NOT ALL MAGICIANS ARE LIKE THE PEOPLE IN THIS BOOK!

Ok, got that out of the way, now onto my thoughts. Most of what I thought about this book, both before I opened it and when I started it was wrong. At first I thought it would be an interesting look at this weird subculture (which it was, but not all it was about), then when I started reading it, I thought it was this misogynist bible, reducing women to numbers and pick ups to formulas (which it was, but not all it was about), and then I was pleasantly surprised when I found that the book was also this arc of the author's self discovery (this was the best part).

It is sad to say, that most people are predictable. Ask a waitress who's worked at the same place for a long time, she can probably tell you what people will order just by looking at them. These pick up artists use this (as do many "psychics") plus different psychological hooks to pick up women. I can see why they have to reduce women to numbers because someone with low self esteem who needs help talking to people need that kind of boost to give them enough confidence to go for it.

Watching the author grow was really the best part. The gaining of his confidence, the mastery of his skills and finding who he became was really a joy to read. I think the last quarter of the book, was the most compelling, and it was difficult to put down.

I would recommend this book to men and women alike. I think everyone can gain something by reading it.