Question about scotch game

As a beginner who at this stage puts himself against other highly skilled not so high rated players for the best possible combination of absorbing new knowledge and not getting my behind handed to me, i run across the scotch game very often. 

My question comes from the fact that i read (i believe in one of Pandolfinis books) after 1.e4..e5   2. Nf3..Nc6  3. d4...  , if black simply captures the pawn with 3. ..exd4   after the exchange that follows (4. Nxd4..Nxd4   5. Qxd4..) white is superior.  Even though the queen came out early, shes on a central square which appears to be relatively important as it exposes the first real weaknesses i learned about that i dont create myself (the b2,g2,b7,g7 pawns if either bishop is developed).  So if im wrong about that fact, could someone explain why and if not...what does black do??   

I have here a game i just played where my opponent seemed to agree with me and did the following:

So if anyone can show what black could have done not just instead of his 3. ...d6 but what could have made 3..d6 a good move if its possible to be one with good play afterwords.

Yes thats the book!  And good points i will definetly try this next time im on blacks side of things in the scotch. 

Hi Rose.

Can you explain what you mean, when you say that after exchanging in the center, black should, "play Bb4+, forcing a trade?"

I'd like to understand your whole plan.  But I guess I'll have to come to it one move at a time.

For example, after 4.Nxd4, then 4...Bb4+, it seems to me, is most likely to draw in reply 5.c3.  What is your plan as black from this point?

Your discussions have stopped me from feeling at a disadvantage when i get black for this game.  Thank you all!

Well for black you can go for the mieses endgame, it should be ok for black :)