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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
That reads like a trainwreck - you are constantly waiting for a person to go off the deep end - rape someone (which indeed happened), be institutionalized, kill himself or someone else. Overall I think that I would have been better off without reading it, because it confirmed some of the worst beliefs that I had about the whole professional dating community.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This was an embarrassingly fun book to read. At many points it made me want to do something, to change my life and plan. It made me walk around excitedly talking to myself.
The lessons in the book were quite sharp, and while naturally this 2000s era romp through a massively sexist, misogynistic and often rape apologist narrative is problematic, Neil Strauss has SOME slight acknowledgement of the flaws and inherent shortcomings of the group he invades.
I just enjoyed reading this a lot, despite the really shitty writing and the horrible fixing characters and subject matter bec of how inspiring the story is. Bit sad really.
The lessons in the book were quite sharp, and while naturally this 2000s era romp through a massively sexist, misogynistic and often rape apologist narrative is problematic, Neil Strauss has SOME slight acknowledgement of the flaws and inherent shortcomings of the group he invades.
I just enjoyed reading this a lot, despite the really shitty writing and the horrible fixing characters and subject matter bec of how inspiring the story is. Bit sad really.
Psychologically horrifying, tastelessly taboo, yet 100% fascinating sociologically. This book is one of the ultimate epitomes of a book that you can't put down even though it disgusts you, and one that can help guys know which of their friends are misogynist jerks. Hint: anyone who recommends it for its message and tips, not its actual content.
What I thought might be funny to read was actually physically excruciating. Would rather have dental surgery than meet any of these men.
medium-paced
Seriously, this book is fucking awful. It validates the whole manipulative PUA tactics and those follow it. A very tiny amount of self-reflection at the end - badly structured as a non-fiction book.
I'll start off by saying I read this as part of the "Banging Book Club" reading group - this was their June pick (and to be discussed from a feminist perspective). I'll follow that by saying, I don't normally swear in reviews. Preamble over, on to the meat of the review.
Fuck this book and everyone in it (scratch that second part, as they'd probably want that). There is not a single redeemable feature in this book. I went in expecting an exposé by a Times Best Selling Journalist and was sorely disappointed. In my mind there is a way to do this kinda of book so that it is sympathetic to the PUA folk and is critically aware of the problematic aspects of their attitudes towards women and sex. It is an interesting ground for study as the PUA community seems to be as much about male bonding as it is about seducing women. This is not what Strauss has produced. A boring, disgusting mess of a book which treats women as objects, reinforces dubious attitudes towards sex and masculinity and serves only to stroke the ego of the author who claims to be the "Best Pick-up Artist there is". (Maybe one day I'll write a detailed review with sociological sources)
At least this book confirmed what I suspected about the Times Best Selling list - it is certainly not an indicator of quality.
I'll start off by saying I read this as part of the "Banging Book Club" reading group - this was their June pick (and to be discussed from a feminist perspective). I'll follow that by saying, I don't normally swear in reviews. Preamble over, on to the meat of the review.
Fuck this book and everyone in it (scratch that second part, as they'd probably want that). There is not a single redeemable feature in this book. I went in expecting an exposé by a Times Best Selling Journalist and was sorely disappointed. In my mind there is a way to do this kinda of book so that it is sympathetic to the PUA folk and is critically aware of the problematic aspects of their attitudes towards women and sex. It is an interesting ground for study as the PUA community seems to be as much about male bonding as it is about seducing women. This is not what Strauss has produced. A boring, disgusting mess of a book which treats women as objects, reinforces dubious attitudes towards sex and masculinity and serves only to stroke the ego of the author who claims to be the "Best Pick-up Artist there is". (Maybe one day I'll write a detailed review with sociological sources)
At least this book confirmed what I suspected about the Times Best Selling list - it is certainly not an indicator of quality.
Better as a historical artifact of that time and memoir than actualy sage advice.
medium-paced
dark
sad
slow-paced