not offer any new information regarding pick-up, but will give a lot of examples and stories of what the best PUAs did when Mystery started the community.

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

7.7

Effectiveness:		8.0
Ease of Implementation:		7.0
Innovativeness:		8.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		8.0
Value for Money:		8.0

Reviewed by Alpha Electro
August 30, 2006

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Very Entertaining and has Good Material

I give it a B. It is very entertaining and has some good material but it really only helps to make you see what is possible and see women and picking up women in a totally new light. Anyone who tries to go out and do what they read just wont know enough to be able to do it and will probably give up unless they are already very good social people and are good looking and just didnt know you could pick up girls by talking to them or they suffered from ass kissing femist nice guy syndrome or something.

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

7.7

Effectiveness:		8.0
Ease of Implementation:		7.0
Innovativeness:		9.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		8.0
Value for Money:		7.0

Reviewed by Hypnovibe
March 17, 2006

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Neil Wrote a Book on his Experience in the Life

Mystery is a magician, a teacher. Which is why his book is a manual. Neil is a writer, so his book is a account of the life of a PUA. Therefore it's understandable to have difference. Neil and Mystery have a lifelong friendship and the last thing one of them wants to do is compete on the same level, which is why Neil wrote a book on his experience in the life, not a 'how to.'

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

7.5

Effectiveness:		7.0
Ease of Implementation:		8.0
Innovativeness:		8.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		7.0
Value for Money:		7.0

Reviewed by Sidious
April 26, 2006

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Its Very Entertaining.

I thought the game was a great book, but like many of you I read it after reading such books as Double your Dating, Seduction Science, and Art of Seduction amoung others. I want to buy a copy of the Venusian Arts, but I want to make sure that its something a BAFC like me can use.
If you are looking for what seemed to me to be great insight about the world your getting into while you are attempting to become a PUA, this book is a must read. I honestly found lots of other useful information in it as well which helped me to approach a few sets, but Im still have alot of trouble, (which is due to me, not the teaching).
If you havent read this yet, I highly recommend it, if for no other reason than its very entertaining.

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

7.3

Effectiveness:		7.0
Ease of Implementation:		8.0
Innovativeness:		7.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		7.0
Value for Money:		7.0

Reviewed by imageten
July 08, 2006

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Great Read, Great Info and a Great Story

Friend of mine lent me The Game and I read it in 2 days while at work and is how I discovered the PUA culture.

It is a great read, great info and a great story. I defo recommend it.

Originally posted on The Venusian Arts Forum. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

7.2

Effectiveness:		7.0
Ease of Implementation:		8.0
Innovativeness:		7.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		6.0
Value for Money:		7.0

Reviewed by Vundu
January 02, 2010

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One of the Most Entertaining Books

this is one of the most entertaining books I've read in a long time. You have Neil's transformation from AFC to PUA and all the drama of Project Hollywood. How about Courtney Love? She's friggin nuts! I think there is lots of information concerning MM and I remember one chapter where Neil breaks it down from first meeting to sex. Step by Step.. Yes, the gloating becomes a bit much at times but he does become more 'human' near the end in that he explains the down side of being a PUA.
I think it's interesting how his flame Lisa is the one girl who didn't fall for his routines. And he ended up choosing HER. Hmm, so maybe the really good, smart girls who we all want as an eventual GF won't be so easy to 'game.' Seems this book mostly describes the seduction of drunk club girls without much direction in life. I also couldn't help thinking how smart Neil is if his intention was to write a book that describes himself as one of the best in the world at PU and then come out with a VERY expensive program. I thought at the end of the book he was coming out of the community.

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

6.9

Effectiveness:		7.0
Ease of Implementation:		7.0
Innovativeness:		8.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		6.0
Value for Money:		6.0

Reviewed by bayguy
November 17, 2006

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I Enjoyed the Book

The Good

--It's a well-writen book, engaging, designed to be a page-turner. It's amusing and worthwhile on entertainment value alone--let alone the insights it provides for AFCs.
--The truths in Neil's observations about women's nature are plainly evident.
--His breakdown of sets, IOIs, negs, strategizing for dealing w/AMOGs and
shit-tests are brilliant (though much of it is directly attributable to Mystery)

