This is a difficult book to rate. I'm not exactly the intended audience. As a sort of psychological case study, it was pretty fascinating. I read it to get some insight into particularly persuasive (/manipulative) people, and it did deliver in that regard. On the other hand, several aspects of it already seem very dated and many of the men featured were absolutely absurd, making it hard to take seriously. Much of dialog felt completely contrived. And there were a few sections that were basically just porn (super awkward to read on my daily commute).

Fascinating, really.

I initially (accidentally) read this book in 2008 (15 years ago), I just found it in the library, it was next to books by Peter Straub (Strauss and Straub would sit next to each other, alphabetically I suppose).
I took it by accident in a rush, and when I got home, I had the book and I suppose I had to read it.

I was shocked at the contents of the book.

Anyways, it is 2023 now, and I remembered that this book existed when I saw Andrew Tate trending all over the internet and being applauded and followed by men who seemed to fit the type of men that Neil Strauss described in this book.

What was uncanny, and hilarious to me is that both Style (Neil Strauss in the book) and Andrew Tate are bald, and that's why I instantly thought of this book.

This book might help you understand the lengths that some men go in order to get male and female validation, by reading this book, I think I can figure out how Andrew Tates followers think, and the consequences of their actions...

It is rather quite long, and in detail, in fact, one might think Neil Strauss is bragging.
But, any information, no matter how weird can be helpful to someone.
Interesting read.

4 stars for it being so well written.. but... WTF? I spent most of the book shaking my head. These men are freakin serious about picking up women. On the one hand, it's good that they're improving themselves.. nothing like a little de-geeking to help a guy become more social, but... damn!