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The Game

Neil Strauss Books

Type: Paper Book
PUA: Neil Strauss
Focus: General

'The Game' details the (real) journey of Neil Strauss, a true loser with women, and his transformation into a top pick up artist. Neil stumbled upon the seduction community while looking for an answer to his plight with women, and he himself could not believe how deep the rabbit hole went ever since. As Neil details the events that occurred, you'll get introduced to the stories of many big names in the seduction community, and also learn that being a pick up artist has some darker aspects as well..

If you're thinking of getting the book, click for additional info..

Average user rating from 4 users


Overall rating (weighted)		3.4
Overall experience (?)		3.5
Worth the investment (?)		3.5
Applicable in real life (?)		3.3
Easy to absorb (?)		4.3
Depth and focus (?)		2.8

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The Game

The Game - Strauss

Written by Paul Seaman, Wirral

On July 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		1.4
Overall experience		1.0
Worth the investment		1.0
Applicable in real life		2.0
Easy to absorb		3.0
Depth and focus		1.0

This book made me aware of the world of 'pick up' and everything that goes along with it. i had no idea that a so called 'community' existed and was totally unaware of practices like bootcamps, self-help audio programs, dating coaching, etc. So the book is 100% responsible for opening my eyes to a whole new world of teachings and experiences.

However, i found the book to be boring, lacking in substance, poorly written, egotistical, self indulgent, and i have avoided anything else with (or written by) Neil Strauss. It's obviously a big money-spin and i actually don't blame Strauss for cashing in on the general public who may be interested in this sort of thing.

4 people did not find this review helpful.

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The Game

Some words from an insider

Written by Stephen Nash

On March 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		2.5
Overall experience		3.0
Worth the investment		3.0
Applicable in real life		2.0
Easy to absorb		4.0
Depth and focus		1.0

************* Note from PUA Ratings:

Stephen Nash is a commercial dating coach and therefore you may consider his review partial. Usually we tend not to allow reviews from PUA's with commercial interests, however, Stephen was actually a part of Project Hollywood which was thoroughly described in the book (his nickname was Playboy), and as a person who's been right there in the center of things, I think that his views about this book are important to read.

'The Game' is considered by many to be a reliable, impartial and objective source of information about the community and about picking up women in general. In reality it is written by one person, who offers his highly biased point of view. I think you will all agree that it is important not to religiously follow one man's personal subjective opinions, even if he wrote them in a best selling book.

This is why I asked Stephen to publish this review (originally posted at his newsletter) - so to remind you guys that you have to first and foremost think for yourself.

So commercial or not - I think you will benefit from reading what Stephen has to say.

On to Stephen's words:

*************

Hey guys...

I was asked to post a recent newsletter of mine, where I discuss "The Game" here on this site.

I've posted that word-for-word below...and I hope you get something out of it.

As someone who was in the book, I realize it may seem hypocritical to not provide a "glowing" review of the book.

I support a guy's interest in learning how to get good with women...trust me, I do.

But, nowadays, there are plenty of healthier options for where to learn...way more than 5 years ago when I got started.

I realize that many guys want to play "the game"...I also support that. But, I feel it is important to emphasize to those guys that you need an EXIT strategy OUT of "the game" too...

It's easy to get in and stay in...becoming seduced by the game itself. (there are more than a few examples of that fact out there....)

My review is posted below, and you can check out my own work, starting right here on puaratings.com/CEIC/

ENJOY,

SN

********************

Have you read Neil Strauss' book "The Game" yet?

If you haven't, it's a fun read - though it should be
read as entertainment more than education.

I am in it, and am referred to as "Playboy" throughout.

It was a fun time in life, but between you and me - I am
glad it is over.

I thought I would now give you a bit of insight into
the book, as so many have read it - and I want you to know
from ME why the attitudes Neil espoused are so flawed.

In particular, I want to zoom in on one idea in particular -
this concept of "identity".

If you look up the word "identity" in the dictionary, it
will tell you this:

1 a : sameness of essential or generic character in
different instances;
2 a : the distinguishing character or personality of an
individual

"Sameness" and "Distinguishing" are the critical words
here.

What is constant about you? When you relate to others, what is
it that you notice about them that distinguishes them from others?

What might someone say about you? Feel free to ask people, if
you want.

Typically, a person has a chief feature which somehow
defines them to others. It might be that they are generous, open, or
happy. Or, it could mean that they are suspicious, thrifty and
negative. This little exercise is useful, but not really what we are
looking for here.

What is more useful to men looking to improve their
relationships with women, is to both understand themselves internally and
then how that manifests externally (which is the entire point of
my company, CEIC).

Dare I say, the entire point of "the game" is to refuse what
is internal and attempt in every way possible to create
an entirely new "identity" to manifest externally.

This leads to the ongoing pattern of guys seeming
"incongruent".

They seem incongruent because they ARE incongruent.

Here's the rub though, when a guy tries through whatever
measure to become congruent with this new identity, material,
routine, clothing etc., he denies his true nature, his true
identity.

Most guys in the community have a VERY apparent strangeness
to them - no one I have met - well, save a very few (Mike, my
former partner, was one of them, "26", who worked with us at
Project Hollywood, another), are cool, laid-back guys with a real
life, and a real sense of their identity.

