Absolutely fascinating and not at all what I was expecting. Excellent writing, absorbingly insightful, brutally honest.

Recommended for both men and women. Learn not just of the techniques used by Pick Up Artists, but also about the less obvious, harmful results their lifestyle has on the PUAs themselves.

Amazing, gripping read of a book into a hidden world of pickup artists. Interesting read from start to finish.

This turned out to be a great book. What's interesting is that it's not a manual to pick up girls. It's Strauss' journey into the pick up artist community which then turns into him being completely engulfed by it and actually leading it for a bit. I like his observations of people and how the men are using manipulative tactics in hopes of filling some void in their life. What's really interesting is how every person in the book is doing it as a way to cope with their own inadequacy or their own perceived inadequacies. Strauss explains the tactics that by now we all know quite well but it is a rabbit hole for him and for us, the readers, as we are sucked into this world of characters who all seek something that no amount of picking up girls can ever seem to be enough.
A page turner and interesting book. Read it for the human observations, power dynamics and the psychology.

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10506481

This was a strange mix, from what I remember. It could have done with an editor, and it blends a psychological profile of Mystery and the tale of his downfall, and that of their pick-up artist enclave, with morally dubious tips on manipulating women into having sex with you and horrendous erotica.

I’m not going to rate this. How can you? I read this as a joke/challenge for work and it was simultaneously different than I expected and exactly what I expected. I expected a manual but it was an expose with Strauss in the middle of it. He was best when writing about other people - the Mystery & Courtney Love chapters are fascinating.

He was not so great when he was involved with the story, which was just as gross as I thought (though he benevolently allows others to tell the gross bits, leaving him as revered and better than the rest of his PUA pals).

He’s not as good of a writer or seducer as he thinks he is, but he’s great at observing people (even if some of the dialogue felt fake). Anyway, no need to read this, I’ve done it for all of us. (Also why in the world was this 500 pages)

If you read it like fiction, it's not too bad.

A very fascinating account of the author's life as a pickup artist. It's one of those topics you didn't know existed or that you would be interested in until you start reading.