The Control Book [Perfect Paperback]

Peter Masters (Author), Joseph Laiacona (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2007

In most, if not all, of BDSM activities there is at least some aspect of control by one partner over the other. That, notes author Peter Masters, is the heart of this book. In spite of that reality, there is little discussion among BDSM players about control and almost no instruction as to its assertion or exercise. The Control Book, therefore, is unique in its approach as a robust guide to understanding, gaining, exercising, maintaining, and using safe, sane, and consensual control over another or experiencing it as a willful submissive. Masters\rquote step-by-step approach has both depth and an experiential basis. He adeptly uses sound psychology and common sense to instruct all those, both dominant and submissive, who are drawn to any kind of dominant/submissive encounter or relationship. In five thorough and informative chapters -- Introduction, Transfer of Control, Communication, Management, and Discussion -- Masters presents both food for thought and sure guidance about his subject. Here, finally, is an important and enlightening book on a seldom discussed topic -- Control -- by a man who is well-practiced in its use.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Masters lives in Sydney, Australia. To keep the wolves from the door he beats computer networks into submission at a local university. He has had a keen interest in computers and computer programming since he was 12 (years of age, not inches) and has been fortunate to be able to make a career out of one of his life-long passions. At the age of 12 he also began his interest in the sport of fencing. Peter is qualified as an Master of Fencing, and these days tends to devote his expertise in this area to teaching medieval recreationists the joys of running each other through and slicing each other into ribbons. ..in a friendly way, of course. Exploring domination and control of members of the fairer sex is another life-long passion. Since the mid/late 90's, Peter has written and published a number of articles on dominance and submission. He also participates in local conferences, and runs an occasional workshop. For a number of years he also chaired or co-chaired\emdash sometimes weekly and sometimes monthly\emdash D&S discussion meetings in Sydney. Another interest, also from his early teens, is hypnosis. He has a diploma in hypnotherapy, and is the author of Look INto my Eyes, a book on the recreational use of hypnosis and sex. Peter enjoys the parry and thrust of enthusiastic debate, discovering or learning new things, and writing enthusiastically about himself in the third person for the about-the-author pages of his books.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rinella Editorial Services; 1 edition (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940267098
• ISBN-13: 978-0940267091
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,632,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychologically Deep Analysis, May 19, 2007

By 

Ilona C. Paris "I. Paris, LMHC" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Control Book (Perfect Paperback)

As a prodomme and psychotherapist I am impressed by this book. It is quite good in the use of Jungian archetypes and how they are seen in domination and submissive choices. This book is not light. If you truly want the deep down reasons why people are or choose to be submissive or dominant this gives some intense answers. I liked it.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very thought provoking, December 7, 2007

By 

johnny101 (Saint Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Control Book (Perfect Paperback)

This book was a great read! Lots of useful information for someone still trying to grasp all the control-related levels of being a Dominant. Concepts are explained using simple language that gets the point across in a manner with which most (if not all) readers can connect. Lots of examples drive these concepts to the core. Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of the book is the Discussion topics provided both at the conclusion of each section and the end of the book; an entire chapter listing nothing but topics left to the reader for consideration. I recommend this title for those Dominants new to the lifestyle aspect of D/s. Especially those who have already read some of "staple" titles (Different Loving, Masters Manual, etc) but are still left with foggy ideas about the details of the *psychological* aspect of control, having control and maintaining control.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good start on an important topic, March 15, 2007

By 

TammyJo Eckhart "TammyJo Eckhart" (Bloomington, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Control Book (Perfect Paperback)

Control is one of those areas that can make a vanilla person bristle -- we are raised to not be controlled by others and yet we are raised to follow along in certain areas of our lives. In a Ds or Ms relationship the need or desire for control to be a factor is out in the open but that does not mean it is well-analyzed or well-understood. Peter Masters's book on the subject is the first I know of to focus on the issue. Using archetypes, the various states of consciousness and some plain old understanding of how relationships work, this is a good first attempt to address the concept of control. However, I also found many terms used without clear definitions and some concepts are discussed vaguely. Most importantly a book about how to think about and use control needs to have more specific models of how it works. A book geared toward dominants needs to offer us more guidelines or at least a reading list to help us find out more information on our own. This does not mean that the discussion about the importance of control in Ds isn't good; it does mean that I think it could be much better.