| By the Book | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Michael Peterson |
| Album: | Michael Peterson |
| Released: | September 26, 1998 |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 3:02 |
| Label: | Reprise |
| Producer: | Robert Ellis Orrall, Josh Leo |
| Prev Title: | When the Bartender Cries |
| Prev Year: | 1998 |
| Next Title: | Somethin' 'bout a Sunday |
| Next Year: | 1999 |
"By the Book" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Michael Peterson. It was released in September 1998 as the fifth and final single from his 1997 album Michael Peterson. The song reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1] Peterson wrote the song with Robert Ellis Orrall.