First off this is not a book review – it is a guide to books for newcomers and not so newcomers to the BDSM scene on books they will need to read to improve their rope bondage skills.
There is a multitude of books on BDSM available and it covers many topics within the lifestyle. I plan on giving a newcomer some insight into the books that could be helpful in the journey to experiencing fulfilled joy. The first category we will be looking at is the books available on bondage that show you how to practically tie someone up. I chose five books for this category that range from the really practical to the more artistic and poetic. I am sure that you will enjoy them all.
We are going to be discussing the following five books:
1. Two Knotty Boys Showing You The Ropes: A Step-by-Step, Illustrated Guide for Tying Sensual and Decorative Rope Bondage (Paperback)
by Two Knotty Boys (Author), Larry Utley (Photographer)
Price: $11.53 at www.amazon.com
The authors started out as instructors on shibari and taught people by showing them techniques and knots over and over again until they got the concept before moving on. They then went further and combined basic knots into some really intricate and not so intricate designs. Their designs are GORGEOUS and unique – I have not seen a lot of these in real time play scenes unless you count the bondage competitions where people using their techniques have frequently won.
In this book they use a lot of photos to show the beginner and the experienced bondage player how to get to the most intricate ties and these ties are safe, sensual (as only rope can be of course), attractive and effective to keep most submissives in check. The photos are in black and white, but then it was never meant to be a book on fetish photography. The dominant can use this book as they tie their partner and it can also be used by the submissive wishing to learn how to tie others as well to make sure that he or she can help inexperienced dominants should the need ever arise.
All in all a lot of people are buying this book, experienced as well as inexperienced players too. You need to add this to your library if you haven’t done so already. Now how will I place the book so Master can see it clearly again? By the way, this is the second biggest seller right now at amazon and with good reason. If you don’t believe me, go read the 30 plus reviews on this book to satisfy any curiosity you might feel.
2. Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé (Paperback)
by Lee, “Bridgett” Harrington (Author)
Price: $19.79 at www.amazon.com
Lee “Bridget” Harrington is a well-known and prolific presenter of different topics in the BDSM community in the USA. This book is well known for taking Japanese rope bondage and erotic macramé and making it easier for the novice bondage player as well as the somewhat experienced player. It includes a lot of tutorials that are comprised of clarifying photographs and really detailed descriptions including how to tie the knots. He offers quite a number of different types of bondage including restrictive bondage and decorative rope work that turns the bottom’s body into a work of art. Some of the creations you should be able to do after reading and practicing (and believe me after being the guinea pig, you should be able to and they are pretty damn gorgeous) are Chest harnesses (which Master loves for obvious reasons if you know me), hogties, rope corsets (one of my favorites), strap on harnesses and crotch ropes. There are some wonderful customer reviews on Amazon to go through if you still need to decide which of these books you will be getting first, but this is one of my favorites.
3. Jay Wiseman’s Erotic Bondage Handbook (Paperback)
by Jay Wiseman (Author)
Price: $11.53 at www.amazon.com
When you have been in the BDSM lifestyle as long as I have, this name is like a household brand. Jay Wiseman is a respected author of several books and his advice and instructional books are probably the first ones you’d want to buy if you are in this for fun and play. Jay gives safety advice that I find very valuable for all the newbies out there, even though some of it might seem little basic for us experienced fogies. He shares invaluable advice regarding rope care, safety equipment and games that can be played.
He does tend to repeat himself and I skipped a lot of the first part of the book because it seemed to me like he was trying to convince everyone of the value of BDSM and how it really is not unsafe and only for consensual players over and over again. He did not have as many photographs as the other two books I have already discussed, but his descriptions are practical and easy to follow. It is an invaluable book to have because of the broad scope of the subject matter. You will find 42 reviews on this book on amazon and should go through them. Since this is the book selling for the lowest price, I would buy this first and follow it up with Knotty Boys. I love to just take this book and practice knots. Master can’t get me to put this book away …
4. The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage (Paperback)
by Midori (Author)
Price: $21.24 at www.amazon.com
Midori is a pro-domme that was born in Japan. She is a prolific speaker and currently resides in San Francisco, California. She is a wonderfully poetic read and has a different approach to bondage than most of the authors I mentioned before. The authors of the books I have already discussed explain and illustrate shibari from a very practical point of view and make it easy for players to hone their skills. Midori approaches it with an eye to the philosophy, history and poetry in form that is probably a female thing. I loved reading this and the photographs in the book that start each section with instructions following them, are probably some of the most beautiful fetish photos I have ever seen. This book can be used as a coffee table book too, if you have enough guts to come right out and say that you like bondage.
The book is not as accessible for beginners as the others’ are, but is worthwhile having just because it is so beautiful. Experienced rope workers will be able to get all of these designs done though.
5. Bondage For Sex (Paperback)
by Chanta Rose (Author)
Price: $24.28 at www.amazon.com
Chanta Rose has been tying people up for quite some time and started out as a fetish model herself. She writes a lot of articles on this, has classes where she teaches people to use bondage in sex, and has even released several DVD’s on rope technique. She lives in San Francisco last time I heard, but was born in Australia.
This book has photos that will help you tie the knots properly and will tell you which rope to use, what you can do with someone in a position and how to approach your partner to get this to be part of your bedroom festivities. Since Chanta Rose believes that bondage is for sex, she focuses on sensual and sexual positions and the other more restrictive positions you would find in other books will not be in this one. This is the book for the loving couple only interested in using something like rope bondage to increase their level of intimacy.
In conclusion:
I have discussed all these books and given you approximate pricing, but this is not a review of the books themselves – that is why I referred you to the reviews on Amazon itself. I want you to be able to find the books that will help when other BDSM practitioners blithely say that reading will help you improve your skills. These 5 books will be enormously helpful and so will the others I plan on introducing you to. The prices are listed so you can decide what your budget will be able to handle and so you can prioritize. Just know that all these books are important in my mind and that all of them deserve to be on your bookshelf.
