The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene (2003, Paperback, Reprint)

I was drawn to this book because, having read Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power, I found myself addicted to the hobby of personal manipulation. Even if never put into practice, though, these two books are endlessly entertaining and, if nothing else, provide one with the defensive tools to maintain their independence. However, while The 48 Laws of Power dealt more with the manipulation of, and maneuvering through, groups, The Art of Seduction deals almost exclusively with the manipulation of individuals. This, in my opinion, makes it the superior work.
The method of delivery is one of the most impressive qualities I've found in Robert Greene's works: in each chapter, historical narratives are followed by explanations of how they relate to the topic at hand, and further how the actions in the story can be applied to one's own efforts at, in this case, seduction. This makes the whole work easy to read, entertaining, and, sectioned as it is, easy to put down and pick up again later. In addition to the main narratives in the text, smaller stories, poems, and quotes are set in the margins to enhance one's comprehension of the ideas being asserted. Best of all, though, is the particular organization of this book. While The 48 Laws of Power was simply sectioned into the 48 chapters implied by the title, The Art of Seduction is taken farther by the division into three main parts: the first, a collection and explanation of the different types of seducer, the second, a smaller but similar collection of the types of victims of seduction, and third, a step-by-step guide to the method of seduction.
If I had to point out one nagging complaint I have about this work, it would be the frequent re-use of historic examples. The story of one particular seduction will most likely be given in detail only once, but the same story will be summarized repeatedly in chapters both following and preceeding that of the main story. This makes for some confusion, as the story of Madame Butterfly, for example, is hinted at several times before it is ever really explained. This is, of course, a small issue, and understandable given how many examples of how many different topics the author is providing.

I bought this book two weeks ago, and finished in 3 days. It is chock full of interesting topics about thought processes of seducers and their "prey". It takes "The Art of Seduction" to a new level. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is like me, always looking to educate themselves further on the opposite sex. Robert Greene uses other literature masterpieces to create his own! I also enjoyed his book "The 48 Laws of Power".

The Art of Seduction is an interesting book, it describes the different types of seducers, types of "victims" and some method appropriate for each. What I like is that the author gives examples and stories of seducers throughout history to explain his points. What I found a little disturbing is that this book doesn't actually gives you tips on "seduction" I would (personally) call it manipulation by using sex as a weapon. Basically the book is about stroking other people's ego and play with their insecurities to get in their inner circles and in their beds.

It's an interesting book if you like to know more about human psychology and what makes people tick, and if you are constantly looking for other people to like you, looking for their validation and are unhappy when you don't get any, I guess this book would be good for you too.

I found this book fascinating and well researched. The author has culled facts and anecdotes from a myriad of sources and thus makes a convincing argument for the subtle powers of manipulation. Although some may see it as a guide to romantic success, the methods advocated can be used to influence people whatever their relationships may be. I enjoyed it so much that I've given copies of it to my sister, my partner at work and to another friend. What is even more exciting is the bibliography included. This provides an on-going study so that the fun doesn't end with the last page in the book.

I have read all of Robert Greene's books in this series to date. These values may not be espoused by all and I am not sure that I will use the principles set forth in these volumes as a guidebook for my life. I will however keep these verses in the back of my mind and check some of my actions against them.