The Art of Seduction - Part 1

A mesmerizing encore to the bestselling "The 48 laws of Power', "The Art of Seduction" is a masterful synthesis of the legacies of civilization's greatest seducers - from Cleopatra to JFK - the philosphies of important intellectuals on the subject, including everyone from Freud to Kierkegaard and Ovid to Casanova, as well as classic literature of seduction. Robert Greene once again identifies the rules of a timeless, amoral game and explores how to cast a spell, break down resistance and ultimately, compel a target to surrender. First discover which Seductive Charecter(s) you or your pursuer most resmbles (the Rake? the Siren? the Coquette?) Then immerse yourself in the twenty-four manueuvers and strategies of the Seductive Process, the ritual by which seducers gain mastery over their targets. Every bit as essential as "The 48 Laws of Power", "the Art of Seduction is an indispensible primer on the essence of one of history's greatest weapons and the ultimate form of power...

I introduce to you -

"The Art of Seduction"
by: Robert Greene


PART ONE
the Seductive Charecter


1-THE SIREN

A man is often secretly oppressed by the role he has to play-by
always having to be responsible, in control, and rational. The Siren is
the ultimate male fantasy figure because she offers a total release
from the limitations of his life. In her presence, which is always
heightened and sexually charged, the male feels transported to a world
of pure pleasure. She is dangerous, and in pursuing her energetically
the man can lose control over himself, something he yearns to do. The
Siren is a mirage; she lures men by cultivating a particular appearance
and manner. In a world where women are often too timid to project such
an image, learn to take control of the male libido by embodying his
fantasy.


2-THE RAKE

A woman never quite feels desired and appreciated enough. She wants
attention, but a man is too often distracted and unresponsive. The Rake
is a great female fantasy-figure-when he desires a woman, brief though
that moment may be, he will go to the ends of the earth for her. He may
be disloyal, dishonest, and amoral, but that only adds to his appeal.
Unlike the normal, cautious male, the Rake is delightfully
unrestrained, a slave to his love of women. There is the added lure of
his reputation: so many women have succumbed to him, there has to be a
reason. Words are a woman's weakness, and the Rake is a master of
seductive language. Stir a woman's repressed longings by adapting the
Rake's mix of danger and pleasure.


3-THE IDEAL LOVER

Most people have dreams in their youth that get shattered or worn
down with age. They find themselves disappointed by people, events,
reality, which cannot match their youthful ideals. Ideal Lovers thrive
on people's broken dreams, which become lifelong fantasies. You long
for romance? Adventure? Lofty spiritual communion? The Ideal Lover
reflects your fantasy. He or she is an artist in creating the illusion
you require, idealizing your portrait. In a world of disenchantment and
baseness, there is limitless seductive power in following the path of
the Ideal Lover.


4-THE DANDY

Most of us feel trapped within the limited roles that the world
expects us to play. We are instantly attracted to those who are more
fluid, more ambiguous, than we are-those who create their own persona.
Dandies excite us because they cannot be categorized, and hint at a
freedom we want for ourselves. They play with masculinity and
femininity; they create their own physical image, which is always
startling; they are mysterious and elusive. They also appeal to the
narcissism of each sex: to a woman they are psychologically female, to
a man they are male. Dandies fascinate and seduce in large numbers. Use
the power of the Dandy to create an ambiguous, alluring presence that
stirs repressed desires.


5-THE NATURAL


Childhood is the golden paradise we are always consciously or
unconsciously trying to re-create. The Natural embodies the longed-for
qualities of childhood-spontaneity, sincerity, unpretentiousness. In
the presence of Naturals, we feel at ease, caught up in their playful
spirit, transported back to that golden age. Naturals also make a
virtue out of weakness, eliciting our sympathy for their trials, making
us want to protect them and help them. As with a child, much of this is
natural, but some of it is exaggerated, a conscious seductive maneuver.
Adopt the pose of the Natural to neutralize people's natural
defensiveness and infect them with helpless delight.


6-THE COQUETTE

The ability to delay satisfaction is the ultimate art of
seduction-while waiting, the victim is held in thrall. Coquettes are
the grand masters of this game, orchestrating a back-and-forth movement
between hope and frustration. They bait with the promise of reward-the
hope of physical pleasure, happiness, fame by association, power-which,
however, proves elusive; yet this only makes their targets pursue them
the more. Coquettes seem totally self-sufficient: they do not need you,
they seem to say, and their narcissism proves devilishly attractive.
You want to conquer them but they hold the cards. The strategy of the
Coquette is never to offer total satisfaction. Imitate the alternating
heat and coolness of the Coquette and you will keep the seduced at your
heels.


7-THE CHARMER

Charm is seduction without sex. Charmers are consummate
manipulators, masking their cleverness by creating a mood of pleasure
and comfort. Their method is simple: they deflect attention from
themselves and focus it on their target. They understand your spirit,
feel your pain, adapt to your moods. In the presence of a Charmer you
feel better about yourself. Charmers do not argue or fight, complain or
pester-what could be more seductive? By drawing you in with their
indulgence they make you dependent on them, and their power grows.
Learn to cast the Charmer's spell by aiming at people's primary
weaknesses: vanity and self-esteem.


8-THE CHARISMATIC

Charisma is a presence that excites us. It comes from an inner
quality-self-confidence, sexual energy, sense of purpose,
contentment-that most people lack and want. This quality radiates
outward, permeating the gestures of Charismatics, making them seem
extraordinary and superior, and making us imagine there is more to them
than meets the eye: they are gods, saints, stars. Charismatics can
learn to heighten their charisma with a piercing gaze, fiery oratory,
an air of mystery. They can seduce on a grand scale. Learn to create
the charismatic illusion by radiating intensity while remaining
detached.


9-THE STAR

Daily life is harsh, and most of us constantly seek escape from it
in fantasies and dreams. Stars feed on this weakness; standing out from
others through a distinctive and appealing style, they make us want to
watch them. At the same time, they are vague and ethereal, keeping
their distance, and letting us imagine more than is there. Their
dreamlike quality works on our unconscious; we are not even aware how
much we imitate them. Learn to become an object of fascination by
projecting the glittering but elusive presence of the Star.


10-THE ANTI-SEDUCER

Seducers draw you in by the focused, individualized attention they
pay to you. Anti-Seducers are the opposite: insecure, self-absorbed,
and unable to grasp the psychology of another person, they literally
repel. Anti-Seducers have no self-awareness, and never realize when
they are pestering, imposing, talking too much. They lack the subtlety
to create the promise of pleasure that seduction requires. Root out
anti-seductive qualities in yourself, and recognize them in
others-there is no pleasure or profit in dealing with the Anti-Seducer.


THE SEDUCER'S VICTIMS-
THE EIGHTEEN TYPES

The people around you are all potential victims of a seduction, but
first you must know what type of victim you are dealing with. Victims
are categorized by what they feel they are missing in life-adventure,
attention, romance, a naughty experience, mental or physical
stimulation, etc. Once you identify their type, you have the necessary
ingredients for a seduction: you will be the one to give them what they
lack, and cannot get on their own. In studying potential victims, learn
to see the reality behind the appearance. A timid person may yearn to
play the star; a prude may long for a transgressive thrill. Never try
to seduce your own type.