Searching...
English
English
Español
简体中文
Français
Deutsch
日本語
Português
Italiano
한국어
Русский
Nederlands
العربية
Polski
हिन्दी
Tiếng Việt
Svenska
Ελληνικά
Türkçe
ไทย
Čeština
Română
Magyar
Українська
Bahasa Indonesia
Dansk
Suomi
Български
עברית
Norsk
Hrvatski
Català
Slovenčina
Lietuvių
Slovenščina
Српски
Eesti
Latviešu
فارسی
മലയാളം
தமிழ்
اردو
Models

Models

Attract Women Through Honesty
by Mark Manson 2011 260 pages
Self Help
Relationships
Psychology
Listen
7 minutes

Key Takeaways

1. Attractiveness is rooted in non-neediness and vulnerability

"A man's attractiveness is inversely proportional to how needy he is."

Non-neediness defined: Non-neediness means placing a higher priority on your own perception of yourself than others' perceptions of you. It involves being comfortable with who you are and not seeking constant validation from others. Non-needy men are confident in their values, desires, and actions, regardless of others' opinions.

Vulnerability as strength: Contrary to popular belief, vulnerability is not weakness but a form of power. It involves being willing to express your true self, including your fears and insecurities, without shame. This authenticity is incredibly attractive to women as it demonstrates confidence and emotional maturity.

Key aspects of non-neediness:

  • Self-assurance in your decisions
  • Comfort with rejection
  • Ability to express opinions freely
  • Not altering behavior to impress others

Benefits of vulnerability:

  • Creates deeper emotional connections
  • Builds trust and intimacy
  • Demonstrates authenticity and courage

2. Demographics and lifestyle shape your dating success

"You attract what you are."

Understand your target audience: Your success in dating is largely determined by the demographic of women you're trying to attract. This includes factors like age, education, interests, and values. To maximize your chances, focus on meeting women in environments that align with your lifestyle and interests.

Lifestyle as attraction: Your day-to-day life, hobbies, and social circles play a crucial role in attracting compatible partners. Develop a lifestyle that genuinely interests you and reflects your values. This authenticity will naturally attract women who share similar interests and values.

Key demographic factors:

  • Age
  • Education level
  • Cultural background
  • Interests and hobbies
  • Life goals and values

Ways to improve your lifestyle:

  • Pursue passionate hobbies
  • Expand your social circle
  • Invest in personal growth
  • Cultivate interesting experiences

3. Overcome anxiety through incremental exposure

"Fear is normal. Everyone has it in some form, and it's not going away anytime soon. The trick isn't to eliminate it; it's simply to train yourself to behave despite it."

Gradual desensitization: Instead of trying to eliminate fear altogether, focus on taking small, manageable steps to face your anxieties. This incremental approach allows you to build confidence gradually without overwhelming yourself.

Reframe anxiety as excitement: Rather than viewing anxiety as a negative emotion, try to reframe it as excitement or anticipation. This shift in perspective can help you channel that energy into positive action and improved performance.

Steps to overcome anxiety:

  1. Identify specific fears (e.g., approaching women, asking for numbers)
  2. Break fears into smaller, manageable steps
  3. Practice each step repeatedly until comfortable
  4. Gradually increase difficulty of challenges
  5. Celebrate small victories and progress

4. Master honest communication and emotional connection

"Seduction is about feelings, not facts."

Authenticity in expression: Focus on expressing your genuine thoughts, feelings, and intentions rather than trying to impress or manipulate. This honesty creates trust and allows for deeper connections.

Emotional resonance: Learn to connect with women on an emotional level by sharing your own experiences and emotions, and encouraging them to do the same. This vulnerability creates a strong bond and mutual understanding.

Key communication skills:

  • Active listening
  • Empathy and understanding
  • Sharing personal stories and experiences
  • Asking thoughtful questions

Techniques for emotional connection:

  • Find common ground in shared experiences
  • Discuss dreams, fears, and aspirations
  • Show genuine interest in her thoughts and feelings
  • Create a safe space for open communication

5. Develop a strong sense of humor and storytelling skills

"If you can make a woman laugh then you can get her to laugh right into bed."

Humor as attraction: A well-developed sense of humor is consistently ranked as one of the most attractive qualities in a partner. It demonstrates intelligence, creativity, and emotional intelligence.

Storytelling mastery: Learn to captivate your audience through engaging storytelling. This skill allows you to share your experiences, values, and personality in an entertaining and memorable way.

Types of humor to develop:

  • Witty observations
  • Self-deprecating jokes (in moderation)
  • Playful teasing
  • Situational humor

Elements of effective storytelling:

  • Clear structure (beginning, middle, end)
  • Vivid details and descriptions
  • Emotional engagement
  • Relatable themes or lessons

6. Navigate the dating process with confidence

"Flakes happen to everybody. Get used to it."