The Bad

--His invectives in the book against Mystery and TD in particular seem catty-- almost like the vengeful comments of a wounded, jilted lover. There are two sides to every story, and Style's lack of balance made me naturally want to seek out those guys' (especially Durden's) version of events.
--As Zapata mentioned, his failure to record some believably failed sarges is a regrettable omission. Strauss is a seasoned writer; he should have recognized that admitting failure is what humanizes 'stars' to regular people; that is precisely the appeal of programs like VH1's behind the scenes, that people can't seem to get enough of. Style does make clear that in the beginning, he was a luckless AFC, but the transition was so sudden and seamless. It would not resonate with most guys' experience as rAFC.
--On a related theme, Strauss claims in the book that being a writer never ever got him laid---which might be true, but his access to the big stars and Hollywood Parties is such an obvious trump card that most guys (even mPUAs) lack, I mean, COME ON! I simply find it unbelievable that Style never played that card to score with any of the true HB10s. Can you say 'casting couch'?
--I would very much have been fascinated to get Lisa's CANDID point of view on their hooking up. I saw them together on 'the View', and her comments seemed completely rehearsed. Neil Strauss has power, fame, money, and connections. He would get HBs even before The Game, and it's important to keep that in mind, when all the emphasis (deliberately?) remains on his appearance--a skinny, gawky-looking guy (describes Mystery to a tee as well, come to think of it...).
--A final comment is not directly on the book, but on Style as a marketing man. Somehow I wound up on his mass email list, and I keep getting 'time-
limited invites' to be at the next hand-picked annihilation-type seminar. Think about it guys: Style says over and over in his book that 'you seduce the men first, then you seduce the women.' Add in the false time-constraint factor
and it's pretty obvious that it's all a shell-game, a sales pitch. The previous comment on his limited edition $3700 dvd series says it all.

Pretty clever though, really. I ain't hatin' on Style. Like I already said, I enjoyed the book. I enjoy it even more, that I got my copy for free, from a friend. Never forget the old adage, fellas, that 'nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.'
That, of course, along with Obi Wan's timeless truism:
'The force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded.'

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

6.5

Effectiveness:		6.0
Ease of Implementation:		7.0
Innovativeness:		7.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		6.0
Value for Money:		6.0

Reviewed by El_Burro
July 03, 2006

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I Enjoyed the Game quite a bit

I enjoyed The Game quite a bit. It should be noted that the information is all for entertainment, please dont read the Game just for its PU content, the few good tips on PU are not worth the nearly 400 pages you have to read to get it. About halfway through the book the story line got pretty boring and I was counting the pages until it was all over.

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Not Sure

Overall Rating:

5.3

Effectiveness:		8.0
Ease of Implementation:		3.0
Innovativeness:		6.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		5.0
Value for Money:		5.0

Reviewed by kungfoo_chicken08
November 12, 2006

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I wished that The Game was more of a "How-To" manual

I know that 'The Game' by Neil Strauss is not technically learning material - it is more of a narrative/story - but I was just wondering what the forum's general thoughts on it were. Essentially, how do you think the book impacted or influenced the PUA Community?
I thought the book was particularly well-written and well-structured, and Neil's inherent talent as a writer really makes it a solid work, more than just the typical page-turner - I would even go so far as to cite it as an instant classic, as far as nonfiction literature goes. However - I think I can understand why the author did this - all the approaches, techiques and methodologies that Style uses are not disclosed in full detail, and as a result, we are left in the dark as to exactly how Style became the 'greatest of all Jedi.' But I guess thats the reason why all the different seduction schools and workshops are out there for - you can't really just be 'told' this information.
Well, I wished that The Game was more of a 'How-To' manual, but it is definitely more of a bilungsroman, with elements of a love story mixed in (the final chapters with Lisa). Style should release his teachings since I think they would be a huge hit and many would want to learn his techniques. I know of an 'Annihilation Method' seminar he gave to a lucky 5, but I don't know if he has decided to release anything else in the future. Well, heres to hoping that he does.

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Not Sure

Overall Rating:

5.0

Effectiveness:		5.0
Ease of Implementation:		5.0
Innovativeness:		5.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		5.0
Value for Money:		5.0

Reviewed by scarface_dx
March 17, 2006

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I Just Wish it had been Written Better

I read the book cover to cover as soon as it came out. Then I read it once again over the last weekend.
I think The Game is the worst kind of book possible:
There is enough good information and insights that it must be read. And given the nature of the game, more than once too, since more of it will make sense the second thime through.
However, to get to the good parts you must wade through tons of soap opera drama ('and then blah, blah slept with blah, blah's girlfriend, which pissed off so and so, who wanted to get even... SNORE). And then you need to put up with Niel's melancholy and cynicism which he rarely even has the decency to wrap in humor. And then one wonders how much of it is even true!
Unfortunately, a must read since the main points, and occasion nuggets of PU wisdom can't be skipped.
I just wish it had been written better. And maybe made it 1/3 the length.
5/10.

Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.

Would You Recommend It?

Not Sure

Overall Rating:

5.0

Effectiveness:		5.0
Ease of Implementation:		5.0
Innovativeness:		5.0
Packaging/ Customer Service:		5.0
Value for Money:		5.0

Reviewed by PhilosopherKing
September 18, 2006

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A Beginner'S Must!

THE GAME is a great story about the trials and tribulations that Neill Strauss (i.e Style) goes through in his attempt to overcome his shyness and incompetence when it comes to approaching and seducing women. It's great inspiration for all those guys that think they have it "too" tough. There are LOTS techniques and methods along with great sources for recommended reading and it is VERY entertaining.

Would You Recommend It?

Yes

Overall Rating:

4.7