I’ve been reading a lot lately about pick-up artists and some of their techniques for meeting women.

Do any of their tactics actually work? They all seem kind of douchey to me. — A.S., New York

Some pick-up artist stuff works, some is bullshit, some is borderline date-rapey. But there are effective techniques worth learning. As an exotic dancer, I use a lot of pick-up techniques to increase my tips in the club.

My favorite book on the subject is Superflirt by Tracey Cox. It’s easy to read, and after using it I was able to increase attraction with a number of techniques. More importantly, I was able to read the body language of my “targets.”

Reading body language in a conscientious way was the most important skill I ever learned. You learn to tell who’s attracted to you, who isn’t, and how to put people at ease by shifting your body position. It’s powerful stuff. You could also check out Neil Strauss’s work. After he wrote The Game, a book that exploded the underground PUA community into mainstream consciousness, he followed up with a how-to book, Rules of the Game.

I also like Marni Kinrys’s Wing Girl Method. Both Strauss and Kinrys teach techniques that focus on building confidence and making you your best, most interesting self.

This column doesn’t constitute medical or professional advice. Always consult a qualified health care professional for your medical, psychological, or relationship problems.