The phrase “The Art of Seduction” might evoke images of chocolate-covered strawberries and sexy lingerie during Valentine’s week, but one man says it means much more than romance.
Robert Greene wrote the best-selling book of the same thought-provoking name. In his book, Greene explains how determined people change sexual seduction into a subtle art form they can use to get ahead in life.
“The Art of Seduction” has been on and off the national Barnes and Noble College Best-Seller list since its October release. Barnes and Noble owns and operates the University Bookstore in the Union.
Karen Richardson, a Bookstore assistant manager, said though “The Art of Seduction” has been on the national best-sellers list, it has not sold as well on the LSU campus.
“We’ve only sold three,” she said.
One reason it might not have sold as well at LSU is it does not seem to be a likely read for college students.
“The Art of Seduction” is an unlikely title for a book without photos or illustrations but with lots of text. But the cover is as enticing as its title suggests.
With the word “seduction” in gold letters slinking through a curvaceous pink oval within a sea of black, it draws readers’ eyes. It is difficult not to open the book and look at the word-filled pages.
Greene refers to sexually powerful individuals as “seducers” who utilize their gifts of persuasion and charm to “manipulate, mislead and give pleasure all at once.”
He includes the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra among history’s most cunning seducers. In “The Art of Seduction,” Greene credits Cleopatra’s gain of control over powerful Roman rulers to her sexual prowess.
Greene advises readers on how to put the same tactics to use to get what they want.
The book includes specific types of seducers and their ideal victims. Greene then gives a four-phase, 24-chapter explanation on the processes of seduction.
Though the phrase “art of seduction” seemed appetizing to some students, they did not think it was a quality to use in business — at least not in “non-romantic business.”
Christ Puente, an English senior, said he had heard of the book, but he did not think about literature when he heard the phrase.
Puente said it made him think about “getting a chick home from the bar.”
When he found out Greene’s ideas on seduction could be related to the workforce, Puente had different thoughts.
Using seduction in the workplace depends on the job, he said.
“If you’re a model, you’ve got to look hot,” Puente said. “Photographers tell the model to ‘seduce me.'”
But he said using seduction in most office jobs would be inappropriate.
Adelaide Hair, a history senior, said she would not use seduction as a means of getting ahead in the workplace.
“I don’t think you should do that, because girls won’t be taken seriously,” she said.
Hair said she would rather be known for the merit of her work than for having an unexplainable sexual quality that earned her credit.
In addition to “The Art of Seduction,” Barnes and Noble’s weekly College Best-Seller list compiles a diverse group of books.
The list recently has included Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life,” a Christian perspective on meaningful existence; “The World According to Mister Rogers,” a collection of quotes from the late children’s TV star; and Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code,” a murder mystery mixed with controversial extra-biblical references to Christian history.
With a wide range of topics making the list, Union Bookstore employees could not identify a specific reason why certain books are best-sellers and others are not.
Though the Bookstore has sold only three copies of “The Art of Seduction,” workers said it is difficult to tell if the book will surge in sales in the future.
“We haven’t sent any back,” Richardson said.