The Game

By: Neil Strauss

Narrated by: Neil Strauss

Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Game recounts the incredible adventures of the everyday man who transforms himself from a shy, awkward writer into the quick-witted, smooth-talking Style, a character irresistible to women. But just when life is better than he could have ever dreamed (he uses his techniques on Britney Spears, receives life coaching from Tom Cruise, moves into a mansion with Courtney Love, and is officially voted the World's Number One Pickup Artist), he falls head over heels for a woman who can beat him at his own game.

Jaw-dropping and hilarious, The Game reveals the naked truth about sex, love, and relationships - and getting exactly what you want.

©2005 Neil Strauss (P)2013 Canongate Books Ltd

Weird, sad, but interesting

Any additional comments?

I decided to listen to this book because I wanted to find out what the Pick Up Artist community is all about, why it exists and what they do. I find the whole PUA culture weird, disturbing and rather tragic, but I found this book very interesting and compelling.

It doesn't say good things about our society that the PUA community is so large and that guys feel this is the best, or only, way to meet women. I understand that part of the process if to make men feel more confident in themselves and therefore make them happier and more attractive. This seems like the positive part of the process, but they way they go about it and their attitudes towards women are just WEIRD. It seemed like they saw women as another species who have to be tricked and manipulated, or even a collectible card game where you try and get the special edition card that the other guys covet the most. It didn't seem like they were getting to know women or picking up girls they were personally interested in, but trying to score the 'prizes' they thought would most impress other men.

I don't think this is a book to listen to if you want to learn the PUA techniques, but it's very entertaining if you want to find out about the culture and what they were up to at the time this was written (apparently things have changed and the movement has split into competitive factions all trying to cash in on some mens inability to talk to women).Overall, although I enjoyed the craziness of the car-crash being played out in the book, it made me feel pretty sad about the state of male/female relationships, and I had to keep reminding myself that these guys are in the minority. The narration is good and the pace of the book is good too.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Entertaining but don't expect to be educational

A great and interesting story. A entertaining book with some good pick up tips. It's not a "educational" book, but it was good reading.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Sounds exhausting

I’ve got friends who love living this life. They kept telling me to read the book. So I listened to it. But honestly it all just sounds so exhausting and leaves you wanting more

This isn’t the ‘how to’ guide

Apparently that is the other book, The Rules. But nonetheless it is an interesting story about the origins of the Pick Up community in the days before #metoo. The narrator sounds like Jonah Hill, which maintained a very amusing image in my brain. It is interesting until they move into the house in the Hollywood Hills, then the story really loses steam.

Brilliant

Neil Strauss' writing ability is so incredibly visual. I felt like I was there at every moment. Absolutely brilliant book.

Captivating story

Strauss proves that in the short space of two years one can go trough a complete radical transformation if the motivation is strong enough. But the message is clear, be careful what you wish for!

Great listen

I found this book very entertaining. It was easy to listen and get into this novel, and not once did it lose my attention.

Not what I expected

I started listening thinking it was something, but after I finished I realized it was something else

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

A noughtys hit I missed and now caught up.

a load of nonsense made entertaining. a strange premise which just about worked. I wouldn't recommend but when this first came out I was in my later teens and was forever being mentioned in the lad mags as a kind of dark art guide to bedding whoever you want. glad I satisfied curiosity but all just a bit far fetched to be believed and had , for me, a now bygone attitude for women that I have since grown out of and left behind.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Not what i was expecting

Not what I was expecting at all, this is a great read highly recommend this to anyone (male or female)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

unfolds so brilliantly

Without doing any research and discovered neil through podcasts (tangentially speaking) (truth barrel), I had no idea how deep his journey as a Pick Up Artist was. I thought this was some sort of guide on how to pull so I was beautifully surprised to discover this is actually an amazing story it made me come to a self realisation and felt just like I watched an amazing movie.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A great book

I discovered the PUA community online when I was in my teens and to hear the whole story behind it all was really fascinating. Even if you know nothing about it, it's still a great book. Read by the author too, which is always good!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A fascinating rabbit hole

I really enjoyed it, very fascinating material. Would listen to again. Only problem I had was at certain parts Neil Strauss gets caught up in the words as if he's reliving it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fascinating inside scoop to the PUA Community

Beware the trap of Seduction! Strauss's insight is expertly delivered, and wholesomely conveyed. Definitely a realm to be wary of.. Great book to smash any delusions of grandeur

A Guide to Improving Yourself

This book helped me so much, improved my confidence and my pick up game. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to be more confident with girls!

Pleasure to listen to

Starts off the way you want it to, but the true lessons come out towards the middle and end to teach you the true value of the game. As it did change my opinion on picking up women it definitely did feel like I gained a bit of confidence.

Absolutely Interesting

As a female i find this super interesting on how the PUA world works, loved the storyline, couldn't stop listening. It's not just about how to get laid, it's also the psychology. If you love yourself, give this book a listen!!

Troubling

I struggled with the narcissistic view of the world that the PUAs thrived on. A lesson in human nature, but not a lesson in how to be, lead oneself or others.