Sex is the silent cornerstone of human civilization. It is what leads to all things - life, pleasure, even hate and rage. It is that one topic that, no matter how modern we have become, is still considered taboo, and yet at the same time it is also the one topic that we need to know most about.

First used as a term in the late 1960s, BDSM has become prevalent in daily pop culture. Madonna's "Express Yourself" video from 1989 depicts her in leather outfits, crawling on all fours toward a saucer of milk. Other snippets of that video include a leash and collar and riding crops. The punks of the late '70s wore bondage belts to complement their spiked hair. Bettie Page shocked her 1950s audiences with her riding crop and rope restraints. And now the sexual concept of master and slave finds its way to movie theaters.

It's no wonder that curiosity about the lifestyle is present. It's tantalizing, it's bold, it's passionate, but it's also real. And with that reality comes the details that the movies leave out. It's important to educate yourself on the lifestyle before engaging with the path and finding your first sexual partner. Or maybe you just want to know if spanking is for you.

In club nights in Hollywood, where female dominatrixes stalk the barroom floors and chains can be heard rattling against the brick walls, or in shop displays in Berlin, where mannequins sport bit-gags and latex saddles, or in the Seattle punk scene, where girlfriends are sometimes carried around on leashes, BDSM is not just vibrant in the bedroom.

The aim of this book is to help you take your first steps into BDSM. It will explore what BDSM is, the various roles attached to it, how to choose a partner, which role is best for you, how to practice BDSM safely, and how to avoid the common pitfalls for most people just getting into it.

I hope this book helps to open your eyes to new possibilities and how you can enjoy the marvelously mischievous world of BDSM.