The content is great but the reader is awful

What did you like best about Models? What did you like least?

Models shows a great way for men to think about the world and their relationship with women. It really focuses on improving yourself.

Mark Manson read it himself. It sounds like it was recorded in front of his computer and he left all the misreads and stumbles in. I could hear mouse clicks and I'm pretty sure he got text messages while recording.

Would you be willing to try another one of Mark Manson’s performances?

No. Absolutely not. It was a 7 hour book recorded in 7 hours and a ton of mistakes left in. The negative listening experience definitely can overshadow the amazing content.

Did Models inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to change the way I thought about my relationships with women.

Any additional comments?

Mark, please have this re-recorded with a pro reader.

64 people found this helpful

The narration kills all credibility

While I’m not against an author narrating his own book, there are instances like this one when it’s just a bad idea. Not to say that this author could have done at least an adequate job if he had made an effort. Instead, what the listener is brutally subjected to is an unedited, unrehearsed and haphazard attempt at reading the text. It’s reminiscent of a junior high school student fumbling through a presentation of a just finished report, which was copied out of an encyclopedia and never really comprehended. It’s a shame, because the content has value but the delivery completely ruins even the most robust of concepts. All credibility in the material is lost when it’s coming from a source that sells such a weakly produced product. In addition to the lack of editing or proofreading, the author seemed to not even have given it a listen before releasing it for sale. The copyright and legal disclaimer at the beginning is read and for some reason explained before launching into the first section, which begins by repeating the same thing. I feel bad that the author doesn’t have a coach, advisor or even friend that could have told him of that and other mistakes. Or maybe he just doesn’t care. Expecting people to pay for something so poorly rendered is just wrong. I’ve often found that complaints regarding narrators of audiobooks were a bit petty and based mostly on certain style preferences. However, this audiobook is in an entirely new and more severe category of bad productions. I think I’m being a bit generous in giving the content a B+, the writing a C-and the narration a D-.

60 people found this helpful

Narration has been updated - it’s great!

I was almost turned away because of the reviews warning against the author’s narration. Looks like he took their advice and hired a pro. Austin does a great job. This is a fantastic book!

51 people found this helpful

Narration is the worst I have ever heard!!!

Buy the book. This is so hard to listen to. He stumbles over words over and over.

23 people found this helpful

its just good!

its like a friend's uncle just kicked knowledge for some hours and it was all stuff that you could relate to and/or understand. its not read as well as "the subtle art of not giving a f" but that also makes it easier to relate to the narrator...who happens to be the author. It wasn't underwhelming at all to me because none of what he said sounded contrived or like something somebody says to just sound like they know it all. Alot of it is just encouragement/reassurance but don't let that stop you, because it might be new to you. Things I've been told before or have come to realize, Mark talks about. But for me that was cool because its like I get to have somebody remind me, that being realistic and doubting myself are NOT the same thing. I hope this helps.

22 people found this helpful

A fapping book

Apparently, the author got into so many women's pants in his early ears, that he didn't have time to masturbate. To make up for that lost opportunity, he wrote this book.

Most men reading this book are doing so because they're in the opposite situation as the author. That the author pretends to understand their situation, and that he thinks they're problem is the same problem he had (taking sex partnes so much for granted that he couldn't keep their names straight) is laughable. This is just so much self-congratulatory projection. The premise is that all it comes down to is attitude. Give it a pass. If "changing your attitude" was all it took, why was he so successful in his youth with his "bad attitude," why was he a walking herpes ad?

19 people found this helpful

The anti-PUA book

This is by far the best book on pickup I’ve ever read. Mark Manson offers an introspective look on how to conquer your own demons, start living a more attractive lifestyle, and tips to attract and be more attractive to the women you want to meet. Interestingly I also found a lot of parallels to how I interact with family friends and coworkers and I would even recommend this book for anyone who’s already in a relationship or even married because especially in the early chapters he talks about how certain types of incompatible people wind up feeding off their own insecurities and toxic relationships. Fascinating stuff! Best of all he talks about “the other pickup artists” and offers foundations on why those methods work, why people seek them, why they aren’t long term solutions, and why you may become a terrible narcissist if you study “game” too much. Seriously - man woman lgbtq - read this book.

18 people found this helpful

I like that he had trouble narrating.

This is a book about fear, growth and building yourself so that the life outside of you is that way that you want. Is about running towards a mixture of failure and success, because that is the only way big successes will come about.

The author's narration was sometimes troubled. He was always easy to understand, but he often sounded like your buddy at a dive bar telling you his discovery about dating.

And that is the point.

He isn't perfect and polished the whole way, because he isn't afraid to screw up. If Simon Vance were narrating this would get an Audie, but probably not change as many lives. As it is, this is the book I needed right now. Not for dating insights or style tips, but a kick in the ass to go pursue the life that I want.

tl;dr: GET THIS BOOK!!

17 people found this helpful

Just what I needed

I thought it was going to be a sleazy pick-up book. It turned out to be a long journey into self-discovery that I needed many years ago.

14 people found this helpful

Great book for any "Needy" guy in relationships!

Outstanding book Mark, not only have you taught me to be more self aware of how I interact with women, but your book has educated me to in-power my me by improving my self image! My existing girl friend had notice positive changes immediately once I started reading your book!

Thank you Mark, I really appreciate your outstanding knowledge specifically when it comes to understanding the opposite sex!

14 people found this helpful