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A review by abubakr
The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene
dark
reflective
medium-paced
1.0
A great read for an aspiring sociopath.
When first reading the book, one is given the impression that the word “seduction” is an all-encompassing term used to describe the magnetism that an individual can exhibit, in order to attract friends and improve their social standing, captivate audiences to gain public favour to advance politically, or advance their career through a charismatic display of talent/skill etc. In reading this book, this is exactly the case, with interesting examples layered throughout, to add validity to the points made. They also provide useful context for concepts that may be somewhat alien to the reader. However, this becomes progressively untrue as the book progresses, and not even a modicum of this tone is evident towards the end.
When first reading the book, one is given the impression that the word “seduction” is an all-encompassing term used to describe the magnetism that an individual can exhibit, in order to attract friends and improve their social standing, captivate audiences to gain public favour to advance politically, or advance their career through a charismatic display of talent/skill etc. In reading this book, this is exactly the case, with interesting examples layered throughout, to add validity to the points made. They also provide useful context for concepts that may be somewhat alien to the reader. However, this becomes progressively untrue as the book progresses, and not even a modicum of this tone is evident towards the end.
Many of the (sometimes fictional) people highlighted as examples of “successful seducers” are just immoral individuals, that have highly questionable characters, and perform equally questionable actions. On top of this, a large number of the examples of “successful seductions” are, at best glorified fictitious instances of sexual harassment, assault, or devious manipulations.
If I had to sum it up, I would say that “The Art of Seduction” is a book, written by a man who was in his 40s at the time, that is a somewhat slapdash manual for attempting to create a Batemanesque facade. At best, I would say that Greene had failed to see the point of American Psycho, and just thought that Patrick Bateman was cool, rather than a sad, mentally ill, shell of a human being. Why understand the likeable characteristics of subjectively successful people, to emulate that and hopefully improve your life and the life of others, when you can attempt to don a mask to hide your numerous character flaws.
The rampant use of the words “victim” and “target” to describe an individual that one would hope to seek some type of intimacy with, only serves to further highlight the vile nature of the book. It is not only increasingly morally repugnant with the turn of each page; it also has the absolute gall to become equally as boring as it progresses too. The examples of real-world events referenced are noticeably repeated in several of the chapters, and Greene doesn’t even have the decency to try to hide this. They aren’t even spaced at in attempt to avoid detection. I can assume that this comes from the hubris of thinking that he is an academic or intellectual, willing to squander his reputation to reveal invaluable truths to society. So deep.
However, I can’t be entirely disparaging towards Greene, I must admit that I am somewhat to blame too, and am a part of a larger problem. I was stupid enough to buy the book, and stupider still to read it through to the end.
I have read a decent number of books in my time, and this is the first one that I would say has virtually no redeemable qualities, it was gross. But at least it was printed on good paper. I’ll give you that, Robert Greene.