[the_dicknotist]

The Attraction Code is the most important, comprehensive, and effective book on pick-up I've ever read. It's the most important book on seduction written since Neil Strauss' The Game. Yes, it's that damn good. Why is it good? The authors break things down to the absolute fundamentals that are inherent in any successful PUA. There are no techniques, mantras, or absolutes. They don't teach you how to act like a certain type of seducer to get women. They teach you how to develop the mindset of an attractive, sexually powerful man.

In the book, natural game is defined as truth - the truth that everything you need to attract the women of your dreams are already within you. You just have to recognize and eradicate the self-defeating thoughts that are getting in your way. You have to harness your own gifts and have the courage to unleash them. Fundamentally, your thoughts are what make or break your results.

What I respect the most about Vin is that he's such a thoughtful PUA. Just when I think I have it all figured out, he releases something that fundamentally challenges my beliefs and compels me to dig deeper. When I read on the Attraction Code website his argument that inner game is not only unnecessary, but may get in your way, I balked. My inner game work has helped me on several levels, including my profession, my education, and all of my relationships.

After finishing the book, I have a deeper understanding of what he and Brian are really saying. People who work on their inner game fall into the same trap that befalls people who study outer game. They read book after book, take bootcamp after bootcamp, and continually work on themselves as a way of postponing taking action on this area of their lives. Rather than becoming a vehicle of self-improvement, their inner game work becomes yet another shield to hide behind. Change is scary and dealing with women can be petrifying. Yet at the end of the day, you have to man up and take action to change your life.

I'd agree with the authors that having the right mindset is indispensable to seducing women. However, I'd also argue that a strong inner game is crucial to seducing high quality women. It's true that confidence is not necessary to attract women. There are plenty of self-hating men out there who can score with chicks. They just don't hide their sexuality. However, they attract what they put out there: women who are as messed up as they are. As another example, if you recall, the first few months after the Drills bootcamp were both exciting and frustrating for me. I got plenty of lays but with low quality women whom I couldn't hold on to. I was needy and insecure and those are exactly the types of women I penetrated all last summer. Nowadays, I'm attracting women who move me on a deep level and challenge me to become an even better man, yet I could only have met them if I had the inner game to radiate those qualities that drew them towards me.

I especially enjoyed a section in the book that lays out the fundamental concepts that underlie the DiClassified Drills bootcamps. Having been through one of them last year, it was fascinating to see the thoughtfulness and ingenuity that went behind each drill, which is designed to keep you focused on your goal (sex, relationship, or whatever it may be) even in the face of situations or events that challenge your emotions. If I were to pick one flaw in my game, it's still in this area. Too much of my success depends on my mood. If I'm in a good mood, I'm on fire, getting plenty of free meals, attention, and sex. If I'm in a bad mood, forget it. My next pick-up goal is to train my focus so that my attention is impervious to outside "state frictions." (A state friction is merely anything that threatens your emotional state. Read more about it in the book).

The strength of the book is also its weakness. When I bought the book, I was afraid that it'd be designed for newbies and more seasoned PUAs like myself would once again be ignored. On the contrary, this book is actually better suited for the intermediate and advanced. Experience out in the field will deepen the knowledge you acquire from the book. There were many times as I was reading when I told myself, "yeah, that jives with my experience!" "Oh, so that's why such and such went down like that." It's both a summary of everything you need to know and an eyeopener of how far you need to go.

At the same time, I wonder if newbies will truly understand these concepts or if they will fly over their heads. When I finished the book, my first thought was, "Damn! If I had this back in 2001, I could've avoided so many mistakes and so much pain." Then again, I probably would've read it and thought to myself, "huh?!" Comparing this book with Double Your Dating, which I actually did read back in '01, I'd go for the quick fix. Cocky and funny is easier than training your focus. The the book offers no shortcuts, just a broad roadmap. You have to take action.

Don't worry though. The DiClassified crew included plenty of extras to assuage newbies.

Up at the top of the list is the DiCarlo Escalation Ladder, 2nd Edition. The first edition revolutionized my game and the concept of kino. How do you improve on perfection? Well, not much. This new version is essentially the same, except it includes many nuances involved that I had to learn the hard way while in field. If you're a DEL fan or continue to struggle with kino, this e-book is a must have.

Next, we have No Flakes, which is another must have. This book was previously available to David DeAngelo's Interview With Dating Gurus subscribers but here it is in all its glory with much nicer graphics. This book truly is a product in of itself! You can't always get same night pulls. More often than not, you have to get her digits and set up a future meeting. If you've ever struggled with flakes, this e-book is for you. Hint: texting and intrigue are the way to go...

Next, we have Secrets of Sexual Tension, which is definitely another must-have for newbies. Much of this material was covered on a much more comprehensive and deeper level in the drills bootcamp, but if you're strapped for cash, this e-book is the next best thing. These concepts along with Gunwitch and Daniel Rose's Sex God Method gave me a solid foundation to build the Dicknotist philosophy. If you want rapid pulls and to have women fingering themselves while thinking of fucking you, this book's for you.

Next up is Objection Game, an e-book aimed at addressing the five most common objections women have to having sex with a new guy. I won't list them, but you probably already know them. This e-book is an extension of a blog entry Vin wrote several months ago on the same topic. The blog seems to be down, but luckily, he saved this valuable piece and expanded on it a bit. This is one of the few times where my experience actually contradicts his teachings. Ever since implementing what I learned in Sexual Selection Switch, I've found that my LMR is virtually non-existent. With the exception of one girl, all the rest I banged last year jumped me! Granted, my pulls are from cold approaches, not social circle game where these concepts may be more applicable. This e-book may be useful for newbies or people who can't afford s-cubed. Ironically, s-cubed makes this e-book obsolete.

The next addition isn't a full book, but merely a chapter in Jay Cataldo's Get Your Girl Back. I have no idea who he is and why this extra was included in the package. The very premise seems to go against what Vin teaches. Shouldn't you be flipping the Sexual Selection Switch and have her dying to fuck you? Why are you trying to get her back? If you're doing everything correctly, you wouldn't lose her in the first place. I skimmed this one and I regret doing even that much.

Next, we have a free one month membership to Vin's Mastermind group, which appears to be an ongoing training for natural game students. It's $67 a month, which is pretty steep for a monthly membership, but worth it if it gives you much value. There isn't too much up on the site yet except for a few recordings, a forum, a chat, and forum archives of DiClassified trainers. I hope they develop a way for subscribers to download mp3s. As it stands now, you have to listen to it on your computer, which makes things more difficult because some of the recordings are quite long. For iPod lovers like myself, I'd much rather listen as I drive or workout. So, things are sparse now, but I'm sure things will pick up rather quickly.

The last extra only went to the first 99 orders and luckily, I am one of them! I haven't had my call yet so I can't comment, but I have high expectations. Stay tuned....

The final selling point of the whole package is not only a money back guarantee but the ridiculously low price of $37. Vin is probably the only guru who underprices his products (except for the Drills bootcamp and the Mastermind membership). I remember getting Dating Diablo for $45 when a selling price of $200 would have been justified. I still listen to it monthly to "drill" his teachings into my forgetful head. I bought Sexual Selection Switch for around $100 or so (don't recall), but it obliterated LMR for me, which is worth much more than the selling price. So, $37 makes this book an obscene steal and worth checking out, given the amount of value included in the package. Now, if he would only release something detailing "Pimp Game" in more detail... Final scores: Main e-book: 4.5/5. Extras: 3.5/5. Overall score: 4/5.