• The Art of Seduction

  • An Indispensible Primer on the Ultimate Form of Power
  • By: Robert Greene
  • Narrated by: Jeff David
  • Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (5,019 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Art of Seduction  By  cover art

The Art of Seduction

By: Robert Greene
Narrated by: Jeff David
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $16.23

Buy for $16.23

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

When raised to the level of art, seduction, an indirect and subtle form of power, has toppled empires, won elections, and enslaved great minds. The Art of Seduction synthesizes the legacies of civilization's greatest seducers - from Cleopatra to JFK - with the philosophies of important intellectuals on the subject, including everyone from Freud to Kierkegaard and Ovid to Casanova, and the classic literature of seduction. Robert Greene identifies the rules of a timeless, amoral game and explores how to cast a spell, break down resistance, and, ultimately, compel a target to surrender. The Art of Seduction is an indispensable primer on the essence of one of history's greatest weapons and the ultimate form of power.

©2001 Robert Greene and Joost Elfers (P)2001 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"[Greene's] literary survey is fascinating." (Booklist)

What listeners say about The Art of Seduction

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,918
  • 4 Stars
    981
  • 3 Stars
    556
  • 2 Stars
    250
  • 1 Stars
    314
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,403
  • 4 Stars
    697
  • 3 Stars
    325
  • 2 Stars
    115
  • 1 Stars
    160
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,179
  • 4 Stars
    691
  • 3 Stars
    404
  • 2 Stars
    181
  • 1 Stars
    232

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

It starts well, but leaves an immature flavor

I enjoyed the book, for the first couple hours of reading. Then it because quite repetitious and just plain boring. The author makes some good points early on but then spends the whole rest of the book trying to build a case which cannot be convincing to even a moderately intelligent individual.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

An Excellent Book By Satan Himself!

This unusual text can be viewed from many points of view. On one level, the author's intentions are at best quite disturbing, because the texts theme has definite anti-social undertones. Deception, manipulation, exploitation of peoples weaknesses to achieve selfish ends has no moralistic value whatsoever; in fact the whole idea of preying on a 'victims' weaknesses in order to position them within your power, to then sexually dominate and influence them to your wiles and wishes, is a deplorable concept anyway you view it.
The lessons on seduction, at bottom, can really only work if one's targeted victim has some weakness or vulnerability of character. (Green warns to stay away from confident, grounded individuals). I think this guy had a bad relationship with his mother. Maybe she was absent or a tramp. Don't live a loveless life - it's not worth it in the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Taken Loosely

What made the experience of listening to The Art of Seduction the most enjoyable?

This book was really insightful and got me to think about the games that are played in love relationships. I took this book from a tongue and cheek perspective, and found it thought provoking to get you to think about the things you fall for in other people and the things that you do to get others to fall for you. Others were offended by the language in the book, as he often states "victim" etc., I interpreted it as the author poking fun at the idea of seducing people if that really is your intent, but ultimately we all have free will. If you tend to fall head over heels in love, too fast and too quickly, this book can be helpful to you- guilty as charged- as it helped me realize that I often put my cards on the table and fall for people that often play games with me.

What did you learn from The Art of Seduction that you would use in your daily life?

This book has made me more aware of people, their intentions, and the games that they often play. I think its useful for you if you typically get walked on by other people, if you tend to be a people pleaser, it makes you more aware of the different personality/seduction types, and helps you to avoid falling into a never ending back and forth love game with someone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Do you want to date idiots?

Then this book is for you! Yes, unpredictability and mystery is sometimes alluring in a hook-up/partner, but in moderation. People of substance (the people we Audible.com members WANT to hook-up with, right?) will identify and RUN from Greene's paper-thin manipulations! If you are legitimately as emotionally isolated as this book suggests you should be to "ensnare" someone (i.e. drive them insane), then you're probably naturally employing its tactics. If not, is it really possible or necessary to FAKE emotional unavailability and disinterest? Sounds like crazytalk to me.

However, the narrator gives a good performance- but seems to channel the voiceovers on Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. I also enjoyed the historiography/typology of legendary seducers, very interesting connections! But the "advice" derived from the analysis is weak-minded and cheap, in my opinion.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Dark, I loved it!

I consider myself a nice guy, but I must say I loved this audio. It brings to light some things that may have been used on you or even that you may have used on someone and not even of realized it. I don't regret getting the audio. Thanks.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Five Hour Adventure with Ovations at the end

This book is by far the makings of a classic. Deviously insightful, it challenged many of my precepts and ideals . . . The art of seduction is a lethal step into the darkside of love and life . . . James Baldwin once said "The Price one pays for pursuing any calling is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side" . . .

The Art of Seduction has a very structured format throughout, a fantastic narrator, who keeps the pace of the book alive . . . Histrionic to a degree, Robert Greene substantiates his theories on the Seductive Process with authority and the support of Great figures throughout time. One reviewer said the book was slimy . . . in a way . . . yes . . .the use of the word Victim (the person you aim your seduction at) at one point made the hairs on the back of my neck raise . . . how offensive . . .

. . . How honest . . . The Art of Seduction IS BY NATURE Offensive . . . not in the politically correct sense, but in the "Game Plan" sense . . . its not defensive . . . it doesn't make excuses for itself . . . simply put . . . this book is the truth ... heaven forbid it fall into the wrong hands.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Somewhat Monotonous

The tone of the voice of the narrator is like he is about to tell a great secret, this tone he maintains throughout the whole book, this makes the books sound monotonous. Even though points are well illustrated, they do not stick in your mind, nor are interesting.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Love like a psychopath!

As with Greene's other works, this is merely an explanation of the psychopath as it relates to seduction. He doesn't even bother to go outside of the box with the terminology. Triangulation, etc. are all terms that you can find in any online article about psychopathy. Do yourself a favor and save a ton of time (and money) by cutting out all the needless "case studies," and get the information for fee. Quora and other sites like it have a ton of information regarding this topic. Unfortunately, unless you're a psychopath, sociopath, or narcissist, this book will be useless to you. These aren't things that can be learned or practiced in adulthood. These traits are set in stone by adolescence at the latest, depending upon your particular flavor of antisocial personality disorder. At best, you'll become more aware of these disorders. It won't help you ward off these types at all. They're far too slick and you typically don't even realize it's happening until it's way too late.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Hmmm... I listened twice

I liked this book and found it interesting. I would recommend it if you like learning about why people do what they do or act the way that they act. I listened twice and I am thinking about listening again. It wasn't too long or too short and was able to get a lot of information in between.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing...

Though well written, this book isn't very informative. The information given would be common sense to most. Add that to a monotone narrator and overall this was a bore. Kept listening hoping it would get better and eventuall teach me something, but alas, no....

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful