Rating: 
Summary: A book for a more heated loving relationship
Review: I originally wanted to find a book to improve the relationship with my wife when I saw this book. I didn't think I would go near it at first since I don't want to ruin my already not so perfect relationship and I definitely don't want my wife to love anyone else more than me. But then, I wonder how I would know if my wife is being seduced. Or going further, how I could beat the others to put myself on top of her most seductive guys list. For this second thought, I bought this book and read it in secret. Each chapter unfolded a piece of secret of our complex human psyche. Some of the ideas are against what I was told to believe. They are like the truth we are not supposed to talk about. And then, it changed me. This book explained to me a lot of human behaviours that made me understand my wife differently. I started to pay more attention to the interactions between us. I started to understand why she reacts in a certain way. Even in public, I started to recognize who she likes and who wants to get close to her. This book taught me how to stir up desires and wants with proofs from many famous people at any point in time in history. I can now understand why couples cheat for their failure to deal with boredom. I know it sounds bad to doubt the one I love and to have less than total faith in her. However this book made me think that I am lying to myself if I use the word "faith" to cover my eyes. For better or worst, this book changed my view point of relationship and even marriage. I don't want to use the word "marriage" as a stop sign for stirring up emotions and desires. This book suggests a lot of bad things; to be cruel, to be manipulative and to cause pain but they are all quite useful. And now I don't care if I should be a perfectly loving husband. All I know is it feels good when my wife wants me so much more after seeing me being surrounded by other good looking women. I now even deliberately make myself unavailable for most of her family and friends' gatherings, and then show up occasionally to surprise her. I can already hear a lot of scolding for my comment above (including a loud one from my mother). Perhaps the ideas in this book are all wrong. But they are all too seductive for me to not use them. And I know it sounds phony to cause pain and be cruel in order to find more love. But if I am to be burned in hell for playing with my wife's emotions, I wish to be burned with all the heat I can find in her.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, Provocative, and Useful
Review: First, if you have read Robert Greene & Joost Elffers' previous book "The 48 Laws of Power" then you'll notice a similar format in this book. Which means you'll be given a description of the chapter's main focus, then given a Historical (some actual seducers who lived, though most are from literature)example of that topic in action, followed by the author's interpretation of why it worked, and then "keys" to the success of it, then ending with a "reversal" (how it can backfire) to using the technique/method discussed. Which is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book (And have re-read it from time to time)
From the most famous seducer, Casanova, to the first "bad boy" Lord Byron, to the female seductress' of History and literature, this is one of the most complete and well researched books on seduction I have ever read. And therein lay a controversy. You see, with so much information on the subject, one could easily use this book to play serious mindgames on those they want to seduce. But, as a mentor of mine said, "Technonolgy is morally neutral." So use the information as you wish, and take responsibility for what happens as a result.
That's My Opinion, But You're Welcome To It!
Rating: 
Summary: Better the devil you know...
Review: This unusual text can be viewed from many points of view. On one level, the author's intentions are at best quite disturbing, because the texts theme has definite anti-social undertones. Deception, manipulation, exploitation of peoples weaknesses to achieve selfish ends has no moralistic value whatsoever; in fact the whole idea of preying on a 'victims' weaknesses in order to position them within your power, to then sexually dominate and influence them to your wiles and wishes, is a deplorable concept anyway you view it. Then again, from another perspective, the numerous techniques of seduction that Green instructs the reader on, supplying a plethora of examples from history and Western and Eastern literature, can teach us to be wary, or at least aware of certain individuals unscrupulous methods to attain what they desire. As the old saying goes, "Better the devil you know, than the one you don't." The lessons on seduction, at bottom, can really only work if one's targeted victim has some weakness or vulnerability of character. (Green warns to stay away from confident, grounded individuals) Through subtly stalking your intended victim, listening to their every word, stroking their ego, thus discovering their weakness, you can then supply the necessary requirement, whether it be excitement, adventure, danger, loving parenting, add a little time and patience, your victim will eventually fall under your spell. This particular strategy of discovering weakness, focusing on needs, and appealing to an individual's ego, is as old as the pyramids themselves. What's interesting, however, is that this strategy works and continues to be used by individuals and organizations everywhere - but we continue to fall for the scam. And do not be fooled by Green's language and impressive erudite examples from the great works of literature - a scam is a scam no matter how you communicate it. The text itself is a play on seduction. Green uses the two most seductive and sought after aspects of our existence to reel us into his tutorial: sex and power. None of us want to be victims, in fact we all want to dominate, be the winners, gratify our base and exalted desires. Do you want to unknowingly be seduced or be the seducer? The answer, of course, is evident. Green knows this and uses this strategy by proposing that he can give us an edge, supplying the means to attain our every desire. In the end, after reading this text from cover to cover, I asked myself the question, what did I learn? What I learned is that certain individuals and organizations will go to any lengths, ethically or otherwise, to dominate others and get what they want. All things considered, it is better to know than to not know, no matter how unsavoury the subject matter.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun!
Review: I think it would be a mistake to take this book too literally. Though there are some fundamental truths in the methods described, and there is no doubt that there is some amount of manipulation the game of love and romance between the sexes, this book above all, is just a bunch of indulgent, mischevious fun. The historical anecdotes may not be fully rooted in fact, but we don't pick up a book like this for a history lesson, right? It's full of the stuff of real and imagined legends, not stale facts. It's an entertaining, well-written, and even (sometimes) insightful read, and you can open up the book at just about any page and begin reading
Rating:
Summary: A Literary Classic about this Aspect of the Human Condition
Review: I saw this book at a bookstore and was intrigued because Greene was a classics major; and I thought there might be some good commentaries on myths and literature relating to seduction. In other words, I am a shy, overeducated sex-maniac. I think this book is a classic, and in so many ways. The first word that comes to mind to characterize this work is charm. So many charming stories illustrate his principles of seduction, stories from myth, literature, but also real-life figures like Marilyn Monroe, Errol Flynn, Jack Kennedy, etc., etc., etc. This book is so rich in stories it just cannot be described.
The stories are so powerful they just burst the bounds of the chapters in which Greene is trying to make his points about seduction. If you like to read, do yourself a favor and buy this book. I guarantee it will enlarge your conception of the human condition.
Rating:
Summary: Eye Opener
Review: This book opened my eyes to the whole seduction process. I couldn't help but feel I was naive before reading it. The only problem I had after reading this book was pulling the trigger and actually using some of the stuff. But, after reading the book by Regan, the Evolution of a Warrior, I began moving in the right direction. I agree with other reviewers with regard to the ethics or lack of ethics in this book but I wouldn't not buy it because of that.
Rating:
Summary: Too Soon Lost Art
Review: The greatest failure of seduction is the too narrow focus upon the end result rather than by creating the dimension that gives full flower to the arc that symbolizes the magnitude of the effort, and the anticipated expectations that, if given credence, and with God's blessing, promise to become extraordinary events, rare, prized, and spectacular. The glory that lies within the chase to ferret out the most mystical intriques of a heart, mind and soul fully engaged is not like any other human experience. It falls within the divine, as if magical, and produces momentous results if destined to be become a reality fused from fantasy and interest, and allowed its natural course of expression. Not often consistent, nor constant, the dalliances of the heart are driven by the dreams of fancy, recognized or not, and form a long thread of adhesion often in hindsight, much like following a trail of markings to seek a buried treasure. The rush to accelerate merely cuts off the flow of inspiration that would be naturally generated, as if nipping off the bud of a flowering tree that takes time to develop, and replaces it with both the pleasures and the sorrows of the powerful flames of a love reduced to embers never allowed to break into the bondfire it could have been. The comprehensive exploration of all natural currents and facets of life that culminates in the fusion of souls, for a couple, or a group, depends upon the level of commitment brought to such a mission and is distinctive by its artistic excellence rooted in the innocence, honesty and purity of truth, or fails for the lack of such commitment to appreciate the benefits of the ultimate goal. The requisite of patience and diligence provides an environment to reach fruition, or becomes the never ripened fruit that lacks the nutrients to develop. The heart, mind, soul connection may be instanteous but never explored loses its efficacy in humans because of their great capacity to love, and their instinctive privilege to add significance to both their method, and their style of expression, separating the adult from the child in nurturing full emotional development worthy of complete commitment. Half-hearted seductions, like evil or simulated seductions rarely produce great loves, recognizable by God.
Rating:
Summary: Throwin' darts in the dark
Review: This book is yet another opportunistic attempt at playing with the minds (and wallets) of impressionable readers who grew up on bad pop culture and a lack of historical perspectives. If you watched too much TV, grew up in a suburb, were dropped as an infant, played head games in high school and continued said games into your corporate lives, you'll probably *lunge* at contrived books like these to try and vindicate yourselves from years of pain. Wrong move. After reading "The 48 Laws of Power", I almost thought that the authors were writing in a tongue-in-cheek manner, hoping that people who read their book and tried to carry out such manipulations would meet their due punishments (because the laws of nature do in fact punish the manipulator in the end...that's clearer than the noon-hour sun). Yet I'm afraid that, with this 2nd work, Greene and Elffers have shown that they apparently really believe in what they're writing, as I'm sure Hitler believed in what he was screaming in the Circus Krone and Sportpalast. Speaking of which, for any student of history, there is a conspicuous absence of any in-depth mention of Hitler in "48 Laws", as well as in this book. This is despite the fact that, judging from sober historical perspective, Hitler utilized practically every law of power mentioned and 'seduced' a nation. Ian Kershaw wrote over 1500 pages of detailed history on the subject, yet Greene/Elffers tritely avoid it while talking up people like Henry Kissinger and Talleyrand. Wannabe Hollywood and Beltway players will try and compensate for decades of charmless, humorless living via their implementations of the drivel in these books...only to fall flat on their faces because character STILL gets you ahead more than any acute "seduction" technique (yes, even for the impatient amongst you who'd just want to 'try out some of these tactics on passing people'). The only value presented is maybe an introduction to historical figures. Yet I'd hope that readers would be wise enough to follow through and read about said figures separately and in further depth, rather than just settle on what Greene/Elffers wrote about them. For true inspiration, I'd suggest reading the poetry of Rumi, Hafez or other Sufi poets. Heck, read "The Book of Proverbs" or The Tao Te Ching. Anything but this hackneyed stuff to get you to a better place in life. Contrary to what Greene, Elffers and their faux-literati cult fan base might think, being a considerate, wise, centered human being is the best aphrodisiac...and usually everyone involved wins.
Rating: 
Summary: The art of seducing a reader
Review: Yawn.
I get the impression the author of this title has signed-in a few friends to boost the average number of stars. Robert Greene's The Art of Seduction is little better than a travelogue of seduction throughout literature. He waffles on and on, providing examples of questionable relevance plucked straight from alternate sources. When it comes to actual usuable content Greene's philosophy and categorisation of `victims' is loose at best. His theories are little more than a stab in the dark based on a these fuzzy categorisations. In other words, the content is poor. I am sure a good deal of time was spent putting this book together and if you're interested in a potted history of several characterised seductions, with NO references to real situations or people, then hey, it's your [money]. This book could have been a lot more interesting if had undergone a critical editing process, but the remaining 20 odd pages would have been mere speculation about the mysteries of gender dating differences. There are better resources online.
The added bonus is they're free.
Rating:
Summary: This book is not just to use with opposite sex but
Review: When I ordered this book, I expected something that will help me in dates and get laid more often but after reading this book, I found many applications in every day life and enlighten new perspective in seduction. Wheather you are a salesman or working in big corporate office or be more popular among people you know. This book taught me how to classify someone that you are trying to seduce; the customer, your boss, your co workers or your friends. And it shows me weakness and strength of the person that you want to seduce thus helping you classify and formulate best strategy to seduce that person. This could be a good weapon in your life if you study it and use properly. Highly recommended.
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