It leads the album title "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not". Arctic Monkeys are being compared to bands like the Strokes, that they're influenced by, but are completely different bands. The "handbook" is referring to the rules of rock'n'roll, how a band should or shouldn't act in order not to "sell out" or use an element of "make believe" in their music. Arctic Monkeys want to make sure their music is looking to the new, being careful not to take away the sense of the old, and they're fine with that. If the other person isn't talking off their ear half the time.
It leads the album title "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not". Arctic Monkeys are being compared to bands like the Strokes, that they're influenced by, but are completely different bands. The "handbook" is referring to the rules of rock'n'roll, how a band should or shouldn't act in order not to "sell out" or use an element of "make believe" in their music. Arctic Monkeys want to make sure their music is looking to the new, being careful not to take away the sense of the old, and they're fine with that. If the other person isn't talking off their ear half the time.