Ephemeris of the Mind (Book Review) The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists
Time to read: 3 min read
Book Cover
In the process of dehumanizing the opposite sex, I had also been dehumanizing myself.
Review
I first heard of this book in high school, where it was mentioned in hushed whispers only reserved for the most taboo of topics. It is said that when one reads this book, one can get laid with almost any girl. Obviously, I didn’t read this in high school because I don’t believe in reducing women down to sexual objects. Recently this book resurfaced in a conversation; now that I am in a happy and healthy relationship, my curiosity got the best of me and I finally read the book.
The author Neil Strauss took part in a subcommunity of men who take pride in being able to seduce women. These “pickup artists” have their own culture, including their own lingo, their own fashion, and even their own social hierarchy. Strauss describes moving into a house filled with men who base their entire existence on seducing women. If it sounds like a cult, it’s because it is a cult. On one hand these men objectify women but on the other, one cannot help but feel pity towards these men as they fill the voids in their life by manipulating women and seeking validation from others.
If you are planning to read this book to seduce women, don’t. Misogyny aside, this book is a cautionary tale about why having shallow sexual relationships won’t lead to fulfillment. Even if you disregard the obvious warnings, this book still won’t help you get laid. The tacky advice, such as (I kid you not) telling a woman that you’re gay, have aged like room-temperature milk and will most likely land you in trouble for sexual harassment today. The only positive takeaways from the book can be distilled down to one advice: be confident (although not in the superficial way used by the characters described in the book). There are also some general Machiavellian frameworks such as rapport equals trust and comfort which you might gain some value from. While this book doesn’t add much practical value for straight men, I do think women can have some benefit from this book, such as identifying potential red flags that a man is trying to manipulate them, such as negging, which is when someone tries to lower someone else’s self-esteem on purpose.
Conclusion
Useful guide for women to identify red flags and a cautionary tale that sex isn't the solution to all problems.