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The Manual: A True Bad Boy Explains How Men Think, Date, and Mate--and What Women Can Do to Come Out on Top by Steve Santagati from Three Rivers Press List Price: $13.95 Our Price: $11.16 (Save 20%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Shipping rates and policies

Paperback: 304 pages (May 27, 2008) ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.79 x 8.03 x 5.20 Publisher: Three Rivers Press; (May 27, 2008) ISBN: 030734570X Average Customer Review: Based on 87 reviews. Amazon.com Sales Rank (Book): #12447

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How many times have you and your friends asked one another these questions without ever coming up with any good answers? Your girlfriends just tell you what you want to hear. At the end of the day, the only person who can give you insight into man problems is—that’s right—a man! But guys have hidden agendas. What guy would give up all his dating advantages by spilling the goods?

Steve Santagati would. A self-confessed serial dater and Bad Boy, Steve is telling all for the benefit of womankind. Every guy is at least part Bad Boy, and in The Manual, this prime specimen reveals what every woman needs to know to counter Bad Boy tactics, both amateur and professional. Steve is never condescending or callous, but honest, perceptive, and street-smart. His guidance is straightforward and his insights are dead-on, giving women tools they can immediately put to work.

Discover what you may not want to know but need to know about:

•The Heart of the Bad Boy (i.e., the nature of the beast)
•The Male Mind: how he sees you and how you can make this worko your advantage
•Guys on the Hunt: the male modus operandi, from the grocery store to Home Depot
•When Boy Meets Girl: how to handle dating, from flirting to “sext” messaging to learning his weaknesses
•Mating: so you’ve got him . . . should you keep him?

Why learn from a Bad Boy instead of, say, a psychologist? Because there’s no replacement for “in the field” experience. You’ll benefit from (and laugh at) stories of real things Steve has done in relationships with women as well as of women turning the tables on him when he least expected it. The book also includes a question-and-answer section, in which Steve explores some of the toughest dating issues.

To understand Steve is to understand the Bad Boy, and that will take you a long way in understanding all men. Find out how much more fun dating can be when you get the upper hand on Bad Boys . . .
for good.


From the Hardcover edition.

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I would caution any woman against taking the advice in this book as "gospel".

This book seems to speak to those perhaps in their twenties who are probably more interested in conquests and playing the field than in quality, long-term relationships.

If you do follow this book's advice to the letter, you may very well attract a "bad boy", so unless that is your goal, be careful what kind of bait you are putting on your hook.

There is one salient point in this book worth mentioning. The author explains the value of being unpredictable for purposes of maintaining interest and intrigue.

If you religiously follow "the Rules" or any other code of set behavior, you may well become predictable. Throwing in a curve ball here and there can make the game interesting and keep things going for the long haul.

What better way to find out about those guys you are dating, used to date, or are about to date than by reading a dating book written by a guy! Just the cover alone is great fun... and inside we get a peek at the psyche of men... or at least one man who's "been there, done that" with the ladies. So treat yourself to a fun read - always taken with a grain of salt. We women think we can "change his ways," "tame the bad boy," and all else - and most of us can't. A bad boy or any boy.... stays the same.... UNTIL one one "wonder woman" comes along somewhere in his life... who does! Or at least for a while. The book is a worthy read for any gal out in the dating world who wants an up close look from "his" point of view. Okay, so he may be a bad boy... but you can either choose him... or lose him... for a different kind. It's up to you. But the book is informative, fun, and a fast read. Go for it!

The Manual, by Steve Santagati is a very shallow book with no substance or essence. I have read many self-help books and books on relationships, and even books on the biological differences between men and women. This book reminded me of someone who didn't have any sincerity or genuineness. Everything in this book is actually common knowledge shared by everyone, like when he says you shouldn't sleep on the first date with a man. It is hard to explain, but I didn't like the his attempt at being humorous at inappropriate times. The author reminds me of someone who takes but never gives, and by referring to himself as a "bad boy" has no strength of character or integrity that would make me pursue him. The author seems to feel that women find "bad boys" more desirable and I took his little quiz and it actually determined I prefer nice guys.
I bought this book, as well as, some others for my younger, single girlfriends. I myself am 54 years old and have been married for 26 years, to a nice guy. I never liked "bad boys" which is another word for men that are always searching for their next girl in the sack, and have no love in their heart for anyone but themselves. I would not waste my money on this book.

To everyone that gave this book a bad review--jeez louise. You must be living under a rock. It seems as if not ONE of you understood what Steve was trying to get at. You're too ignorant and naive to get the point that he's making.

This book has opened my eyes and within days I'm seeing a difference in myself. It gives you a different outlook on the games that the sexes play on/with each other. I cannot even believe that some of you didn't get this.

Way to be really, REALLY uptight everyone. You know that the things he said are beyond true. Just open your damn minds!

Okay. For the record most of the Manual is pretty fun to read, and actually gives some pointers that a lot of women could use. Strangely daft women who are desperate and find men to be such a tricky elusive species maybe, but some women nonetheless.

Santagati is of course a rarity..he's got the rugged middle aged Marlboro man good looks that suited him well when he was a 20something model and was making us all swoon over GAP ads back in the 80s. So maybe he can call the shots with his lady... but the average Joe in his sansabelts and pudgy backside is going to get kicked in the neck for telling his lady to wear something sexier. The push up bra, the high heel, the tight skirt. Come on Steve, we're not all wired like that...And some of us don't want men to respond to us in THAT way...like those who have gone to school for decades and have big jobs and run companies and families and real estate empires? Yea, them. The breadwinners. So, we'll pinch our toes and IPEX if and when we want to thank you very much...

But this is not news. Men are visual and they like to imagine you naked. No! Really?

My favorite line from the book is the one about cooking him dinner...don't make him something that will give you bad breath or gas...

good advice Steve. All in all, no harm done, but it does have the air of a kinda pushy bossman feel about it. I was left wondering...What have you done for ME lately?

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