Ties That Bind: SM / Leather / Fetish / Erotic Style: Issues, Commentaries and Advice

by Guy Baldwin

Book Overview

The SM/Leather/Fetish Erotic Style - Issues, Commentary and Advice A well known psychotherapist and SM expert offers advice regarding relationships, the community, the SM experience, and personal transformation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1881943097
• ISBN13: 9781881943099
• Release Date: October 1995
• Publisher: Daedalus Publishing Company
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Relationship Advice for People into S & M and D/s

Mr. Baldwin's book is a wonderful collection of very well written and accessible essays covering the interpersonal aspects of the S & M scene. Guy Baldwin is both a psychotherapist and an experienced S & M practitioner. While the essays were originally written for a gay male S & M magazine, it's easy for women and heterosexual men to read past the pronouns and benefit from his insights. It's one of those books you want to share with your (kinky) friends as soon as you've finished reading it.

Whoa amazing!

If you want to know about the history and magic of BDSM, read this book. Read Leatherfolk as well. This is a great way to gain a deeper knowledge of the magic that experienced players know about. If you're just beginning to explore this path, read these books, but don't forget A Different Loving and Screw the Roses, Send me the Thorns.

Sexual preference does not apply

I am a 54 year old female, heterosexual, submissive. When no one else was listening or writing, Guy Baldwin and other gay leather folk were. These early classics are as good now as then. A part of the magic of Guy Baldwin is that sexuality, yours or his, is irrelevent to the real truths and possibilities of this lifestyle.

Serious discussions of BDSM relationship issues

As a hetero male switch, I didn't find Mr. Baldwin's gay male perspective to be at all limiting. As the book states clearly in the introduction, they could easily have changed a few pronouns and put the book into more universal language, but what would have been the point? Some of the illustrations used gay male examples of SM eroticism (the author must be seriously into boot polish! :) But it was pretty easy for me to mentally replace some of these erotic examples with some of my favorite fetishes as I read the book, to make it apply to me.I'm not sure this book would be a good choice for giving vanila or kink-curious folk an insight into SM, nor do I think that was its primary intention. You pretty much have to already be tapped in to BDSM energy -- it doesn't really even attempt the almost-impossible task of explaining it to people that just aren't wired for it. But it is a great resource for helping people who are already firmly oriented towards these lifestyles to build healthy relationships, and discern healthy from unhealthy behaviors. That's a tremendously valuable resource -- BDSM folk have a really hard time getting straight, critical, and understanding input on difficult relationship issues.I had a chance to have a few conversations with Guy Baldwin at LIL IV in 1989. He is indeed a very intelligent and thoughtful individual, and extremely flashy with a pair of leather floggers, I might add. :) This book is extremely valuable... in my opinion, it is a must-read for any BDSM person who is serious about keeping their BDSM and BDSM relationship healthy.

The Best Book on BDSM lifestyle available

If you are trying to understand the BDSM Lifestyle, want to get into it or just are interested in how people can "hurt so good", then this is the book! Mr Baldwin is the "John the Baptist" of the BDSM (Bondage/Discipline, Sado/Masochism) movement and a truly eloquent writer. Even if you have never "played" you will be moved. This book has changed many a life and turned many people (male and female) onto this lifestyle. Forget "the Story of O" and read the REAL THING.