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Wild Side Sex: The Book of Kink: Educational, Sensual, and Entertaining Essays
Internationally-acclaimed sex educator Midori's book Wild Side Sex is an excellent gateway into the world of fetish and kink for curious explorers. Using her well-known mix of humor, sensuality, and ethics, Midori takes readers through her own adventures while giving straightforward advice about how to find your way past media fantasies and into the very rich, very real pleasures of kink.
232 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 3, 2014
Mixes her metaphors as bizzarely and fantastically as in her classes. A favorite quote I remember on the magic of transforming into the role of a Feminine Dominant in the bedroom after your partner has seen you in your everyday life doing laundry and stuff, delivered with a terrible urgent seductive mystery in her voice, "How do you then become, to him, the color only dogs can hear?" Much more "intense" and "advanced" than the cover makes it seem, so kink-shy first-time explorers beware! So glad this lady exists. Midori, thanks for being out and proud and joyful and making the world that much sexier and safer for the rest of us beautiful perverts!
November 3, 2023
This is a mostly fun to read collection of essays and pieces published in alternative lifestyle magazines. Many of them are not particularly relevant to me (I'm not really interested in rope bondage or extreme fetish wear or female dominance) but her playful yet whipsmart (see what I did there?) writing style kept my attention.
I really enjoyed her pieces on the psychology of D/s relationships, and the magical synergy of S/M partnership.
There's also a very interesting breakdown of different types of fetishism that I found enlightening.
This isn't an instruction manual by any stretch, just a thoughtful and sometimes titillating collection of thoughts about kink written by a very intelligent, funny, and thoughtful expert. Check it out if you are kink curious.
I really enjoyed her pieces on the psychology of D/s relationships, and the magical synergy of S/M partnership.
There's also a very interesting breakdown of different types of fetishism that I found enlightening.
This isn't an instruction manual by any stretch, just a thoughtful and sometimes titillating collection of thoughts about kink written by a very intelligent, funny, and thoughtful expert. Check it out if you are kink curious.
May 16, 2014
Yeah, this book was hot. Very informative, and Midori is great at telling her experiences in the kink and BDSM subcultures.
There are tips and techniques of all kinds of kinks, fetishes, and BDSM. Not all of them will necessary be yours [or all of them might be, you kinky bitch ;)] but I'm glad that it showed variety. Of course it doesn't showcase ALL kinks and fetishes, but quite a few.
There are tips and techniques of all kinds of kinks, fetishes, and BDSM. Not all of them will necessary be yours [or all of them might be, you kinky bitch ;)] but I'm glad that it showed variety. Of course it doesn't showcase ALL kinks and fetishes, but quite a few.
January 30, 2013
Interesting read but a bit unbalanced. I found it to be way too academic and theoretical for beginners but nothing new for experienced scenesters. Thus, I could not really draw that much out of it. It is a collection of essays, so expect various degrees of style, depth and structure as well as no overall structure within the book. Midori is essentially a dominant lesbian, so it might require a bit of imagination on your side to transfer her ideas and suggestions to yourself, especially if you are a man. On a last note, the Midori is American and it shows, she discusses social issues that are predominant in American societies and some of her experiences and recommendations may be of limited validity and interest to Europeans.
August 3, 2020
To kick off my book review blog I am going to be revisiting a classic book off of my shelf - Wild Side Sex: The Book of Kink by the legendary Midori. Published in 2005, this book is a collection of essays written as far back as 1997, so it is a really interesting reflection on the state of kink and the kink community around the turn of the millennium.
One of the best things about Wild Side Sex is that, in addition to really knowing what she is talking about, Midori is an excellent writer. All too often, books about kink and alternative lifestyles are written by authors who are eager about the subject, but not necessarily the best at grammar and syntax. I proudly identify as a snobby bitch about such things, and find poorly constructed manuscripts to be extremely distracting, regardless of how interesting the content might be. Sorry, not sorry. Fortunately Midori's writing craft is top notch.
The book itself is divided into four parts. The first three - Fundamentals of Kink I, Fundamentals of Kink II, and Fetish Eroticism - are all collections of previously written essays. These essays don't offer the reader a cut and dried "how to" in getting started in kink, but rather provides a list of topics and some musings on what to think about. Part 4, Tips & Tricks for Adventurous Sex, are reprints of selected advice columns where Midori gets more into the nuts and bolts of BDSM play. As the book is a collection of essays and columns, readers don't need to start at the beginning and read it cover to cover. Each piece of writing stands on its own, so it is easy to jump around or skip over any sections that don't interest you.
