The Manly Art of Seduction, How to Meet, Talk to, and Become Intimate with Anyone

The Manly Art of Seduction: How to Meet, Talk to, and Become Intimate with Anyone_, by Perry Brass. Belhue Press, 220 pages, $16.95 paper. Manly. Seduction. Terms sadly at odds with each other in our mature years, says Brass, a situation he rectifies with wide-ranging inclusiveness in his second self-help title, after _How to Survive Your Own Gay Life: An Adult Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships.

Think of this as that book s prequel. The emphasis isn t on sex, love or marriage as much as it is on how to achieve the kind of man-on-man intimacy that might lead to just one date, to a sexual connection, or simply to an enduring friendship. With 46 short chapters, Brass how-to advice comes with work for you tips (practice touching your own body, perform a grooming assessment) and space for a worksheet the reader s homework assignment, as it were. The book s first section covers such topics as shyness, kissing and dealing with rejection standard stuff, expressed with clear-headed commonsense.

Later chapters touch smartly on too-often-avoided subclasses of seduction disability, weight, race, class, cock size, sexual dysfunction, straight men and threesomes making this a first-class primer for every taste. --January BookMarks, Nationally syndicated book review column, by Richard Labonte

The Manly Art of Seduction, How to Meet, Talk To, and Become Intimate with Anyone by Perry Brass Despite the more salacious connotations of the word, seduction can be an art form, believes author Perry Brass. Just as an artist lays out the colors on a palette before he can begin painting ...a good seducer knows that only by arranging the right setting and being in the right frame of mind, can the seduction take place without stalemating into a cold, awkward, and unnerving situation, he writes. Although some artists are born with innate talent, others must develop their raw skills and confidence with careful practice and guidance.

Similarly, fledgling seducers will find Brass' mentorship invaluable, as he details the sometimes-rocky paths to intimacy and the difficulties that crop up in flirtatious encounters. The guidebook is aimed primarily at gay men, but Brass (author of How To Survive Your Own Gay Life) keeps his advice broad enough to be applicable to straight women as well. Because he delves so deeply into the male psyche, it might be challenging for a straight male or lesbian reader to use all of his insight, but there's still plenty of wisdom for those readers as well.

Brass argues, quite effectively, that seduction isn't about ending between the sheets with someone, even though that might be the outcome. Instead, a truly creative and successful seducer understands how to make a genuine connection to others, and how to develop a sense of intimacy quickly. Although he touches on common advice like tapping into shared interests, Brass also explores deeper concepts like valor and territorialism, and his stunning chapter on rejection should be a must-read for everyone in the dating scene.

Most of the time, men are not rejecting you, he writes. They're rejecting a situation they feel they can't control, and the fact that you are bringing more stress (and lack of control) into either a socially or sexually-charged situation. To make the material even more usable, Brass includes a worksheet type of section at the end of every chapter. For example, for the rejection chapter, he asks the reader to list a past rejection, and how he or she might view that person now. Only by thinking about the full circumstances of the rejection can someone move on, Brass believes.

Filled with useful, practical advice, this guide is likely to make gay men feel more in control of their chance encounters, and boost some self-esteem as well. Everyone can learn the art of seduction, as Brass notes, and he provides plenty of the necessary tools and art supplies. Review Date: January 2010. Reviewed by: Elizabeth Millard --January issue of ForeWord Reviews Online

Product Description

From the award-winning author of How to Survive Your Own Gay Life, Angel Lust, Warlock, and Carnal Sacraments.

“Men are not supposed to be seductive.”

Perry Brass heard this while very young, so of course it gave him an open field in a kind of behavior that can be exciting, fulfilling, and satisfying. If you feel you’re always waiting for someone else to make the first move—if you’re traumatized by your fear of rejection and don’t have a clue how to open a conversation or expand the terms of a relationship, The Manly Art of Seduction is a must-have.

Brass explains male territorialism, and how it keeps men locked inside themselves. He talks about making decisions yourself, and how these decisions can be used to make seduction possible—even easy. He deals with the monster of rejection, and how to use mind pictures and exercises to rejection-proof your psyche. At the end of most chapters are questions you can use to tailor this book to your needs, seeing your own progress as you come to master this art.

Although seduction is a part of our commercial environment, Perry Brass has brought it to a place where we can find spiritual and inner nourishment, and where the chronic aloneness of much of life today can be changed into a state of delight and much deeper sexual and emotional connections.

“Relationships between men can run the gamut from brief connections to long-lasting commitments. This book demonstrates how to break through fear and old patterns to increase your seduction skills and decrease missed opportunities. No matter what kind of connection you might be looking for, the advice offered here is helpful, sharp, and pulls no punches. But the tough love is served with style and humor.”
Dave Singleton, author of The Mandates: 25 Real Rules for Successful Gay Dating

“The Manly Art of Seduction is for men who seek greater intimacy—of the physical or emotional sort. During these uncertain times, Brass refocuses our energies toward providing for basic human needs, thereby recharging our batteries to face what comes. He does this with a frankness and simplicity that makes it accessible to twenty-first century man.” Rafael Risemberg, Ph.D. Founder and President, Date Bait

“A first-class primer for every taste,” Richard Labonte, BookMarks, nationally syndicated column about glbt books.

“Filled with useful, practical advice, this guide is likely to make gay men feel more in control . . . . Although he touches on common advice like tapping into shared interests, Brass also explores deeper concepts like valor and territorialism, and his stunning chapter on rejection should be a must-read for everyone in the dating scene.” Elizabeth Millard, ForeWord Reviews, January, 2010.

What Will You Learn from The Manly Art of Seduction:

How to approach men and know what to say, how to act, and what to look for.

How body language, your own and his, works.

How to use the boundaries of male territorialism to your own advantage.

How to be confident, adult, in control, and seductive in a world that does not want you to be—and why it doesn’t.

How to make the most of what you look like, and get results that prove it.

How to seduce a man in a crowded bar, a social situation, over dinner out, at home, or anyplace.

How to deal, seductively, with disability, weight issues, penis size, erectile dysfunction, class, race and cultural differences, as well as straight men, married men, monogamy, and threesomes.

How to become the balanced, secure, sexually successful person you want to be.

You’ll learn all of his in The Manly Art of Seduction, by Perry Brass. You'll also learn how to use the Manly Art of Seduction as a life-long guide to happiness and real change. Seduction means an invitation to intimacy, and the intimacy here is often with your deepest self.

So why not begin now?