Neil Strauss, a former music journalist and bestselling author, delves into the complexities of love and relationships. He opens up about his journey through sex addiction rehab, revealing how it reshaped his understanding of intimacy. The discussion highlights why many cheat after seven years, the roots of commitment issues, and the hidden dangers of porn. Strauss also shares insights on breaking toxic dating cycles and the importance of childhood experiences in shaping adult relationships, all while offering practical advice on finding true love.
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insights INSIGHT
The Truth and Relationship Struggles
Neil Strauss's book, 'The Truth,' explores his personal journey with relationships and commitment issues.
It delves into his struggles with infidelity and his path toward redefining love.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Cheating and Sex Addiction
Neil Strauss cheated on a partner and got caught, leading to a realization about his behavior.
This prompted a conversation with Rick Rubin, who suggested he might be a sex addict.
insights INSIGHT
Emotional Incest
During rehab, a therapist suggested that Strauss's unhealthy relationships stemmed from his mother wanting a relationship with him.
This is referred to as emotional incest, a concept that resonated deeply with Strauss.
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In 'The Game', Neil Strauss chronicles his transformation from an 'average frustrated chump' (AFC) to a successful pickup artist. The book recounts his experiences living among the seduction community, learning from gurus like Mystery, and adopting the pseudonym 'Style'. Strauss shares numerous seduction techniques, his encounters with celebrities, and the psychological and social dynamics involved in the pickup artist culture. The book also explores the author's eventual realization that these techniques, while effective in picking up women, were not conducive to forming meaningful relationships.
The truth
An Uncomfortable Book About Relationships
Neil Strauss
In 'The Truth', Neil Strauss embarks on a journey to understand and improve his relationships. The book is a candid and often painful exploration of his experiences with monogamy, non-monogamy, and sex addiction. Strauss visits sex addiction clinics, participates in alternative relationship styles such as polyamory, and delves into his own childhood traumas to understand the root causes of his relationship problems. The book emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, respect, and honesty in building healthy relationships. Through his journey, Strauss aims to break down societal norms and expectations surrounding relationships and intimacy, advocating for a more authentic and self-aware approach to love and sex[2][3][5].
The Creative Act
A Way of Being
Rick Rubin
In *The Creative Act: A Way of Being*, Rick Rubin distills the wisdom he has gained from a lifetime of working with artists across various genres. The book is not just about music production but about the broader creative process and how it applies to everyone's life. Rubin emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with a state of innocence, being aware of the world, and tapping into what he calls 'Source'—an infinite and constant flow of ideas and inspiration. The book is structured around 78 areas of thought, providing practical wisdom, philosophical insights, and encouragement for anyone seeking to enhance their creative expression.
Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill
Published in 1937, 'Think and Grow Rich' is a seminal work in the self-help genre. The book is the result of over twenty years of research by Napoleon Hill, who studied the habits and achievements of more than 500 successful individuals, including Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. Hill distills their wisdom into thirteen principles that, when practiced with persistence and faith, can transform dreams into reality. These principles include the power of desire, faith, specialized knowledge, organized planning, and the role of the subconscious mind. The book emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mental attitude, setting clear and specific goals, and taking consistent action to achieve success. It also explores the concept of the 'Master Mind' alliance and the need to overcome fears and doubts to achieve one's objectives.
What can the former world’s best pick up artist and now recovered sex addict teach you about love?
In this new episode Steven sits down with 10x New York Times bestselling author, Neil Strauss.
Neil Strauss is a former music critic, cultural reporter and ghostwriter, he is best known for his books, ‘The Game’ and ‘Rules Of The Game’ which documented the secret world of pickup artists.
In this conversation Neil and Steven discuss topics, such as:
How he went to rehab to overcome sex addiction
His emotional evolution
How he redefined his idea of love
Dealing with a toxic relationship with a parent
The reasons people have commitment issues
Why dating is so hard
Three steps for healing trauma
How we are wired to cheat after 7 years in a relationship
Why marriage is now a tick box exercise
How to attract a perfect partner
Why all relationship issues are historical
The dangers of masturbation and porn
What he learned as Kevin Hart’s ghostwriter
The one attribute that made Kevin Hart a success
Kevin Hart’s key to resistance
How to overcome fear of abandonment
Why your childhood is the reason behind your relationship problems
The 5 things men need to do to find love
How to break out of a toxic dating cycle
Why checking a partners phone is cheating
Living in a separate world when you cheat
You can purchase Neil’s most recent book, ‘The Truth: An Uncomfortable Book About Relationships’, here: https://amzn.to/3u9gm17
You can purchase Neil's book, 'The Game: Undercover in the Secret Society of Pickup Artists', here: https://amzn.to/3udYx13
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