How to Pick Up Girls

by Eric Weber

The world's fastest, easiest way to meet new women. Discover how to meet beautiful women, in bars, buses, trains-- even on the street! The fool proof guide to meeting women without a formal introduction. You don't have to be smart, handsome or rich to meet beautiful girls. All you need is "How to Pick Up Girls!," the original, world-famous book. Over two million copies sold worldwide. Nationally advertised in Playboy, GQ and Psychology Today. DON'T BE FOOLED BY IMITATIONS...Occasionally you'll see other books on how to meet women. You should know This book is the original, the one that started it all. It's the only one entitled How to Pick Up Girls , the only one that was featured on the Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin shows, the only one written by Eric Weber, and the only one published by Symphony Press.

Genres: Nonfiction

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Annette]

My education continues with another reminder of why feminism is needed, and why I'm lucky I was born when I was. This book is disgusting. On the very first page, it makes a casual reference to rape - "she's so hot for a second you consider rape" - and then continues to be incredibly offensive. Apparently, the way to pick up girls is to talk to them, because they're made so desperate by not being able to approach men that a few words are all that is needed. They really like when guys talk dirty to them, even when they say they don't, so you should do it no matter what. And you should lie - a girl wants to feel like she's special, not like you just want to get laid, so tell her she is even if you don't mean it.

[Peter Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decided to read this because it was attributed as being the original pickup book in Neil Strauss' The Game. This pickup classic, published in the 1970s, sold millions of copies because it offered a different paradigm, namely of making pickup a possibility.

Weber is attributed as the grand-father of pickup, and the first to present it as a skill. He said that it's like anything, you get better at it after time, and it not just your looks that count. Weber encouraged guys to see talking to girls as practice, and if they were rejected, not to take it personally, considering they're just "practising." Although it's kind of weird and contradicts his advice of "being dead serious", I must say it's a remarkable way to circumvent the fear of rejection for insecure guys.

A big chunk of the book is designed to encourage guys to pick up girls, telling stories about successful pick-ups and "testimonials" from women about how they love being picked up, and what works on them. It was crude and extreme at times, but it got the point across.

The book had some sound advice, and I suppose Weber was quite visionary back in the 70s. For example, be dead serious about knowing what you want.

With its down-to-earth noble-savage approach, explicit directness and its many contradictions and lack of nuance, I regard the book as cute.

There's a strange tension between advice about honesty and deceit in this book. "Be yourself" and also: "Flatter her, give her a false compliment!" - The book also provided a long list of potential ways to open a conversation in different circumstances. The book's popularity, I suspect, is in part due to that it shows it's possible to start conversations in places that it's not conventional to do so. A lot of the advice is awfully sexual and direct, which makes it clear the author enjoys the anonymity of a large city. I just loved how he parenthetically noted: "Sound sincere with this one" as if you could be insincere with the other ones.

My favourite part, where the author's friend noticed a girl in a book store without underpants:
I'm really glad you don't wear underpants," he said,
"because otherwise i wouldn't have got to see the nicest
ass I've ever seen — in my entire life."
The girl was delighted.

Ever since the 70s, women in bookshops across the world have been delighted by men giving sincere, friendly compliments. Happily ever after.

[Aliyah]

Lmfao bro. I saw this randomly on tiktok. Obviously not in favor of this book, so I downloaded it, sat down, and read it. Very “Alpha Male” which I hated, and men talking as if they know more about women than women know about themselves. You know, basic men shit. Fellas, just be yourself, talk to women to become friends with them and not to get them in bed, and if something blooms, it blooms, if not, you move on. Women like men who like them for them, not what they could be good for.

[Michele Minervini · Rating 1 out of 5]

Banal, nothing of new. It gives you common tips that don't solve truly the problem of how to get to know you girls and how to be interesting to them. Knowing how to pick up girl require skills that are useful also in the everyday life, but this book doesn't teach you this. For example, it says that the first thing a woman looks for in a man is a good personality; but it doesn't say what makes a good personality. Or, another example, it simply says that to attract a woman you have just to be yourself. So, banal. It doesn't deepen how to grow yourself so that you become a better person also for girls.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only that was the first an only book which would come out in the area of romantic and down-to earth meetings between the two sexes... I think that it might be the only valuable modern socializing self-help book for males, that does not dive into misogyny, pickup "artistry", MRA and other unfortunate phenomena which appeared over the years.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I was in High School. It seemed to give me confidence for long enough to win the heart of the girl who I would take to Junior Prom and who would then go on to crush my heart and soul. Ah, High School.

[Ellie Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extremely masoganist and terrifying

[Kristian Bjørkelo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first edition hardcover from 1970. Not the 1980 paperback which is the earliest in the Goodreads system.

My favourite part of the book is where the author suggests that the best way to meet lots of single women is to join a ballet class. He calms the reader, explaining that the girls won't think they are gay, they will see that he is a "real man".

That's both classy and classic.

So far the least offensive of all the pick-up material I've been reading lately, but it's also the most dated - which gives it some charm. You read this one in a few hours and go away with the same lesson. Grow some balls, be more confident.

[Ane · Rating 2 out of 5]

my room-mate found this book i don't know where, it was moldy and smelled funny but we had many fun nights reading aloud and laughing at how utterly stupid it was. as for advice i can't say it's really helpful, but for entertainment it was pretty good.

[Kul Man · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just finished one of the worst books ever written, and now I need therapy.

How to pick up girls is one of those "alpha male" dating guides written in 1970. This book is Considered to be the father of the pick up artist epidemic. Unfortunately, this book was a hit and it sold millions of copies, which means that at least some men have tried to use the advice given. I picked up this book to figure out the origins of the alpha male pick up artist coaches, and yeah what i found is way worse than i imagined.

This book glorifies disgusting male behavior like ogling women in public like they are objects:
"The girl had on an incredibly short skirt... Her skirt rode higher and higher up her legs. My friend happily prepared himself to see what he thought was going to be her panties. But he got way more than he bargained for. The girl wasn’t wearing any panties at all, only an absolutely transparent pair of pantyhose. He stayed and watched for about three glorious minutes."
(This isn't flirting. this is a crime. and this book acts like it's totally normal. The man even gets rewarded for his actions. Later, he asks the girl out and he tells her that he was staring at her exposed butt. The girl, instead of being disgusted, was thrilled.. unbelievable)

Stalking women and framing it as romantic:
"Here's a really inspiring example of the direct approach. It was told to me by a beautiful, young ballet dancer.
Monique: I was going crosstown on the Ninety-sixth Street bus and he (the man who picked
her up) got on the bus the same time I did. He was carrying a camera. He sat across the aisle
from me and stared at me. The whole time! When I got off the bus, he got off, too. He followed me. We sort of walked abreast for a half block or so till he finally said, “Hey, look, I’d like to get to know you. You look nice.”
It took the breath out of me. I mean I expected him to say something. But nothing so direct and complimentary. It was thrilling."
(This book is literally encouraging men to FOLLOW WOMEN HOME)

Trapping women in situations where they can’t escape:
"Ask girls out in bars. Half the time the places are so incredibly crowded, the girl couldn’t get away from you even if she wanted to."
(This is NOT how human interaction works)

Absolutely disgusting book. I hope and pray that people don't take this book seriously today.

[Yash]

Best book

[Sarah C · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is what I call a “party book”… great at parties, absolute trash content. The sexism is absolutely wild. I wonder if the author was even a real person.

[Hank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book that's been updated a few times since its initial release. It's a fun, very readable book that inspires confidence. Would recommend this over what the so-called "experts" of today have to say. There's a reason it's sold millions of copies and been translated into many different languages. It works.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

so helpful