I first bought and read this book shortly after it was published and haven't revisited it for the better part of a decade. I was curious to see if it was going to stand up to the test of time or if it would come across as horribly outdated. I was pleasantly surprised, and I think I actually got more out of it this time around than when I first read it. Back then I was still relatively new to the world of kink, and hadn't yet been brave enough to get involved in my local community. As an older, more experienced, more out and about kinkster, many of the essays spoke to me on a much deeper level. I actually found it fascinating how many of the topics are still things that my local community are discussing (and sometimes arguing about) today.
To continue reading this review, please visit my blog: https://www.nastybooks.ca
One of the best things about Wild Side Sex is that, in addition to really knowing what she is talking about, Midori is an excellent writer. All too often, books about kink and alternative lifestyles are written by authors who are eager about the subject, but not necessarily the best at grammar and syntax. I proudly identify as a snobby bitch about such things, and find poorly constructed manuscripts to be extremely distracting, regardless of how interesting the content might be. Sorry, not sorry. Fortunately Midori's writing craft is top notch.
The book itself is divided into four parts. The first three - Fundamentals of Kink I, Fundamentals of Kink II, and Fetish Eroticism - are all collections of previously written essays. These essays don't offer the reader a cut and dried "how to" in getting started in kink, but rather provides a list of topics and some musings on what to think about. Part 4, Tips & Tricks for Adventurous Sex, are reprints of selected advice columns where Midori gets more into the nuts and bolts of BDSM play. As the book is a collection of essays and columns, readers don't need to start at the beginning and read it cover to cover. Each piece of writing stands on its own, so it is easy to jump around or skip over any sections that don't interest you.
I first bought and read this book shortly after it was published and haven't revisited it for the better part of a decade. I was curious to see if it was going to stand up to the test of time or if it would come across as horribly outdated. I was pleasantly surprised, and I think I actually got more out of it this time around than when I first read it. Back then I was still relatively new to the world of kink, and hadn't yet been brave enough to get involved in my local community. As an older, more experienced, more out and about kinkster, many of the essays spoke to me on a much deeper level. I actually found it fascinating how many of the topics are still things that my local community are discussing (and sometimes arguing about) today.
To continue reading this review, please visit my blog: https://www.nastybooks.ca
November 20, 2020
Forget the Hitachi Magic Wand; give me the Blahniks!
La mistress-sessuologa-psicologa Midori in questo libro parla del “kink”. Si tratta di una definizione, da non molto tempo diffusasi negli Stati Uniti, che qualifica tutta l’attività sessuale che esce dagli schemi consueti: quindi il bdsm, il bizzarro, il feticismo, il travestitismo, eccetera eccetera eccetera… Beninteso, questo non è un dizionario dei generi e delle perversioni, e meno che mai un manuale di istruzioni per l’uso. Si tratta invece di una serie di capitoli tematici, provenienti pobabilmente in buona parte da articoli pubblicati da Midori su vari periodici (tra cui Der Spiegel, Wired, Vogue) dedicati agli aspetti psicologici, etici, morali delle varie pratiche. L’accento è posto di volta in volta sulla responsabilità, sull’attitudine, sulla fiducia, sui risvolti pratici legati al fatto di proporre al proprio partner abituale pratiche niente affatto abituali, sul bisogno piuttosto di praticare le stesse attività con sconosciuti contattati all’uopo… Siamo lontanissimi dai classici luoghi comuni che si attagliano a questi generi; la dominazione, il controllo, la disciplina, dice Midori, possono non aver affatto bisogno di ordini, simboli, abbigliamenti, sottomissioni fisiche. Che, peraltro, se si desiderano possono anche esserci; ma la sostanza di base è fatta soprattutto di sensazioni sottilissime, impalpabili, mentali eppure eccitanti in maniera destabilizzante e che si materializzano in un percorso di conoscenza, ancora più interessante e misterioso proprio per il fatto che non esistono coordinate certe, e chiunque deve costruirsi le proprie… Midori, in particolare, sottolinea il suo gusto estremo per il feticismo dell’abbigliamento e delle scarpe, che le riserva emozioni di gran lunga superiori a quelle che può procurarsi con il sesso genitale. Non a caso afferma di preferire le scarpe di Manolo Blahnik al Magic Wand della Hitachi, per chi non lo sapesse un grosso e tecnologico supervibratore che pare sia in grado di provocare orgasmi sconvolgenti in qualsiasi donna...
