I suppose it’s wrong to post a “review” of sorts when you’re still 10 to 15 pages from the end of the book, but I want to write while it’s still fresh from reading on the train. The Game plays out like a two-parter. The first half of the book is Neil Strauss as his psuedonym Style moving into the “secret society of Pickup artists (PUAs)”, and finding mastery, a timeline of roughly one and a half years. The second half of the book charts the next six months, presumably until just before he sat down to write the book (like I said, I haven’t finished reading). It is never a dating guide - no “Ok to pick up women you should do this and this and that.” It does describe some of the seminars and ’training nights’ that he did to start learning and moving into this ‘secret society’, so I suppose you could pick up some tips by osmosis, as I guess I have, but there’s no way you could expect to pick up this book and turn into a pick up artist. It is first and foremost a memoir. It’s not a novel, but that’s not to say it comes across as non-fiction. It is a tightly written peice of work; it will keep you intrigued pretty much throughout - that is what makes either Strauss an excellent writer, and yet keeps me from completely believing it. Spoilers ahead - they’re not so bad because it really is the process more so than the events that drive this book, but if you like to read spoiler free then avoid the rest. ...

I’ve had rave reviews about this book; I’ve had people tell me it is the bible for the average guy trying to work out how to actually pick up women; I’ve got at least 3 friends sufficiently drawn into this book and its teachings that they are looking at taking it to the next level. I finally picked it up Friday, on a bit of a whim and an overloaded wallet. I’m 200 pages through and it’s a blinder. Absolutely awesome read. ...

Ok so I’ll try to stop talking about the view (gorgeous), and the weather (similarly gorgeous) and starting talking about… well, stuff. That’s going on. Have a friend (Simon) up from Melbourne already, which is pretty cool. I’m not entirely sure where to show him (and his friend) around, but the tourist spots (Manly, Bondi, Darling Harbour) are ticking their own boxes pretty nicely. The weekend however poses a problem, as I’ve realised that I have stuff to take care of (cleaning, washing clothes, cooking dinner for the week - such is the life) but chances are I’ll be out for most of it. Dad’s up on Sunday night too, so a bit of family time is going to be a change from getting home and finding no one else there. In a good way as opposed to unexpectedly finding someone there that you don’t know and think might not have the most honest intentions. So must work out how to manage the weekend. Breaking news: the QEII has just left the harbour. It was almost as big as the Opera House. But I’m not to mention the view much… ...

Delicious, delicious irony on the train this morning: “It annoys me so much these days how all these people are reading all those kiddie novels right after the movie comes out, like Narnia or Harry Potter,” says man with Memoirs of a Geisha (Film Tie-in edition) on his lap. “…ok then Sandy, I’ll see you at work.” Woman hangs up, turns to her friend and says, “She’s such a bitchy slag, always talking about people behind their backs.” ...

The other day, after going sailing, I was thinking “yeah I’ll be comfortable in a ship with maybe 6 decks,” and lo and behold, yesterday morning the ‘Aurora’ was docked at the Circular Quay international dock, all 7 or 8 decks of it. I still don’t quite concieve how physics can let that thing float. It literally looks like a gigantic hotel that just so happens to be on the water. ...