Who?
Aspiring pickup artists and power players.
When?
In college if you want to be a pickup artist. Early in your career if you’re interested more in the business impacts.
Why?
The book is chalked full of examples.
Best Quote
Most people are locked in their own worlds, making them stubborn and hard to persuade. The way to lure them out of their shell and set up your seduction is to enter their spirit. Play by their rules, enjoy what they enjoy, adapt yourself to their moods. In doing so you will stroke their deep-rooted narcissism and lower their defenses. Indulge your targets’ every move and whim, giving them nothing to react against or resist.
Review
For the most part, you can skip this book. Greene focuses more time in The Art of Seduction on seduction in the romantic sense than in the business or professional relationship sense. Certainly, the examples draw heavily on ancient political actors, but you can’t help but walk away from this book feeling like you’ve just been given a slightly slimy college boy player’s handbook.
That being said, Greene is a great writer and researcher, and you can learn a lot for business purposes if you can look past all of the stories and writing that make you feel as if you’re simply being taught to use people.
Last Word
If you have the time, great; read The Art of Seduction. If not, skip it. You won’t miss too much. Greene’s other books are much better in my opinion. Also, while I typically prefer audiobook, the narrator was terrible and only doubled the feeling that this book is all about picking up chicks, so go for ebook or paper in this case.
