The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene
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Book Reviews of The Art of Seduction
Book Review: Are you being fooled by Greene's seductive language?
Summary: 5 Stars
DO NOT lie to yourself. None of us picked up this book to guard themselves against future abusers and seducers. None of us were trying to be "safe" or "practical"--if books like this didn't exist, the world wouldn't need to know these tricks in order to protect themselves.
There are two schools of thought that the average reader seems to have:
1) This book is not inherently evil; it depends on how it is used. Besides, if you don't know the rules of seduction, how can you keep from being seduced?
and
2) This book IS evil; it strips down and dehumanizes the entire rest of the world, ruining both the life of the seducer and the lives of the "seduced."
I will not be able to change your mind by stating my opinion--most people are not going to change their opinion about anything in their life, no matter what someone else says. What I will bring to your attention is the fact that this book has powerful manipulative power in and of itself. If you honestly believe every word this book says, be careful--Robert Greene is seducing you.
Think about it. The guy is a master of power, the author of two very successful, very influential tomes. Why wouldn't he use his carefully cultivated powers of influence (manipulation) to fool millions of readers into believing every word he says?
First, let's take a look at how the book is laid out. In the Preface, Robert Greene is constantly charming you, begging you to stay with him throughout the book. "It is pointless to try to argue against such power, to imagine that you are not interested in it, or that it is evil and ugly. The harder you try to resist the lure of seduction--as an idea, as a form of power--the more you will become fascinated" (Greene xxi).
Look at that quote meticulously for a moment. He knows that most people who have picked up the book are feeling timid and queasy, because in their guts they know that this book is trouble. So he brings this emotion to the spotlight, and assures you that no one is able to resist this temptation, that the more you hide from it, the more it will grab you. Automatically, he has "insinuated" in your head the thought that you are powerless, that you need (not WANT, but NEED)seduction to feel confident. Never mind the fact that you have gone all your life without using it (hopefully).
At the end of the preface, he then ends with the sentence "Slowly you will find yourself absorbing the poison through your skin...you will begin to see everything as a seduction..." (Greene xxv). POISON? You have suspected all along that this book is poison. Now, he is not directly instructing you to drink it--he just wants it to be near you, so that it can tempt you. Maybe a little of the poison will rub off on you, with minimal effort on your part.
Do you really want more poison in your life?
As the book continues, he gives descriptions of each of the nine seducers. Notice that he fills your head with intoxicating images of historical figures, such as Cleopatra, Marilyn Monroe, Casanova, Valentino, and royalty such as Queen Victoria. He is dazzling you with these images to make you believe that you can have the glory and power that they had.
Do you think that that's REALLY a reasonable conclusion to make?
The rest of the book is laid out somewhat coldly--he comes right out and says that you are stirring anxiety and discomfort, "victimizing" people, keeping them guessing, creating confusion. By now, he's got you hooked. It doesn't matter what he says--we will just eat it out of the palms of his hands.
I know that you might feel powerless, angry, in need of love. But this book will only lead to further destruction. And it certainly will not give you love. The absurdity that struck me most in this book is the notion of the Ideal Lover. "If another person seems to have that ideal quality...we fall in love." You cannot make someone love you by acting as their ideal. Love isn't some sick game. And, quite honestly, it has nothing to do with qualities, interests, or goals that someone might possess. Love is a mystery--most of the time, one cannot really tell why he is in love. Just like you can't stop loving someone if you do--you can't make someone love you if they don't already.
So, if you're interested in a guide to make someone addicted to your cycles of manipulation, pleasure, and pain--go for it.
If you're intersted in love, stop sitting inside reading and get out of the house!
ONE MORE THING: The reason why I gave this five stars is that it is a masterpiece and a very entertaining read. I literally cannot put it down, despite how much it makes my stomach turn. If you really want to be shocked, amazed, and spellbound, then I highly recommend it.
OTHERWISE, stay the hell away from it. It is poison.
Book Review: Psychological nuclear energy
Summary: 5 Stars
As its more tangible counterpart, this information can destroy or sustain. From one standpoint I am just glad to have a pretty well organized blueprint of human actions: a lens through which I can categorize things I see. Personally, I intend to take it no further than to add some spice to certain relationships (and to wary myself against manipulative behavior): a pretty narrow application, I admit, but I'd have paid far more than $10 to get this information.
To whom does the book apply?
Seduction is a very general term. In that sense everybody needs to know more about, or how to defend against it because you WILL be seduced at several points in your life and it is likely that at least one of those events will significantly alter your future. HOWEVER, the book itself is far too corrupting for some reader groups, and a pretty obvious subject is divulged in far more than others. Definitely, as far as teens are concerned I wouldn't have them read this directly - but in the hands of a concerned parent or someone who can see beyond the sexual overtones, or maybe even use them beneficially in their marriage {though I can imagine ruined relationships due to too brusque experimentation} it CAN {and that's really the operative word here} give you insights into the human psyche like few books you're likely to read: if you choose to, you can spend minutes meditating on each page and even more trying to link a chain between various parts of the book to a particular situation in your life. IMO, there's that much good content.
