Story Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Review:
So apparently there's something called the
"pickup community," and there are actually people who call themselves
"pickup artists." Who knew? Mehow, the author of How to Talk to Hot
Guys, is one of that community's best and brightest. It would be interesting to
learn whether most members of this community identify as such, and whether they
have a formal, organized group, kind of like the National Rifle Association
with condoms instead of ammo. But I digress….
How to Talk to Hot Guys is designed to help women
attract men. It's for readers who want to talk to hot guys in order to start
relationships, as well as those who are looking for a one-night hookup with Mr.
Sexy at the end of the bar. The techniques are essentially the same. You zero
in on the man of your dreams – or at least a guy who doesn’t physically repel
you – and engage in witty banter designed to keep the guy interested and a
little off balance. In the process, you have time to determine if this is a guy
who you'd like to spend time with. If he is, you can use your sense of humor to
turn him into your helpless sex toy. Or the father of your children. Whatever.
At that point, it's your call.It's a great premise for a book. With the right zingers, the most desirable man is putty in your hands. Mehow even offers some suggestions for screening men to make sure you're getting a good one. After all, how many sane women want to embark on a drunken, drama-filled adventure with a non-famous, not-as-attractive version of Charlie Sheen? He also offers tips for women to help them avoid turning off decent guys. After all, how many sane men want to embark on a drunken, drama-filled adventure with a non-famous, not-as-attractive version of Lindsey Lohan?
This book has some flaws, though. First off, the
conversation scenarios demand comedic timing and wit that most people don't
have access to on the spur of the moment. Sure, if you're writing a book and
you have months to think up clever come-backs, it looks easy. It probably
wouldn't come as easily during real life conversations. Also, there are all
sorts of rules and situations that were impossible to keep straight. Like
when's the right time for "tease stacking" versus "sass"
versus "harsh implied frames"? And what are "calibration"
and "emotional value" again?
Finally, some of the recommended techniques seemed
like they wouldn't attract a man so much as make him think you're either out of
your mind or a total bitch. For instance, if a guy you've just met tells you,
"I stopped playing football after college," a recommended response
is, "Is that when you grew a vagina?" Now, that might be a good
response for someone you already know fairly well, but walking up to a stranger
in a bar and saying that might instead elicit a WTF? response from a lot of
guys. Of course, if a man is put off when you talk about his late-onset vagina,
then perhaps it's better to know that upfront before wasting too much time on
him.Reviewed by Peter
No comments:
Post a Comment