Manipulation according to Merriam-Webster dictionary has the following definition:
"to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage"

I recently left a friendship that I felt was based on a lot of manipulation. I saw this book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/080661711X/ref=ase_bookbookandbook/102-1414783-4903367?v=glance&s=books, and it looks like a good read. Has anyone read it?

There are three types of manipulators:
The manipulator who needs to be needed.
The manipulator who wants to take charge.
The manipulator who wants to be pitied and manipulates by appearing weak.

There is no place in a true friendship for manipulation.

If you think you could be guilty of manipulation or feel a friend is manipulating you, ask yourself a few questions:

Do we always go to the place my friend prefers or always go to the places I prefer?

Does my friend use humor to put me down or do I do likewise?

Does my friend seem to enjoy correcting factual errors in conversations? Do I?

Do I always seem to seem weak or "poor me" to a friend or does my friend do this to me?

Do I need my friend enough to be the clutching type or does she/he seem to be clutching at me?