noun
handbook; instruction book; manual
A book that provides guidance, instructions, or how-to information on a particular subject.
このソフトの使い方は指南書を読めばわかります。
You can learn how to use this software by reading the manual.
初心者向けのガーデニング指南書を買った。
I bought a gardening handbook for beginners.
手引書 also means 'guidebook' or 'handbook', but often implies a more concise or introductory guide. 指南書 can suggest a more comprehensive or authoritative manual.
Compound of 指南 (shinan, 'instruction, guidance') and 書 (sho, 'book, document'). 指南 originally referred to pointing south (as in a compass), and by extension came to mean giving direction or guidance.