Summary: Robert Greene's Art of Seduction

What Greene is showing us is something much closer to a ritual or a dance, where the participants obey the rules derived from a deeper level of shared and unconscious fears and desires. While the sexual element is central, the process of seduction matters. The book The Art of Seduction is also pleasurable for the readers for entirely different reasons. Greene is very much the master of the historical anecdote. In each chapter, he has well chosen the illustrative examples from history and literature.
Greene does not by any means preclude rational love between two consenting adults. There is enough evidence in the book about eternal truths of sexual relations which are applicable to both male and female and also in homosexual liaisons. In the book, Greene wrote about the flow of power and desire between two moral equals. There is no game where the other is not a free and equal participant. Seduction is like chess that is played by bodies in time and space. Seduction appears to be far more morally interesting than most have thought.
Discussion Prompt 1: If Machiavelli has written books, The Art of Seduction would be his book about love. What is Machiavelli known for? Why could The Art of Seduction be authored by him?
Discussion Prompt 2: For better or worse, Robert Greene is persuasive about seduction. Greene argues that seduction is a game between two equal partners where the ‘victim’ is willing enough because of what he or she will get out of the process. What is different about Greene’s definition of seduction?
Discussion Prompt 3: Seduction is primarily about the flow of power between two sexually alive people. By no means should it be compared to the ‘game' genre that author Neil Strauss and others once. How does Neil Strauss’ game differ from Greene’s book?
Discussion Prompt 4: Author Robert Greene appears to be uninterested in seduction as a mechanical application of the rules of sex. Rather, he looks at it as an art, not science. Why is seduction

Cleopatra and Casanova

Greene says that people cannot be seduced if they are satisfied and content. What you should do is sell yourself through illustrating ways where the other party is lacking in some respect. Then you should reveal what you can do to make up for that deficiency

Greene advises creating a need

What you should do instead is show off your most important connections and successes

The fourth step is to appear to be an object of desire. Greene advises that you shouldn’t make a fool of yourself, but he also advises not to be too humble when you're trying to win someone over

Greene advises that you shouldn’t reveal too much about yourself, your background or your intentions

According to Greene, seduction begins with a target.

The third step is to send mixed signals

if you would like to initiate a relationship with someone who could be of value to you, what you risk is forcing them to raise their guard if you immediately ask for something when you approach them. Before making any proposal, you should reach out to them through a third party, or try to develop a neutral or friendly relationship before you make it about business.