{"id":90462,"date":"2023-01-29T03:10:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-29T07:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=90462"},"modified":"2023-01-30T12:30:58","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T16:30:58","slug":"the-art-of-seduction-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-art-of-seduction-book\/","title":{"rendered":"The Art of Seduction: Book Overview (Robert Greene)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is Robert Greene’s The Art of Seduction<\/em> about? What is the key message to take away from the book? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his book The Art of Seduction<\/em>, Robert Greene offers insight into the psychology of attraction and provides a template for how to successfully entice lovers or devoted followers. According to Greene, we all want the power to seduce, whether we admit it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is a brief overview of The Art of Seduction<\/em> by Robert Greene. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Art of Seduction<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In his 2001 book The Art of Seduction<\/em><\/a>, Robert Greene provides insight into the nature of seduction, offering a template for how to successfully seduce people. Seduction is often sexual, but can also be used to gain adoring friends, followers, and political supporters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robert Greene is the author of several other bestselling books including The 48 Laws of Power<\/em><\/a> (1998), The 33 Strategies of War<\/em><\/a> (2007), and Mastery<\/em><\/a> (2012). He has no formal training in human psychology or behavior, and claims to derive his ideas about seduction and power directly from his observation of people over the course of his life. He admits he seduced his current partner using the techniques described in this book<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we\u2019ll set the ground rules for a successful seduction, and then we\u2019ll divide the seduction process<\/a> into two major parts. In Part 1, we\u2019ll introduce the types of seducers<\/a> and \u201cvictims\u201d Greene identifies, so you can determine which role suits you best and how to approach your intended target. In Part 2, we\u2019ll cover the specific steps of the seduction process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the guide, we\u2019ll compare Greene\u2019s techniques to others in the \u201cpickup artist\u201d community, we\u2019ll look at what research tells us about the science of attraction, and we\u2019ll provide counterpoints from relationship experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: It should be noted from the outset that a number of the tactics described in this book are considered by many to be unethical or even abusive<\/a>. For example, isolating a partner from their family and friends, which Greene recommends, is commonly considered emotional abuse<\/a>. Psychologists and relationship experts note that using the techniques promoted in the pickup artist community can be damaging to both the prey and the predator<\/a>, leading to unfulfilling relationships and lives. Greene admits<\/a> that many of his readers claim they use his books to understand manipulative behavior in order to avoid <\/em>becoming the victim of manipulators.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting Up the Game: The Ground Rules of Seduction <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before discussing the specifics of seduction, Greene first gives some general advice on becoming a successful seducer. It\u2019s important that you\u2019re prepared with these in mind prior to embarking on your seduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greene believes the seductive process requires the following six qualities<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality #1: Effort.<\/strong> Once you\u2019ve chosen the person you want to seduce (which Greene refers to as your \u201cvictim\u201d but we\u2019ll call your \u201ctarget\u201d), you must put effort into pursuing them. Contact them frequently and incorporate seductive tactics into every interaction you have with them. Don\u2019t fall into the trap of thinking that if love is meant to be, it\u2019ll simply fall into place naturally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality #2: A focus on generating love, not lust. <\/strong>Greene says that seduction is specifically about getting people to fall in love with you\u2014not just to lust <\/em>after you. While lust enthralls a person in the short term, it usually fades after they\u2019ve gained sexual satisfaction, meaning the seducer\u2019s power recedes swiftly. To be a great seducer, and retain your power, you must gain your target\u2019s love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: What Greene describes throughout the book as \u201clove\u201d may be more accurately described as \u201cinfatuation,\u201d or even \u201cobsession.\u201d He emphasizes having power over your target, and getting them to think about you constantly, to the point of losing control of themselves. While love is typically understood as a deep, selfless affection for a person that grows over time, infatuation implies an obsessive\u2014and often lustful\u2014kind of desire that\u2019s \u201cdramatic, intense, and all-consuming<\/a>.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality #3: Constant practice. <\/strong>The most successful seducers refine their craft by attempting to seduce almost everyone they meet. The more you practice a skill, the better you get. And the more successful seductive interactions you have, the more your confidence will grow\u2014and being confident will make you even more attractive to your targets. (Shortform note: Research shows that 63% of men feel that regular dating also improves them as a person<\/a>, because it allows them to be more open and get to know themselves better. However, far fewer women report this benefit. Psychologists say this may be because women are taking on the \u201ctherapist\u201d role on dates with men, while men dominate the conversations. So, be careful of this effect, and try to keep the dynamic balanced.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality #4: Rejection of self-absorption.<\/strong> Greene says successful seducers rarely talk or think about themselves when interacting with their targets. Instead, they put all of their focus onto learning about their target: for instance, about their likes and dislikes, their ambitions, and the kinds of social and romantic interactions they respond well to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality #5: Flexibility of personality. <\/strong>According to Greene, seducers have no single \u201cself.\u201d Instead, they tailor their personality to match what their current target finds most appealing. For instance, if they know their target prefers their romantic partners to be introverted, the seducer will suppress their natural extroversion and craft a more introverted persona. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: This flexibility is reminiscent of the god Zeus, one of the most prolific seducers in Greek mythology, who could change his physical form to appeal to his targets\u2019 tastes<\/a>. Many of the mythological stories about Zeus involve his sexual conquests\u2014and sometimes rape\u2014of men and women by shape-shifting into forms to lure his targets to him.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality #6: The abandonment of traditional morality. <\/strong>Seducers don\u2019t think about whether their actions are \u201cright\u201d or \u201cwrong.\u201d For example, Greene says you can\u2019t consider whether tailoring your personality to a target is deceptive and morally wrong. This would undermine your game. Instead, he says a good seducer thinks of their actions as nothing more than an entertaining game that allows them to get what they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Greene notes that, contrary to popular belief, one quality that a successful seducer <\/strong>doesn\u2019t <\/em><\/strong>require is traditional good looks. <\/strong>As you\u2019ll learn in Part 2, seduction primarily involves using psychological techniques to manipulate your chosen target. Everyone can learn to implement these techniques successfully, regardless of their appearance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: The research only partly agrees with Greene\u2019s assertion here. Two different studies<\/a> of single men and women found that, although factors like intelligence and social status were rated as relatively high priorities in a potential partner, looks were considered very important by both men and women\u2014a bit more so for men.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 1: The Players in the Game: Seducers and Targets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Greene says that seduction isn\u2019t as much about strategies and techniques as it is about cultivating certain <\/strong>qualities<\/em><\/strong> in yourself.<\/strong> When you develop these qualities, and learn to embody them, you can use them to lure people in and then easily manipulate them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Despite this claim, this book focuses fairly heavily on techniques, as do other \u201cpickup artist\u201d manuals, like The Game<\/em><\/a>. The seductive quality <\/em>most literature in this genre points to as being essential, though, is confidence<\/a>, and research supports this. But don\u2019t get too cocky\u2014overconfidence<\/em><\/a> might actually diminish your perceived attractiveness.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To begin,  identify which seducer type you have a natural tendency toward. <\/strong>This will be the primary character you\u2019ll play. Greene\u2019s steps toward fully embodying your seductive personality are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n