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User Reviews of The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
"I did Find my Self Skipping Past Parts"
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 b7ank
September 19, 2006
September 19, 2006
I really don't think it was meant to be a full fledged 'how-to' manual. I mainly liked it because of the back stories behind this journey form nerd to player. However, I did find my self skipping past parts of the book too
Originally posted on the Attraction Forums. Reproduced with permission.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
"The Game is Only About How Style Became a Pickup Artists"
Overall rating
6.8
Effectiveness
7.0
Ease of Implementation
7.0
Innovativeness
6.0
Packaging/ Customer Service
6.0
Value for Money
7.0
Reviewed by Bubba
January 02, 2010
January 02, 2010
I have read The Game and The Mystery Method and The Game is only about how Style became a pickup artists and about the people in the community. The Mystery Method tells you and shows you how to become a pickup artists and what openers to use and it explains the routines and everything else unlike The Game which is just a story.
Originally posted on The Venusian Arts Forum. Reproduced with permission.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
"One of the Most Entertaining Books"
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
November 17, 2006
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.
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.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
"I Enjoyed the Book"
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
July 03, 2006
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.'
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.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
"I Enjoyed the Game quite a bit"
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
November 12, 2006
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.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
"I wished that The Game was more of a "How-To" manual"
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
March 17, 2006
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.
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.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
"I Just Wish it had been Written Better"
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
September 18, 2006
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.
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.
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