The Game by Neil Strauss

Millie · 01-11-2007, 03:09 PM

"The Game" is a highly entertaining, occasionally hilarious, occasionally frightening account of the author's journey into the underground world of "Pickup Artists." This is a great read for guys and girls alike, and is being made into what will probably be a fun movie.

The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Solariss · 01-11-2007, 03:25 PM

haha... I read this book about 6 months ago. I couldn't put the damn thing down and I NEVER read. Shit.. I haven't read through a full book since sophomore year of high school. Not only did it have some nice tips, it had a really interesting story behind it.

are you trying to pick up girls or something Mille? =P

Millie · 01-11-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solariss

haha... I read this book about 6 months ago. I couldn't put the damn thing down and I NEVER read. Shit.. I haven't read through a full book since sophomore year of high school. Not only did it have some nice tips, it had a really interesting story behind it.

are you trying to pick up girls or something Mille? =P

LOL. Actually, I found out about this book after reading a draft of the script for the movie based on it. It was a decent script, but everyone I asked said the book was great. So I checked it out, and quite frankly, couldn't put it down. I don't much care for the pickup advice indirectly dispensed in the book, but the rise-and-fall storyline is great. It almost reads like Fight Club, only with pickup artists instead of brawlers.

Tabris · 01-12-2007, 07:06 AM

It's a good book, some of the stuff in there is BS but entertaining.

Ravvenn · 02-21-2007, 02:13 PM

I'm late on this!

I'll have to pick that up, I haven't read anything funny in quite some time. After reading every book by David Sedaris, I cut back on my 'funny' books. He somewhat raised the bar for that style of writing and I'm typically let down when expecting a laugh out loud kind of a read. Then again, I find his vulgarity to be extremely amusing. The last thing I checked out was More Mirth of a Nation and it was like playing "Where's Waldo", except "Waldo" was replaced with "Funny".

I trust your taste though, so I'll check it out. Hopefully they pull off a movie. It's rare people ever pull that off. I'd like to see something pop up from Sedaris one day,too.

I know I was very hesitant to watch Running With Scissors because the book was amazing (in my opinion) and I hate movies that are so far off from the book they should have given it a new name. However, they came pretty close in this one and pulled it off for the most part, and even included the poop scene!

Have any other suggestions for funny books?

Solariss · 02-21-2007, 02:31 PM

Well, I don't remember it ever being extremely hilarious... like roll on the floor laughing, but I'd still give it a read. It can be funny at some points, but it's still a very entertaining book to read. That's coming from someone who doesn't read.

I don't know if you've ever heard of Tucker Max... but he had a website that became extremely popular, much like Maddox. He decided to write a book. I haven't read that yet, but it should be pretty funny as most of his stories are.

It's called "I hope they serve beer in hell" and his website is TuckerMax.com where he has a bunch of his stories posted.

Ravvenn · 02-21-2007, 03:08 PM

I totally forgot about that one. I'd been meaning to check it out in regards to what it was about. If it were similar to his stories, I'd probably like it - depending on how many subjects he can touch without rehashing the same shit using different wording. But I have partially stereotyped him and had it carved in my brain it would be a book about how many pairs of panties he has collected in his lifetime, or the various colors of puke that have exited his mouth. Not that I'm a feminist or anything, but you can only hack so many one-nighter stories before you long for a new topic.

I've always been on the fence with that guy, mainly because I have my own friends who are dicks that I can call for tales of drinking and sex with attractive social-climbing dipshits. Digo will hate me for saying this, but I think Tucker is way over-hyped.

I may check out Assholes Finish First (think that was the name of it)when that one comes out, should I run low on books. I know I'm in 'mans land' here, but I have to admit - I'm waiting on Tucker to run out of material or start to put twists on old stuff.

I'll still read it because puking, whores and assholes are funny. I have no shame.

Tabris · 02-23-2007, 07:26 AM

'I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell' is funny and worth reading.

'The Game' is not really a comedy. It's a good book though.

Millie · 02-23-2007, 08:05 AM

Yeah, I should give you a similar heads up: "The Game" is by no means a comedy book. It's "occasionally hilarious," as I mentioned, but it's more of a narrative tale with funny moments (as well as dark and dramatic moments), and less of a humor book or satire.

For more in the vein of David Sedaris, I'd suggest books by David Foster Wallace, Chuck Klosterman, George Saunders (LOVE this guy, but he's very absurdist and not for everyone), or Christopher Buckley. None of them (with the possible exception of Buckley) can really go toe-to-toe with Sedaris for pure laughs-per-minute value. But the others work in slightly different approaches and have their own merits.

I'm a bit skeptical of Tucker Max, to be honest. As with you, Rav, I have this image in my head of "drunk frat boy brags about how big his dick is, how much money he makes, how many blondes he's fucked, how many crazy things he's done while drunk, what his puke looks like, etc." That sub-genre of comedy has its time and place, but it gets very old very quickly.

Opulis · 03-04-2007, 05:15 PM

I read the game after a friend handed it to me and told me "You have to read this".

I found it to be complete and utter garbage. Fantastical stories, disgusting individuals, and events and locations which I'd rather compare to a layer of hell than think about being at.

That said, the only reason I finished the book was how mindlessly easy it was to read, and so that my friend and I could have a discussion about the idiotic behavior presented in The Game. Strauss really appealed to the individuals with a seventh grade, non-diploma holding IQ and set of interests.

Read this book if you're either A: Interested in being a real asshole, with zero scruples. Or B: Think that Dick and Jane books are the pinnacle of literature.

Tabris · 03-05-2007, 05:42 AM

"If you like X, you suck and should kill yourself."