Understanding the process: Familiarize yourself with the typical stages of modern dating, from initial contact to establishing a relationship. This knowledge allows you to navigate each step with confidence and clarity.

Handling rejection gracefully: Accept that rejection is a normal part of dating and not a reflection of your worth. Learn to handle it with grace and use it as an opportunity for growth and refinement of your approach.

Key stages of dating:

  1. Initial meeting/attraction
  2. Contact information exchange
  3. Texting/communication
  4. First date
  5. Subsequent dates
  6. Physical intimacy
  7. Defining the relationship

Tips for handling rejection:

  • Don't take it personally
  • Learn from the experience
  • Maintain a positive attitude
  • Focus on self-improvement
  • Keep options open

7. Embrace physicality and sexual assertiveness

"Being physical with women is by far the most integral piece of seduction and dating women."

Importance of touch: Physical touch is a crucial component of building attraction and intimacy. Learn to incorporate appropriate, respectful touch into your interactions from the beginning.

Sexual confidence: Develop a healthy, confident attitude towards your sexuality. This involves being comfortable with your desires, respecting boundaries, and clearly communicating your intentions.

Progression of physical touch:

  1. Light, casual touches (arm, shoulder)
  2. Playful touches (high fives, thumb wars)
  3. More intimate touches (lower back, hand holding)
  4. Kissing and sexual touching

Keys to sexual assertiveness:

  • Clear communication of intentions
  • Respecting boundaries and consent
  • Confidence in your desires
  • Reading and responding to her signals
  • Creating a comfortable, safe environment

Last updated:

Review Summary

4.3 out of 5
Average of 18k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Models: Attract Women Through Honesty received mixed reviews. Many praised its focus on authenticity, vulnerability, and self-improvement, contrasting it with typical pickup artist advice. Readers appreciated Manson's emphasis on honesty and developing genuine confidence. However, some criticized contradictions between the book's philosophy and practical advice. Critics also noted potentially problematic suggestions regarding consent and manipulation. Overall, readers found value in the book's approach to personal growth and relationships, despite some controversial elements.

About the Author

Mark Manson is a professional blogger, entrepreneur, and former dating coach born in 1984. He has been helping people with emotional and relationship issues since 2007, working with thousands of clients from over 30 countries. Manson is known for his direct, no-nonsense approach to self-help and personal development. He gained widespread recognition for his book "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck," which became an international bestseller. Manson's writing style is often described as engaging, humorous, and relatable. He maintains an active blog at markmanson.net, where he regularly shares articles on various aspects of life, relationships, and personal growth.

0:00
-0:00
1x
Create a free account to unlock:
Bookmarks – save your favorite books
History – revisit books later
Ratings – rate books & see your ratings
Listening – audio summariesListen to the first takeaway of every book for free, upgrade to Pro for unlimited listening.
Unlock unlimited listening
Your first week's on us
Today: Get Instant Access
Listen to full summaries of 73,530 books. That's 12,000+ hours of audio!
Day 5: Trial Reminder
We'll send you a notification that your trial is ending soon.
Day 7: Your subscription begins
You'll be charged on Sep 26,
cancel anytime before.
What our users say
“...I can 10x the number of books I can read...”
“...exceptionally accurate, engaging, and beautifully presented...”
“...better than any amazon review when I'm making a book-buying decision...”
Compare Features
Free Pro
Read full text summaries
Listen to full summaries
Unlimited Bookmarks
Unlimited History
Benefits
Get Ahead in Your Career
People who read at least 7 business books per year earn 2.3 times more on average than those who only read one book per year.
Unlock Knowledge Faster (or Read any book in 10 hours minutes)
How would your life change if we gave you the superpower to read 10 books per month?
Access 12,000+ hours of audio
Access almost unlimited content—if you listen to 1 hour daily, it’ll take you 33 years to listen to all of it.
Priority 24/7 AI-powered and human support
If you have any questions or issues, our AI can resolve 90% of the issues, and we respond in 2 hours during office hours: Mon-Fri 9 AM - 9 PM PT.
New features and books every week
We are a fast-paced company and continuously add more books and features on a weekly basis.
Fun Fact
2.8x
Pro users consume 2.8x more books than free users.
Interesting Stats
Reduced Stress: Reading for just 6 minutes can reduce stress levels by 68%
Reading can boost emotional development and career prospects by 50% to 100%
Vocabulary Expansion: Reading for 20 minutes a day are exposed to about 1.8 million words per year
Improved Cognitive Function: Reading can help reduce mental decline in old age by up to 32%.
Better Sleep: 50% of people who read before bed report better sleep.
Can I switch plans later?
Yes, you can easily switch between plans.
Is it easy to cancel?
Yes, it's just a couple of clicks. Simply go to Manage Subscription in the upper-right menu.
Save 62%
Yearly
$119.88 $44.99/yr
$3.75/mo
Monthly
$9.99/mo
Try Free & Unlock
7 days free, then $44.99/year. Cancel anytime.