The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists
by Neil Strauss

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

Book Review: A masterwork of journalism that NO man can afford to miss
Summary: 5 Stars

I have studied and innovated in behavioral science all my adult life, and have something to humbly but authoritative say about Neil, the truth and the science of this "community."

Everyone who's read Neil's book (rather than just its title) agrees it is a masterwork exploration of the modern experience of the majority of single males. It's not quite a self-help book, and not quite just an autobiography. What it is then, is impeccable journalism in the most honest exploration of the hidden corners of the single man's mind. It is true, real, nonfiction, impartially presented. I say that by the way because I know every character except Ross Jeffries, and was physically present to see at least a few of the reported and entertaining incidents of the "plot."

Sometimes what people need and what science provides are contradictory to glitzy business marketing. I don't like the terms "pickup artist","seduction" and the like. They imply trickery, manipulation, or disrespect of women.

But these terms (and bikini-clad ads) sure get the attention of both potential fans... AND detractors who haven't met these men or bothered to read this book.

The thing you wouldn't notice amid the marketing, is that nearly all are quality upstanding people who really do want to help men reach their full potential. Not as drones, followers, or politically-correct, party-line worker-bees in society, but as individuals capable of leadership and mature masculine identity.

They taught me quite a bit about the invisible, secret, social lessons of adolescence that I, like millions of men, missed while I struggled to build a career with a father absent from my life. There IS NO formal "training" in our society on how to socially communicate and date--at least not taught be real people who have been young, male, and single and have had exactly the same struggles and experiences we have--people who are LIKE me, and KNOW me.

These guys gave me the "missing link" in understanding masculine psychology that was not provided by any teacher, professor, doctor, peer, textbook, or even my own father.

Neil finds a path that leads the way through the harrowing challenges of finding someone who feels right to finally commit to, and also can commit to him--LISA. But that is where the road ends. A "potential" relationship is what we men really do seek in learning this material. What to do next? Well, Neil has to "be himself," and find that his "character" takes over. Mature character.

And "mature" is the key word. The more I got to know Neil and these men who help men learn social skills, the more real and earthy I saw both their challenges and ambitions toward one thing--finding genuine personal growth that isn't non-gender, one-size-fits-all material spit out of a politically correct, please-all-demographics machine.

A little boy looks at this "jungle" of adolescent social experience and wonders what in the world to do. There are not many "cool" fathers that understand both him and the jungle, and LIVED to tell him how to get through it. So often, he's left alone just staring at it.

Now some little boys think that if they can be "bad enough," it will make them a man. Wrong. It just makes them a "bad little boy." These are the guys that detractors are concerned about.

"Bad little boys" stay on the little boy side of the jungle. You only get to be a man by going through the jungle.

Enter Neil's book.

These ideas are by men and for men who form a silent majority not only in the US, but around the world, some of whom did not have involved, "cool" fathers to teach them to teach them "the laws of the jungle." And if you are male, you might not be all that into sharing your innermost fears with others. So it is not only "a jungle out there," but a LONELY jungle.

For "detractors" of Neil's book:

Any true technology can be used for doing just, right, and beneficial things for society, or for doing wrong, trying to manipulate or hurt others. And none of us can CONTROL which path others take.

Pretending the jungle of these lessons just doesn't exist or should be suppressed from public access won't make it go away. Not any more than saying "nuclear power should never have been invented" will make terrorist nations trying to develop it go away. Best to learn how to make electricity out of it, and teach others how to do the same.

Consider this then: Internal "psychological age" almost NEVER matches "chronological age." Those who are "less mature" are more "manipulable" than those of higher maturity.

So mature men and women will be able to discuss the book in ways that open up crucial avenues to understanding each other instead of staying in denial and ignorance.

Neil actually found his way out of "the jungle," looked at himself, and saw he had become a real man, capable of real love, commitment and relationship. You only emerge a man if you go THROUGH the jungle.

There are only two books of thousands I have read from cover to cover in one sitting--Lord of the Flies, and The DaVinci Code. I guarantee men and women will do the same with this book...and then put it down as an immensely satisfying read, knowing how good it is to "just be themselves"--how good it is that men and women are different... even as they are of equal value, drawn together by that mysterious allure called love.

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