The Art of Seduction Book Summary

Book Summary

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Brief Summary

Understanding the art of seduction and the human behavior behind it can help you to persuade people for your best interests. By observing and identifying behaviors in yourself and in others, you will have more confidence navigating and initiating relationships, as well as attracting others to your ideas.

About the Author

Robert Greene is an American author known for his books on strategy, power, and education. He is the author of six international bestsellers.

He grew up in Los Angeles and attended the University of California, Berkeley as well as the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He earned a BA in classical studies.

He worked 80 jobs before becoming a writer. In 1995, he worked as a writer in Fabrica, an art and media school in Italy, and met a book packager named Joost Elffers. His pitch to Elffers became the book The 48 Laws of Power, which focuses on helping people who want power, observe power, or protect themselves from power. It uses the lives of strategists and historical figures such as Henry Kissinger as support. The book has sold more than 1 million copies.

The Art of Seduction was published in 2001 and explains the nine types of seducers as well as the aspects of attraction, authenticity, storytelling, and negotiation. Green again makes use of examples from historical figures to support the psychology behind seduction.

Robert Greene writes for The New York Times., CNN, as well as other major publications.

His book The 48 Laws of Power has been known to be controversial. It’s very popular and has been referenced in songs by Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Drake. Many have described it as amoral and manipulative.

Topics

Psychology

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By Robert Greene

Key Insights

Seduction isn’t all about sex. It’s a psychological game that can aid people in persuading others.

Seduction can help people acquire power and reach success. We have seen this in many historical cases such as the lives of Cleopatra and Napoleon.

And today, seduction is everywhere from marketing to politics to the music industry.

To properly seduce people you need to be able to easily connect with people and you need charisma.

“When our emotions are engaged, we often have trouble seeing things as they are.” - Robert Greene

In Robert Greene’s, “The Art of Seduction” you will learn how to identify your seductive character type, how to properly seduce your target, and how to deal with the consequential aftereffects.

Learn Your Seductive Character Type

Everyone has something that makes them unique. And because of that, everyone has something that makes them naturally seductive. To utilize it, you must identify what it is.

Greene identifies nine character types in his book: sirens, rakes, ideal lovers, dandies, naturals, coquettes, charmers, charismatics, and stars.

Sirens

Sirens are the confident, extremely sexual, alluring women that everyone dreams about. The image of the siren promises pleasurable touch and physical intimacy.

Sirens often wear very elaborate and unique clothing while they walk around with confidence.

The power of the siren is on an uprise because most men currently live in an environment where their desires are sheltered. Men who crave risk and adventure are drawn to the confident power of this type of woman.

Cleopatra was a famous siren. She ruled with bold energy, had an exotic physical look, and extreme passion. Cleopatra, with her siren powers, convinced Julius Caesar to stay in Egypt longer than he had intended to, while his city of Rome was suffering.

After Caesar, Cleopatra seduced Mark Antony. Tales today are still told about this historic scandalous love affair.

Rakes

Rakes are characterized as rebellious men who have a tendency to be a little wild and crazy.

Rakes make the ones around them feel desired through big gestures and actions of affection.

Don Juan is a historic example of a rake. This Spanish seducer was known for his daring and passionate actions toward women. And since he had a ‘bad boy’ reputation, the women found him even more desirable.

Ideal Lovers

Ideal lovers give their partners a unique version of romance. An ideal lover is like a fantasy come to life. There are no strings attached, so the complications of a long-term relationship are non-existent.

If you are an ideal lover, then it is important to focus on others to find what they are missing in their lives in order to seduce them properly.

Casanova is a historical example of an ideal lover. He would study a woman, find out what was missing, and then provide it for her no matter how much effort it took.

No matter what the woman wanted from conversation to physical touch to adventure, Casanova would find a way to bring that fantasy to life for the woman he was with.