ALSO BY NEIL STRAUSS
The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists
How to Make Money like a Porn Star
WITH BERNARD CHANG
The Long Hard Road out of Hell
WITH MARILYN MANSON
The Dirt
WITH MÖTLEY CRÜE
How to Make Love like a Porn Star
WITH JENNA JAMESON
Don’t Try This at Home
WITH DAVE NAVARRO
First published in Great Britain in 2007
by Canongate Books Ltd, 14 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TE
Originally published in the United States of America in 2007 as The Stylelife Challenge and The Style Diaries by HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022.
1
Copyright © Neil Strauss, 2007
The moral rights of the author have been asserted.
The information in ‘The Stylelife Challenge’ has been carefully researched, and all efforts have been made to ensure accuracy. The authors and the publisher assume no responsibility for any injuries suffered or damages or losses incurred during or as a result of following this information. All information should be carefully studied and clearly understood before taking any action based on the information or advice in this book. You assume full responsibility for the consequences of your own actions. If you can’t agree to these terms, do not turn the page.
Some names and distinguishing details in ‘The Style Diaries’ have been changed to protect the identities of the debauched.
Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders where appropriate, but please contact the publisher if there are any errors or omissions.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this is available on request from the British library.
ISBN
978 1 84767 250 6 (Hardback)
978 1 84767 251 3 (Export)
eISBN 978 1 84767 355 8
Book design by Jaime Putorti
Interior illustrations by Bernard Chang
This digital edition first published by Canongate in 2011
Welcome to the light side of The Game . . .
THE
STYLELIFE CHALLENGE
MASTER THE GAME IN 30 DAYS
To your mother and father. Feel free to blame them for everything that’s wrong with you, but don’t forget to give them credit for everything that’s right.
CAUTION: DO NOT READ
THE TEMPTATION TO READ THIS BOOK COVER TO COVER IN A FEW SITTINGS MAY BE STRONG.
THAT’S NORMALLY HOW BOOKS WORK.
NOT THIS ONE.
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ONE DAY AT A TIME.
STUDY THE ATTACHED BRIEFINGS.
PERFORM THE FIELD MISSIONS.
AND DO NOT SKIP AHEAD.
MISSING A SINGLE LESSON OR EXPERIENCE WILL AFFECT YOUR RESULTS, YOUR GAME, YOUR LIFE.
YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.
FEEDBACK FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS IN THE STYLELIFE CHALLENGE
“All I have to say about the Challenge is, ‘Wow.’ Before this month, I had never approached a woman or been on a date. I just had three dates in three days, and I have more numbers to follow up on.”
—CHALLENGER NAME: DIABOLICAL
“This Challenge has been the most inspirational month in my entire life. I feel like I’ve achieved so much! Taking into account that all of this happened in just thirty days makes it unbelievable!!! Seriously, this was the only area in my life that kept me from being absolutely at peace or absolutely happy: women!”
—CHALLENGER NAME: TONY23
“Since the Challenge, I’ve heard I am a winner, amazing, perfect, one of a kind, her soul mate, and unbelievable! Thanks, Neil, for the Challenge!”
—CHALLENGER NAME: GODROCK73
“This is one of the best things I have ever participated in . . . It has been life-changing.”
—CHALLENGER NAME: MAIDENMAN
“I’ve gotten more great responses from girls this week than I’ve ever had in my whole life. People I know are already telling me I’m different and charismatic now.”
—CHALLENGER NAME: SAMX
“I already have a girlfriend, and I have no problems with girls. So why did I do the Challenge? Self-improvement. I must say, it has been an incredible boost, both to my self-confidence and to how others see me. I work as a waiter, and now customers are asking for me, girls are constantly approaching me, my tips are much bigger, and people want me to join their parties all the time. Everyone wants to be with me and in my inner circle, and everyone notices how good I feel about myself—and it wasn’t like this before.”
—CHALLENGER NAME: RACEHORSE
“She was French-kissing me and asking if she could see me when she gets back on Tuesday. I can’t wait. She’s not only beautiful but smart and kind. Were it not for Neil and the Stylelife Challenge, this never would have happened.”
—CHALLENGER NAME: APOLLO
“Neil Strauss has given me a gift of life. I can’t describe anything better. Just thanks.”
—CHALLENGER NAME: LIZARD
“Waking up each morning is a treat since I started the Challenge. I have a certain excitement about me, like a child on Christmas morning getting ready to open presents, as I march upstairs to my office to see what’s next for today. It’s really an experience I’ll never forget.”
—CHALLENGER NAME: REIGN STORM
“This has been one of the most incredible experiences I have had in my entire life. Thank you so much for literally changing my whole life.”
—CHALLENGER NAME: BOY
“This is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! I am so far out of my comfort zone, words can’t describe it! And I’m having more and more fun!”
—CHALLENGER NAME: GRINDER73
“I have done a lot of what I would consider to be intense things in