Opulis · 03-05-2007, 02:11 PM

Edit: After my writing my inflammatory response, I'm no longer inflamed.

01-11-2007, 03:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Millie Loves the Powerglove. It's so bad! Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,784	The Game by Neil Strauss "The Game" is a highly entertaining, occasionally hilarious, occasionally frightening account of the author's journey into the underground world of "Pickup Artists." This is a great read for guys and girls alike, and is being made into what will probably be a fun movie. The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

01-11-2007, 03:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Solariss Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 414 +14 Internets	haha... I read this book about 6 months ago. I couldn't put the damn thing down and I NEVER read. Shit.. I haven't read through a full book since sophomore year of high school. Not only did it have some nice tips, it had a really interesting story behind it. are you trying to pick up girls or something Mille? =P __________________ Wii Code: 5856 6001 3791 5993

02-21-2007, 02:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ravvenn Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,882 +15 Internets	I'm late on this! I'll have to pick that up, I haven't read anything funny in quite some time. After reading every book by David Sedaris, I cut back on my 'funny' books. He somewhat raised the bar for that style of writing and I'm typically let down when expecting a laugh out loud kind of a read. Then again, I find his vulgarity to be extremely amusing. The last thing I checked out was More Mirth of a Nation and it was like playing "Where's Waldo", except "Waldo" was replaced with "Funny". I trust your taste though, so I'll check it out. Hopefully they pull off a movie. It's rare people ever pull that off. I'd like to see something pop up from Sedaris one day,too. I know I was very hesitant to watch Running With Scissors because the book was amazing (in my opinion) and I hate movies that are so far off from the book they should have given it a new name. However, they came pretty close in this one and pulled it off for the most part, and even included the poop scene! Have any other suggestions for funny books? __________________ Melia

02-21-2007, 02:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Solariss Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 414 +14 Internets	Well, I don't remember it ever being extremely hilarious... like roll on the floor laughing, but I'd still give it a read. It can be funny at some points, but it's still a very entertaining book to read. That's coming from someone who doesn't read. I don't know if you've ever heard of Tucker Max... but he had a website that became extremely popular, much like Maddox. He decided to write a book. I haven't read that yet, but it should be pretty funny as most of his stories are. It's called "I hope they serve beer in hell" and his website is TuckerMax.com where he has a bunch of his stories posted. __________________ Wii Code: 5856 6001 3791 5993

02-21-2007, 03:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ravvenn Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,882 +15 Internets	I totally forgot about that one. I'd been meaning to check it out in regards to what it was about. If it were similar to his stories, I'd probably like it - depending on how many subjects he can touch without rehashing the same shit using different wording. But I have partially stereotyped him and had it carved in my brain it would be a book about how many pairs of panties he has collected in his lifetime, or the various colors of puke that have exited his mouth. Not that I'm a feminist or anything, but you can only hack so many one-nighter stories before you long for a new topic. I've always been on the fence with that guy, mainly because I have my own friends who are dicks that I can call for tales of drinking and sex with attractive social-climbing dipshits. Digo will hate me for saying this, but I think Tucker is way over-hyped. I may check out Assholes Finish First (think that was the name of it)when that one comes out, should I run low on books. I know I'm in 'mans land' here, but I have to admit - I'm waiting on Tucker to run out of material or start to put twists on old stuff. I'll still read it because puking, whores and assholes are funny. I have no shame. __________________ Melia

01-12-2007, 07:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tabris Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,389 -3 Internets	It's a good book, some of the stuff in there is BS but entertaining.

02-23-2007, 07:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
Tabris Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,389 -3 Internets	'I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell' is funny and worth reading. 'The Game' is not really a comedy. It's a good book though.

02-23-2007, 08:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
Millie Loves the Powerglove. It's so bad! Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,784	Yeah, I should give you a similar heads up: "The Game" is by no means a comedy book. It's "occasionally hilarious," as I mentioned, but it's more of a narrative tale with funny moments (as well as dark and dramatic moments), and less of a humor book or satire. For more in the vein of David Sedaris, I'd suggest books by David Foster Wallace, Chuck Klosterman, George Saunders (LOVE this guy, but he's very absurdist and not for everyone), or Christopher Buckley. None of them (with the possible exception of Buckley) can really go toe-to-toe with Sedaris for pure laughs-per-minute value. But the others work in slightly different approaches and have their own merits. I'm a bit skeptical of Tucker Max, to be honest. As with you, Rav, I have this image in my head of "drunk frat boy brags about how big his dick is, how much money he makes, how many blondes he's fucked, how many crazy things he's done while drunk, what his puke looks like, etc." That sub-genre of comedy has its time and place, but it gets very old very quickly.

03-04-2007, 05:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
Opulis brrrl Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: panhandle of san francisco Posts: 359	This Book I read the game after a friend handed it to me and told me "You have to read this". I found it to be complete and utter garbage. Fantastical stories, disgusting individuals, and events and locations which I'd rather compare to a layer of hell than think about being at. That said, the only reason I finished the book was how mindlessly easy it was to read, and so that my friend and I could have a discussion about the idiotic behavior presented in The Game. Strauss really appealed to the individuals with a seventh grade, non-diploma holding IQ and set of interests. Read this book if you're either A: Interested in being a real asshole, with zero scruples. Or B: Think that Dick and Jane books are the pinnacle of literature.

03-05-2007, 05:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
Tabris Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,389 -3 Internets	"If you like X, you suck and should kill yourself."

03-05-2007, 02:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
Opulis brrrl Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: panhandle of san francisco Posts: 359	Edit: After my writing my inflammatory response, I'm no longer inflamed. Last edited by Opulis : 03-05-2007 at 02:22 PM.

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