I've read my share of books: just finishing a very good 'The World is Flat', but 'The Art of Seduction' is the first that I consider a member of the 'red hot' category: my highest tier of books, to which I have not yet added one. What sets it apart from 'sequential books' that are unable to escape their content is that it provides a solid informational foundation for the thought process it instigates. That framework to me is the most valuable contribution - even if the author, and certainly some of the reviewers who got stuck on 'this book is bad because it advocates this, or that' only intended or noticed a prescribed linear applicative methodology.
There are those who, in regards to 'The Art of Seduction,' aim to
a) get too much ...
The book itself, is massive, and overwhelming - lives of famous lovers and courtesans cover only a few pages each, and the fascinating lifestyle can make the gullible experiment with things they're not ready for - indeed no one person embodies the full raucousness enclosed, but it is alluring to try to grasp it all as a reader.
b) get too little ...
To treat it as a 20th or 21st century self-help book, where the main effort expounded is in the uncovering of the procedure by the author, misses the point.
What this is, is a very interesting and well-expressed beginner/intermediate course in psychology whose practicability depends on how much you want to meditate and use to unlock certain aspects of your life: how much you get out of it depends far more on YOU than other texts. It will require a lot more imagination because the real deep learning in this scenario many times cannot be 1-to-1 applied (few are likely to live even one or two of the circumstances described, but one can definitely learn from EACH) - I believe this lack of perception is the motive for some of the negative reviews, though some of the positives probably equidistantly veer in the opposite direction (a shallow fascination with the admittedly very interesting and well narrated anecdotes.)
So for all those who want a 1-2-3 book to picking up a 36-24-36 chick, look elsewhere and spare a good literary work your equally-weighted terrible reviews. As James discovered, 'This is not much of a self-help.' Shattered expectations, however, are not equivalent to bad content.
[Self-help books are the 'cheat-sheets' for life, but Casanova didn't have a step by step program for wooing women. Knowledge and insight generate actions when inflexible techniques fall short. They both have their uses however, particularly with self-help books helping to add a focus to the 'how' that they 'why' books sometimes lack]
Book Review: Not for the faint of heart.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are just looking for a good book to help you get laid with minimal effort, then put this book down. There are books that are much easier and will get you results much faster. This book is not about getting easy pussy at a bar or strip joint. It is about helping a person fall deeply in love with you, and this is better. A person in lust for you is wild and not concerned about you. A person in love with you will go to the ends of the earth for you.
If you have very little background in psychology and/or philosophy, put this book down because you're not ready to understand it yet. It is an incredible book and I hope you don't get turned off because you're not prepared to read it.
If you are a die hard, conservative Christian moralist who is happy with their life and belief system, then PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE put this book down. Your beliefs will change to some extent, I promise, regardless of how strong you think they are. And if they don't you'll just be filled with dissonant emotions when you really understand what the Bible means when it says the world can be a terrible place.
On the other hand, if you are intelligent, observant, and patient then this is just simply an incredible read. You will see everything in this world with a new outlook. It will teach you the most intricate workings of human nature. Human nature is dark. Consider the following two biological facts:
1. A woman is likely to retain more sperm when she has an orgasm during sex.
2. A man's sperm is designed to kill the sperm of other men.
What does this mean? Women have been biologically hardwired to seek one man (the Alpha male) to be the sperm donor and to seek out another to raise the kid (the Beta male). Sorry folks, nature is just that dark. And this book has exactly the same kind of dark twists. It explains what makes people fall for other people, even if it is not so pure and wholesome. And though it is dark, it still is true, and there is beauty in truth.
This book will teach you how to play other people's emotions. This is a very important thing to learn. One cannot survive in this world without these skills. The most important thing people must realize about this book is that what is containes here is a dual edged sword. It most certainly can be used for evil. It does teach manipulation. But it also a book that can be used for good. With this kind of knowledge one can keep their partner happy for life. A seducer is a benevolent manipulator by definition.
For instance, if the seducer is really interested in mutual benefit, much useful learning will take place. A woman will learn that the most powerful way to keep her man happy is to be a sexual woman and a fun playmate. She will learn how to keep things spiced up with a few masculine psychological traits to appeal to masculine narcissism, deepen a man's love by giving him the gift of missing her. A man will learn how important it is to let his woman know how much he desires her and will also keep things spiced up with styling. Men and women can both learn how to keep people happy by being nondefensive and natural, to psychologically enrich others by being charismatic and charming, and to give and receive love as ideal lovers. And I've seen how much people who embody the psychological traits of the anti-seducer are despised by other people. The anti-seducer leaves people feeling diminished and hurt.
To summarize, it's hard, it's dark, and it can be used to wreak havoc in the lives of others. But most people don't want to hurt others. They want to live, and help other people live, better, happier more enriched lives in all ways. I truly believe that with the knowledge that is in this book, people can accomplish just that.
