Belle de Jour's Guide to Men

Belle de Jour #4

by Belle de Jour, Brooke Magnanti

Funny, surprising and always entertaining, 'Belle de Jour's Guide to Men' is must-have reading for every woman out there.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sex Work, Sexuality, Humor, Chick Lit, Romance, Biography

200 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Brooke Magnanti is a forensic scientist and writer, who, until her identity was revealed in November 2009, was known by the pen name Belle de Jour.

While completing her doctoral thesis, in 2003 and 2004, Magnanti worked as a call girl. Her diary, published as the anonymous blog Belle de Jour: Diary of a London Call Girl became popular, as speculation surrounded the identity of Belle de Jour. Magnanti went on to The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl in 2005 and The Further Adventures of a London Call Girl in 2006. These were followed by Playing the Game, Belle de Jour's Guide to Men, and Belle's Best Bits.

In 2007, the books were adapted for TV as Secret Diary of a Call Girl, starring Billie Piper. In November 2009, fearing her real identity was about to come out, Magnanti revealed her real name and occupation as a scientist. Her first book published under her real name was the non-fiction The Sex Myth in 2012.

Magnanti's first crime novel, The Turning Tide, will be published by Orion in 2016.

Reviews

[Karah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful tips that don't mislead with rank of significance. Whether you aim to work in the sex industry or live a sensual lifestyle, Belle de Jour's advice helps mightily.

[BookWithAView · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alright. I picked this up and thought it might be a bit more tongue in cheek or at least have a little of the humour. None there.
This book is ok if you and everyone around you fits in a neat little box.

[Ana (O Mundo Encantado dos Livros) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorei ler este livro. Para além do assunto engraçado, o humor da autora cativou-me de uma forma genial. Achei imensa piada à forma como Belle cataloga os homens e até mesmo as mulheres. Ela apresenta até um pequeno teste para descobrir mos qual o tipo de mulher que somos. Na mente dela existem três tipos de mulheres, a bem-comportada, a normal e a cabra assustadora, estas têm tipos diferentes de agir nas diferentes situações que a vida lhes apresenta. Quando o assunto é o tipo de homem…é melhor ler o livro! Belle de Jour é o pseudónimo de uma ex-prostituta de luxo de Londres, que graças a algumas das suas experiencias (e até desabafos de alguns clientes) nos vem apresentar algumas das suas teorias sobre as relações entre homens e mulheres. Achei interessante e até divertida a forma seria e directa como ela aborda certos assuntos que a maioria de nós, em um ou outro momento, já tivemos duvida e também situações que de alguma forma também já passamos. Em algumas partes dei por mim a pensar algo como “Se tivesse lido isto mais cedo…” (risos).
Recomendo este livro a todas as mulheres que quiserem passar uns momentos de leitura bastante divertidos e sobre um assunto que muitas de nós ainda tentamos entender: os Homens!

[Carla Kaiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fanfriggintastic relationship book. Even better than Why Men Love Bitches. This one is full of practical information about how men view women.

[Oxana Udodova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Кратко: всех мужиков нахер. Драматизма в жизни и без них хватает.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this :) I am a toss up between GG/PJ but that is only my own opinion :) ☆☆☆☆☆

[Sumaiya Momoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. Funny. Funny.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would’ve enjoyed it more if I was English cos there was a fair few things I just didn’t get.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super funny and good nuggets of info in there

[Ali Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick read. very different from her others. more of a sarcastic manual about dating men. funny and dry but sometimes it drags on

[Jaimie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I guess the awesomeness of Belle de Jour's adventures couldn't go on forever... Not that this book was bad, per se, it just wasn't quite up to the previously high standards set by the previous three books. Belle deos give some unique (and amusing) adveice about dealing with man-kind, but if you've read one humourous guide to men you've kind of read them all.

[Eve Dangerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have the words to describe how much I adored this book. One of the most original, hilarious guides to dating, screwing and choosing to NOT date or screw I've ever read. I loved intimate adventures but Belle's style really shines here. Her chapter on telling the difference between nice guys and Nice Guys had me in stitches and I'm not someone who laughs aloud at books very often. Stigma against sex workers aside this is the kind of advice that every woman needs. Belle knows dudes inside and out and not since I started listening to the Savage Lovecast have I found such a succinct and insightful guide through the minefield of getting other people’s junk to touch your own. Highly recommend. I’m actually making my sister read this as we speak.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pure humour! Exprostitute's view on men and relationships. She's fun, she's honest and she's incredibly witty and sharp. If you hate regular relationship how-to's read this book. (Not much practical information though, except the part where she describes that working as a call girl is not as glamorous as it may seem and it is really hard to get out of the business. Serves a lovely social cause therefore ;))

[Dominica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Belle De Jour's sense of humour. It was fun to read for that. I didn't really learn anything new, but I did like best was her advice that would be most useful for single women, about getting yourself sorted out, and having your own interests, before finding a man. I agreed with her on that. I also like that she's mostly non-judgemental about different types of women, and she doesn't think badly about those who just want lots of sex.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun how-to guide on relationships. As usually, Belle is blunt and has no qualms with being honest.
It was very funny. And actually quite instructive. I think every woman (who doesn't mind an NC17 rating) should read this. Especially if you're amidst relationship woes.

[kutingtin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got a lot of spicy insights and shocking revelations on this one! =D
My favorite of the other books so far...
I read and watch the series _Belle de Jour unleashes the SB in me! haha! rawr!
_PLain Jane TIN*

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book over two days. It was so easy to read and funny: both poshy and trashy. I liked how she is honest about her work, that it is her point of view only, not perfect truth. So I enjoyed reading what she thought on the subject.

[Claire Sayan · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5

I don't know why I continue to read Belles books, I don't like her or her writing.

15 days this took me to read (and I read the fifty shades trilogy in 3 days) it was that painful. This book gave me a reading funk I had trouble getting out of. 15 days of my reading time wasted :-(

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as interesting as her previous works but still good. I like Belles humour so I will be looking at the last one soon I wander what has happened with SF

[Dark]

will update and add more info once i am done reading this book

[Abbey A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good guide on how to deal and understand men's behavior.

[Amanda E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Belles books are always a good read

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. Belle has a great sense of humour and writes well. Did I learn anything? Maybe a little. Would I actively recommend it or read it again- no. Interesting, but I preferred her Memoirs.