The Leather and BDSM Handbook

by Vincent L. Andrews, Vincent L. Andrews

In celebration of the more than a decade of success of The Complete leatherboy Handbook, Vince Andrews has focused his experience and insight on a new handbook. Now he takes on the challenge of introducing the reader to the greater world of Leather gay and straight, male and female, D/s and S/M and Kink. Andrews explores the differences that make the greater Leather community so diverse and colorful, as well as the commonalities that have brought these groups together.With the same experience-based clarity and objective perspective he has brought to his previous work, Andrews explores the histories of the various groups that form Leather culture, and how those groups have intersected throughout the 20th century – and how they are growing into the 21st century. This book gives the reader historical background and a clear understanding of what makes up modern Leather thought, art, ritual, fashion, public figures, legislation, and literature.The Leather & BDSM Handbook is designed to provide a foundational understanding of the Leather culture to help not only newcomers to the scene, but also experienced Leatherfolk who are adjusting to the Leather community’s growth and development in new directions. Andrews’s work gives you the depth of understanding of the Leather world and its history to enable you to be comfortable communicating your own thoughts and views to others within the culture. Essentially, it provides the tools, insight, and understanding you will need to succeed in the world of Leather.

Genres: BDSM

354 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2018

Reviews

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I didn't love it. That's ok, though, not everything is for everyone. I've been around the gay leather scene for about 20 years now and have seen fads come and go, inclusivity wax and wane, and one twue way-isms debunked over and over. Most of what this author includes is solid advice, and as this is written more for folks who are new than anyone, great. On that front it is mostly recommended. Where it gets hard for me are places where I strongly disagree or was just taught differently. I think some of this is regional. For instance, on 115, the author advises flagging orange on left if you don't really know what you want to get into, or if you're busy/in service that weekend. In San Francisco, at least from the experience I have, it's looked on as extremely cocky to flag orange at all, and on the left would mean that you'll bottom to anything that comes your way. I've personally seen folks do it and get taken aside by elders and talked to for it. It immediately gets you discredited as ignorant or at least questioned for having no boundaries. So, my guess is that might be a very strong regional difference.

Other issues I have are mostly around wording. On 219, the author writes, 'One thing Dominants MUST keep in mind about submissives: they want a collar more than anything in the world, and they will attempt to manipulate a Dominant into giving a collar too soon if they can.' While this might be true for some, it absoultely is disrespectful of submissives who have boundaries, who are into D/s or M/s honestly, and who respect their Dominant and any Dominant enough to not be manipulative.

These are just some examples of issues. The majority of the work I felt was informative and at very least provides a good springboard for discussion. I did not care for the keynote speech printed at the back unfortunately, not as much for the topic (there's definitely something to what he's saying, he's got good points and I hear them), but more for the form, as there seemed to be a lot of anger/passionate calling out of issues with little practical solution proposed. YMMV.

It is mildly bothersome to me as well that in the reviews the author has rated his own book, as it skews the actual ratings of readers.