Use it wisely, young Jedi. The dark side of the force is much more seductive.
Book Review: My guide for those interested in buying:
Summary: 5 Stars
When I received this book in the mail I was surprised at the size of it (nearly 500 pages). I was slightly concerned that such a large book (with such small font, as well) would not be able to maintain my interest, but after skimming into random pages, I found the writing quite engaging and interesting.
THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK:
is littered with anecdotes of historical figures engaged in the act of seduction or being seduced, from Cleopatra to Casanova, and more. Each anecdote is strategically placed to introduce a specific personality trait and to demonstrate its effect on the target. The author then breaks down the persona, explaining the reason for its appeal and the psychological effects it evokes. Finally, a "keys to the character" section provides a "what to do and what not to do" guide that I found myself using my hi-lighter pen quite alot on for future reference. The author encourages you choose the traits that are most appealing to you, to help you focus on emphasizing the seductive areas of your personality.
THE SECOND HALF OF THE BOOK:
follows the same physical structure as the first half, with historical anecdotes introducing key elements that are then broken down and psychologically explained. However, instead of explaining personality traits, the second half of the book focuses on step-by-step social interaction, from first meetings, to conversations, to sending mixed signals, and so on. Every chapter is analyzed in depth, providing the reader with a sound-enough understanding of romantic interaction so as to enable one to quite literally bring a target to follow you around like a child, or, if you want, to drive them wild with infatuation.
Overall, this book is great if you like learning, are interested in psychology, and want to develop a mastery of romantic social interaction. I highly disagree with those reviewers that call this book manipulative. Ignorance. Manipulation is to adjust the actions of another. This book focuses on adjusting your own actions to maximize your seductive appeal. Terrific book. I am very glad I bought it.
EXERPTS:
"Low self-esteem repels, confidence and self-sufficiency attract. The less you seem to need other people, the more likely others will be drawn to you. Understand the importance of this in all relationships and you will find your neediness easier to suppress. But do not confuse self-absorption with seductive narcissism. Talking endlessly about yourself is eminently anti-seductive, revealing not self-sufficiency but insecurity."
"People are inherently perverse. An easy conquest has a lower value than a difficult one; we are only really excited by what is denied us, by what we cannot possess in full. Your greatest power in seduction is your ability to turn away, to make others come after you, delaying their satisfaction."
"The way insinuation works is simple: disguised in a banal remark or encounter, a hint is dropped. It is about some emotional issue- a possible pleasure not yet attained, a lack of excitement in a person's life. The hint registers in the back of the target's mind, a subtle stab at his or her insecurities; its source is quickly forgotten. It is too subtle to be memorable at the time, and later, when it takes root and grows, it seems to have emerged naturally from the target's own mind, as if it was there all along."
Book Review: Money well spent!
Summary: 5 Stars
I highly suggest this book to anyone who has trouble in the relationship department. The Art of Seduction is a no holds barred approach to seduction, the art of using another person's emotions towards you to gain what you want from them be it sex, money, or companionship. Mr. Greene pays no attention to the lofty ideals of romantic bliss, such as Romeo and Juliet, except for pointing out the weakness of such thoughts in a "victim". If your are one of these people I suggest you read the book to notice the signs of being seduced. There are countless comparisons of seduction and warfare scattered through out the text. Personally, I acquired the book in order to understand what had went wrong in previous relationships and was very pleased to find the answers in these masterfully written pages. The book begins by listing several archetypes of seducers such as the Charmer, the Coquette, and the Rake. You are to find which one of these qualities fits you, use it to your advantage and learn to recognize these traits in other people. There is also a very useful section on anti-seductive qualities which you must root out from your character. Following the types of seducers is a section on the types of victims ranging from Reformed Rake or Siren to New Prudes. After the introductory lessons of seducers and victims comes the meat of the book which breaks seduction down into 24 steps. For every seducer, victim, and step of the seduction process there is at least one example and several sidenotes. The key to a successful seduction is not giving the victim what they THINK they want, but getting to know them well enough that you can supply what they need. This book is written extremely well and is easy to follow and apply. However, several readers will view the book as too amoral. Without a doubt the information provided is held to no standards of morality or society. The way you use the information is at your own discretion, personally I am now able to recognize others applying seduction to gain something from me and I have employed some of The Art of Seduction tactics to improve personal relationships. In life, you decide whether to be the wolf that preys on the sheep or the sheep who simply exists. If nothing more this book will provide validation for several of the questions you may have about people around you and whether they are a sheep, a wolf, or a wolf in sheep's clothing. Mr. Greene doesn't use the analogy of wolf and sheep but I think it helps to convey the message. If you wish to interact with society I suggest you read this book and apply it's message. That is unless you are a completely contented person and have no kind of psychological hang-ups, in which case the contents of this book are much less relevant. However I doubt there are many of you reading this who can honestly claim to have complete happiness. As Robert Greene states, people who are content and psychologically stable have little chance of being seduced.