La mistress-sessuologa-psicologa Midori in questo libro parla del “kink”. Si tratta di una definizione, da non molto tempo diffusasi negli Stati Uniti, che qualifica tutta l’attività sessuale che esce dagli schemi consueti: quindi il bdsm, il bizzarro, il feticismo, il travestitismo, eccetera eccetera eccetera… Beninteso, questo non è un dizionario dei generi e delle perversioni, e meno che mai un manuale di istruzioni per l’uso. Si tratta invece di una serie di capitoli tematici, provenienti pobabilmente in buona parte da articoli pubblicati da Midori su vari periodici (tra cui Der Spiegel, Wired, Vogue) dedicati agli aspetti psicologici, etici, morali delle varie pratiche. L’accento è posto di volta in volta sulla responsabilità, sull’attitudine, sulla fiducia, sui risvolti pratici legati al fatto di proporre al proprio partner abituale pratiche niente affatto abituali, sul bisogno piuttosto di praticare le stesse attività con sconosciuti contattati all’uopo… Siamo lontanissimi dai classici luoghi comuni che si attagliano a questi generi; la dominazione, il controllo, la disciplina, dice Midori, possono non aver affatto bisogno di ordini, simboli, abbigliamenti, sottomissioni fisiche. Che, peraltro, se si desiderano possono anche esserci; ma la sostanza di base è fatta soprattutto di sensazioni sottilissime, impalpabili, mentali eppure eccitanti in maniera destabilizzante e che si materializzano in un percorso di conoscenza, ancora più interessante e misterioso proprio per il fatto che non esistono coordinate certe, e chiunque deve costruirsi le proprie… Midori, in particolare, sottolinea il suo gusto estremo per il feticismo dell’abbigliamento e delle scarpe, che le riserva emozioni di gran lunga superiori a quelle che può procurarsi con il sesso genitale. Non a caso afferma di preferire le scarpe di Manolo Blahnik al Magic Wand della Hitachi, per chi non lo sapesse un grosso e tecnologico supervibratore che pare sia in grado di provocare orgasmi sconvolgenti in qualsiasi donna...
November 12, 2020
Midori is a veteran sex educator who has been thinking about kink for years, and it comes through in this book of essays. If you're looking for something wise, witty, or wicked -- she's got every base covered. Read Midori's fantastic books, and if you have the opportunity to take a class or receive coaching from her? Jump!
November 12, 2020
Midori is my go to recommendation for people looking to get into kink. Or for those who are just curious. She makes the information easily understandable and digestible while also writing an interesting informative book.
November 12, 2020
A surprising book on leadership disguised as a book on kink. Don't get me wrong, it's a great book on kink too AND the undercurrent of themes of being set internally when in command of others is brilliant. It's a super quick read and you'll take a ton away.
November 12, 2020
A very educational and enjoyable read.
I read this book almost a decade ago, and have re-read it many times since. It is one of those kink books that every experienced or beginning kinkster will find valuable.
I read this book almost a decade ago, and have re-read it many times since. It is one of those kink books that every experienced or beginning kinkster will find valuable.
November 12, 2020
As a sex therapist, I love this book and recommend it to all my clients! It’s a must for kinklings and for those of us who want to dive in to deeper topics. Beautifully written, accessible, and digestible. Thank you for another great piece of art, Midori!
December 28, 2022
As a kinky person of 4 years I found the book quite repetitive. Still I learned a handful of new tricks/practices to embellish my plays. It’s a great book for beginners and for those like me, you might learn quite a few things from this book whether historical or technical :)
June 16, 2017
too bad this book was not good!
November 12, 2020
Midori is a fabulous teacher and author. Her joy of play with "adult privileges" is inspirational. This book is required reading for sexual explorers.
March 14, 2021
Easily my favourite book on kink, BDSM, and fetish. Midori's experiences and adventurers, coupled with her writing style was an absolute joy to read.
January 12, 2022
Really wonderful collection fo essays with practical information written with the heart of a poet.
June 30, 2009
The Wild Side for her is just BDSM. There is so much more to Wild Sex- I wish she had taken on the whole breadth of the topic she was writing about and not just one lifestyle facet. She is frank and interesting but overall the pics of her in leather get-ups are the best part of this book.
July 18, 2007
very hot, very educational, very well-written...what more could'ja ask for?
March 19, 2009
Great author who thoughtfully covers a fascinating topic, with an entertaining wit all her own.
bagrat-topagwa
July 14, 2012If you'd like to know what I thought of this book, please contact me directly and I'd be happy to discuss it with you.
All the best,
- TB
All the best,
- TB
July 22, 2007
I like Midori, a lot. shes spiffy.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews