The PICKUP ARTIST

Pickup artists (PUA’s) accredit sexual success with women to a number’s game. PUA’s often moonlight as authors, dating coaches and even sexperts. Their online global community thrives through blogs, forums, newsletters and one-on-one coaching. But do PUA’s pseudoscience tactics really work? And what are the downsides of getting laid via such a cunning game?

The History

Pickup artistry dates back to the ’70s, the decade that saw the Beatles break-up and cult leader Charles Manson get sentenced along with three others. Manuals and books such as The Art of Erotic Seduction and How To Get The Women You Desire Into Bed were released. Movies such asMagnoliaand the TV seriesThe Pickup Artistturned the caper, mainstream. Enter journalist Neil Strauss with his 2005 New York