When guys tell me they “don’t know what to say,” I cringe. Because, what I’m really hearing is…I’ve met a few girls that weren’t impressed by my body language, style, vocal tonality, and energy. I explain this but still get hounded for exact phrases, come backs, openers, lines, etc. Relying solely on scripted lines is like taking a crappy singer and cranking up the auto-tune.

Some of my friends are great conversationalists. They are knowledgeable in a range of subjects from Moose hunting to interior design to MMA. You know…the important stuff.

There’s a common trait amongst my exceptionally articulated and sex abundant friends:

They Read Books

And not only self-help books.

It blows my mind how many of my more reticent clients don’t read books…at all!

“Does ‘The Game’ count?” they’ll ask me. No…it does not. A good book but not classic literature.

I have read hundreds of books. I love them. They give me epiphanies and insights–they entertain, open my perspective and expand my vocabulary. They put new thoughts in my simple skull.

Reading Books Will Help You Get Laid

They didn’t tell you this on Reading Rainbow. “Hey kids, Dr.Suess can get your wiener wet!”

I’ve taught all kinds of men how to get women. Fat guys, Asian guys, black guys, tall and short and old and young. Guess who does the best?

The Smart Guys Do the Best With Women

So without further ado, here are ten books you can read right now. No Xbox tonight. If you aren’t at a party or meditating…read these books.

1.      “Women” by Charles Bukowski

Bukowski was an alcoholic, horse gambling, fist fighting, womanizing, son of a bitch. And he sure had a way with words. “Women:” is one of my favorite books by the man that made poetry cool again. Read all of his books, and don’t skip his poetry. The stuff is funny, sad, uplifting…and he bangs a lot of chicks even though he is old and horrid looking. My hero!

2.       “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse

About a young monk on the rise to be the next great spiritual leader. He has peace, status, safety and respect. He throws it all away to experience poverty, wealth, sex, travel and excess. An amazingly poetic book about a growing your soul through life experience and shrugging off the expectations of others.

3.       “Picasso.”

Biographies are always inspiring. Every time I read one I end up referencing the subject in conversations for the next six months. Pablo Picasso was a brilliant artist that helped define modern art, as well as a manly man and badass seducer. If you want to succeed at something, be like this guy.

4.       “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” by Tucker Max

Definitely not classic literature by any stretch of the imagination. Basically a long series of lay reports by a complete douchebag. But funny as a bag a stinky fuck. Lots of stories of him picking up girls by being a complete drunken asshole—and the women that don’t hate his guts– love him. I give this to guys that don’t read.

5.       “Moby Dick.” By Herman Melville

A story about a man obsessed with killing a giant whale. Also a look into the life of men on a boat at the turn of the century. Very poetic, brave, beautiful. Read it. But don’t kill whales. Whales are cool.

6.       “Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy

I leant this to a friend of mine. He said, “That book fucked me up.” Written by the guy that penned “No Country for Old Men” and “The Road,” it’s the lurid tale of a fourteen year old boy in the old west who gets caught up with a band of scalp hunters on the hunt for natives in Mexico. A brutal orgy of war, rape and treachery described in poetic glory. It makes violence seem beautiful. This book won a Pulitzer. Pretty good for a story that describes killing babies and man rape as normal behavior given the circumstance. It’s a lesson on the realities of human nature if left unchecked.

7.       “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy.

Follows several characters involved in the life of Anna Karenina. It’s a sad romantic tale set in turn of the century Russia. Tolstoy has an uncanny ability to describe the inner dialogue of men and women. It’s about lust, betrayal, conflict of interest and social taboos. You really get a look at how bullshit social conditioning is. It’s a damn big book but hella good.

8.       “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson.

You’ve probably seen the movie with Johnny Depp and you should definitely read the book. The guy is an amazing writer. He’s verbose, articulate, poetic, absurd and brilliant. He is basically fucked out of his skull on drugs through the entire novel, which allows him to describe the horror of 1970’s Las Vegas like no straight minded human ever could.

9.       “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway.

Look, Hemingway is the man, alright. Not only can he write a mean metaphor, the guy banged loads of beautiful women and understands their minds. “The Sun Also Rises” is a story about a group of friends (and one chump) who take a short trip to Spain to watch a bullfight. Hemingway was obsessed with romance, combat, and women. I like him.

10.   “The Bridge” by Ian Banks.

A man wakes up in a city built on a giant bridge. A barbarian storms a castle to kill a Wizard. A man laments the loss of his girlfriend.  A fantastic sci-fi novel for all you geeks. It has romance and drama and war and nerd tech. It will definitely inspire you to live your short life to the fullest.

Read books dammit! They will make you interesting to talk to.

Please add your own favourite books in the comments below, and sign up for the newsletter to have the blog delivered straight into your inbox.

Peace.