Book Reviews

One of the best things about my job is all the free time. I only coach a few hours a week. The rest of my time is spent developing products (like my book) hitting on girls in coffee shops, and reading books. And that leads to today’s topic: Reading books.

“What do I say,” is still the number one and most irritating question I get in relation to the “how do I talk to women and pull some ass” conundrum that plagues western men. This is a tricky one, since really, the only way to improve your verbal game is to practice on women. So you need to talk to girls, and not quit at the first roadblock. We used to call this “plowing.” Even though you have nothing to say, you keep talking, and talking.

For you intermediate players, my best advice to become a master smooth talker is to fill your head with interesting thoughts. This is best accomplished by (drumroll…) reading books. Yes. Those things your English teacher shoved on you.

“But Tony…I don’t like books, they’re boring.” Errrr, wrong. YOU are boring. “But Tony, Tucker Max didn’t read books.” Yes, Tucker Max reads books. “But Tony, Does Sixty Years of Challenge count? How about Roosh’s blog?” No, books and blogs about game don’t count. They will merely fill your head with crap you can’t talk to girls about. Actually, not true, you can talk about game with women, and they’ll nod and clap at your keen observations on social mating structures, and then you’ll go home and whack off.

Anyway, here’s a list in no particular order of books I’ve read. I’ll add more book reviews in the future. Note, these books will not help your “game” per se, but any books you read will develop your ability to communicate effectively with people in general. And if you want to be my friend, you better be able to discuss books, because talking game bores the shit out of me.

Linchpin by Seth Godin

There are two kinds of people that drive the workforce; management and Labor. Then there’s the third person—The Linchpin. Linchpins are indispensable, creative, focused, talented, self-propelled think outside the box champions. In this book Seth Godin explores the future of business and the nature of the Linchpin. I absolutely loved this book and keep it next to my writing desk for inspiration. Written in a blog like style with short chapters, it’s an easy read. It’s very well written and a must for the self-help junkie.

Factotum by Charles Bukowski

Work. It sucks. Fabled alcoholic, womanizing, bar fighting poet Charles Bukowski tells his tale of trying to make an easy buck in depression era America. Funny, insightful, with tight prose and charming style, it’s a literary classic. Perfect stuff for guys that don’t read much since it’s written in short sentences.

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

For the Sci-Fi nerd, The Windup Girl is set in near future Thailand, where calories are currency and corporations battle for control of genetically engineered food supplies. An android sex doll tries to escape her life of slavery and becomes entangled in a fight for control of a country. It’s a really cool book with amazing, descriptive prose. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks after I’d finished reading. Definitely pick it up.

100 Love Sonnets by Pablo Neruda

So you wanna be a smooth talker? Read poetry. A book of poems written for his woman (women), Pablo can spin the bullshit like nobody’s business. Have you ever written a poem for a girl? That stuff gets them moist! How do you learn to write poetry? Read it. Pablo’s stuff is quite easy to digest, and fun to read. He’s my favorite poet after Bukowski.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Ummm, because he’s the man? Hemingway wrote about everything masculine. This story follows a group of friends as they travel to watch bullfights in Spain. One girl is the object of multiple men’s affections and chaos ensues. It’s a bit oldschool but I still enjoy a good Hemingway novel. And if you meet a girl that likes Hemingway you’ll earn bang points for bringing him up. If this sort of book bores you, I would understand. Hemingway is a writer for writers more than readers.

Wine for Dummies

Don’t know the difference between a Shiraz and a Cabernet? Pshaw, you uncultured fool! Remember to swirl the wine on the table so it can breathe. Read this and wow the women as you discuss the hint of chocolate and ox in the nose of that Merlot. Classy, real classy.

The Game by Neil Strauss

I know I said I wouldn’t give you pickup books, but I consider this more of a cautionary tale than a how-to. It still surprises me that most men miss the point that learning dozens of routines and dressing like a fruitloop is counter-productive to getting you laid. Take the book for what is really is…entertaining. Just don’t bring it up in idle conversations with strangers. Being seen with it is considered lame. Believing in it is even lamer.

That’s all you get for now. Have fun.

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