The others have filled their brain with behaviors, thought
patterns, and enforced circuitry which is very unhealthy,
and ironically, furthers them from their goal. It INCREASES the
real space between them and themselves, exacerbating the issue
of being incongruent.

What happens then? Well, the only women who would be
attracted to such a confused and childish specimen would be someone
equally confused and lost. You attract AT your level. Let this be a
warning against pick-up, or at least most offerings of pick-up:
that you can only develop yourself by becoming and evolving as
yourself in the end, you will fool NO ONE by playing in the land of
make believe. If you want better relationships, and
higher-quality women/people in your life, you have to develop yourself
first.

Also, an identity is NEVER built - it is something that we
discover along the path of leading a healthy lifestyle. Identity, in
the CEIC lexicon, is the same as "self-image". The only time a
man needs to build his identity is when he refuses to discover
and develop the one given to him. This arrogance makes the host
pay dearly down the road - this is your second warning.

So, how then do we develop our identities in a healthy way,
which can naturally attract like-minded people into our lives?

#1) Refuse, right now, to ever play games with women or
people again. No more gimmicks, no more routines, no more FRs,
LRs, DHVs etc. C'mon guys - are you still playing this BS?

#2) What do you WANT out of life? What do you feel is your
purpose for being here? It certainly isn't to manipulate and lie, I
can assure you. If you were to die today, what would be the
deepest source of sorrow for you? If you can sincerely face this
question, you have a chance of really growing-up. The key to knowing
and feeling your identity, is in first knowing and feeling your
purpose. You might not know the true meaning of your life,
but you might at least be curious enough NOW to begin to strive to
understand that.

#3) Based on knowing your real purpose, how then should
you spend your time? If you could architect your calendar, what would
it look like? One thing that can directly help improving my self
image, is to spend time with people whom I feel happy to be with, and
in doing things that fill me with passion and joy. Taking
action in the direction on REAL self-development and life-enhancement
is the best way to improve self-esteem.

#4) Speaking of who you spend your time with - how active
is your social circle? How often do you need social interaction?
Most of us need a balance of being alone, and being with people. Do
you have this balance? Also, how often do you venture out with them
and try new things? New restaurants, events, galleries, movies,
parties - there is certainly a lot more than meets the eye happening
in your neck of the woods, are you actively exploring this? Try
doing one new thing/restaurant/venue per month with your friends.

#5) With intelligence, can you grow this social circle? Can
you involve more people who share like-minded interests and
perspectives? This is where social skills actually come in
handy (which I cover ad nauseam in "How To Get A Girlfriend" and
the "Natural Attraction" audio program) so that you can present
yourself in a socially intelligent way to people, not in a
socially manipulative way - BIG difference. By meeting new people,
and by encouraging your friends to bring along new people, you
very naturally are able then to meet new people. If you do
interesting and cool activities, these people will be even more
interested in being involved.

What happens if you can master these five points is that
you really begin to grow and build self-esteem by honoring your true
nature.

There is nothing that can be gained by denying your true
nature.

Also, you begin to magnetize like-minded people to you,
including...

WOMEN.

The best way to meet women for relationships is to attract
them to you by living autonomously and honestly. If your lifestyle
is actively social you will have NO problem meeting women AND
they will have things in common with you. Also, women (and men)
tend to want to meet someone for a relationship in a safe and
healthy way.

The healthy women don't WANT to meet anyone via a cold
approach, they want it to happen as it happens normally - through the
process of living and socializing.

So, in short, there really is no "identity building" in
real life (there might be in the "Donky-Kong" game lifestyle). What
there is is identity discovery and development, but from the
inside-out not from the ego-in. This is the only way to experience real
self-esteem development, and therefore real, healthy
relationships with people in general, and with women in specific.

Your Friend,

Stephen Nash

16 people found this review helpful; 13 people did not.

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The Game

One of the must-read books bevore you die!

Written by Anthony, Belgium

On February 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		5.0
Overall experience		5.0
Worth the investment		5.0
Applicable in real life		5.0
Easy to absorb		5.0
Depth and focus		5.0

After reading 'The Game' I made a whole new map of the road in my life that I want to walk. The game is not only a great introduction into the seduction community but it's also the starting point for a whole new lifestyle. 'The Game' is filled with lifelessons for example "If you want the woman of your dreams, you have to be willing enough to take the risk of losing her." Much more can be found in the book that you always looked for but never could find. This book opens the doors to the life that you want, you only have to walk through them.

1 person found this review helpful; 2 people did not.

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The Game

A smooth read with no 'fluff'

Written by Exist

On January 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		4.6
Overall experience		5.0
Worth the investment		5.0
Applicable in real life		4.0
Easy to absorb		5.0
Depth and focus		4.0

The great thing about this book is that style masterfully combines theory with a great story. While other books out there may come off like a textbook of sorts (which can get boring), this book will keep you hooked.

While it's not the most in depth source of information for this topic; it certainly is the perfect starting point for any beginner looking to join the community.

2 people found this review helpful; 1 person did not.

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The Game