Guru Ratings
Steve Santagati
Bad.
Remember my ratings criteria. I’m not judging these gurus on “global” or moral values, but very specific criteria. Many of my favorite books would be rated “bad” by my criteria for self-help (probably, because they are not self-help books). My ratings don’t reflect how well an author met his own goals, but how well they met my criteria for useful, accurate self-help.
The Manual (2007)
The subtitle is: A True Bad Boy Explains How Men Think, Date, and Mate—and What Women Can Do to Come Out on Top.
The book claims to teach women how to turn a confident, sexy Bad Boy into a boyfriend or husband.
Really, it just tells women to be sexy. That is how you snag a Bad Boy.
His tips:
- Sexy is more important than stylish.
- Shoes don’t matter. Hair does. Have sexy hair.
- Show cleavage.
- Wear short skirts.
- Not too much makeup.
- Shave Brazilian.
- Be confident.
- Don’t call. Be silent.
- Be a tease.
I could go on, but I hope you see why I won’t.
He goes on to give detailed and arbitrary rules for every kind of interaction, ala The Rules. How to kiss. How to date online. How to use the word “love” for the first time. Etc.
Shallow. Obvious. Formulaic.