It’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed a book here on Submissive Guide and this one has come recommended from readers. You want to know if this one is worth buying! Let’s get down to it.
Living M/s: A Book for Masters, slaves and Their Relationships* is written by Dan and Dawn Williams of The Erotic Awakening Podcast. The book is a direct and invasive look into how their relationship developed and works in an everyday world. It’s written as a compilation of essays by Dan and Dawn separately on a myriad of topics related to a power exchange relationship.
First, this book isn’t your average paperback sized book. They printed it full size 192 pages and the text is easily readable with a lot of white space before and after each essay. It’s definitely not one you can tuck in your purse or small bag easily. Not really a big deal for a lot of you.
Inside the book each essay is titled much like the posts on this blog are so that you know what you will be reading about. I can’t say it’s like chapters since the book isn’t developed in traditional chapters but rather section headings. It’s quite interesting actually the way it is organized with the voices of Dan and Dawn weighing in on M/s topics. One of my favorite quotes from the beginning of the book came from Dan:
“Some of us take a loving relationship and add a layer of power exchange to it. My slave and I took a power exchange relationship and added love to it (a small difference, you might say, but a significant one).”
I related to that quote because that’s much like what KnyghtMare and I have done only he voiced it better than I could have. I like that Dan addresses how emotions change the way the relationship works but not the basis of the power exchange. There are so many parts of this book that I have annotated and underlined my favorite parts I don’t doubt you’ll find some you enjoy also.
I loved the sections on slave qualities, responsibilities and expectations and thought the collaring and contract sections were just as informative. The authors do a wonderful job of giving you a realistic look at slavery without completely destroying some of our fantastical ideas surrounding it. M/s can be beautiful and successful; this book shows you just how much work is put into it.
Looking for the Dominant side of the equation? Dan and Dawn cover that quite well too. The sections on discipline and punishment and how the strength of and qualities of a Dominant shine in the health of the dynamic.
Seriously people, if you want to read about a real couple living as Master and slave and doing so successfully, happily and well then you definitely want to pick this one up.
Product Details
- lunaKM’s Rating: 9/10
- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Nazca Plains (April 9, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1610981952
- ISBN-13: 978-1610981958
- Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.7 inches
Buy Living M/s from Amazon.com*
*Amazon links are affiliate links. Buying items, including this book from Amazon using one of my links will help support Submissive Guide
My name is lunaKM and I’m a full-time stay-at-home submissive in a D/s relationship.
I started blogging when I was exploring D/s online in 2003. I needed advice, mentors and helping hands. Since then I've made it my mission to help novice submissives understand themselves and the services they wish to provide. 
I just got this book after reading your review (kindle edition) and will chime in when I am done reading it. Thank you for doing the reviews. Master and I are always looking for books for us to read & discuss and your reviews give us an insight and help us in our choice.
@juliann – I can’t wait for you to come back and tell me what you think of it! I’m looking forward to it. Glad I could help you make a book selection.
Thank you for taking the time to review it, and we are very happy you liked it :)
Warm regards
Dan
Definitely will check it out :)
I finished the book and I have to say that I really enjoyed reading. As I was reading it I felt like Dan and dawn were sitting with me having a conversation. It brought you into their lives.
The section on mindfulness sticks out to me. Dawn explained that in a way that for me just clicked. I love the quote “being in the present moment with my focus on what is at hand” gives a simple explanation that just hit it on the head for me. I too have spent much of my life “mindlessly”.
I found the section on contracts and talking about including the dissolution of the relationship was eye opening. Who goes into a relationship thinking about what if it doesnt work. Sometimes when a relationship ends there are a lot of emotions that make it very difficult to even be in the same room. They have a clear plan on how this will take place if it ever came to that. We all can learn for this valuable information.
There is a lot of good information on several topics. You come away knowing that this is what works for them and maybe some relates to you some may not but its okay because each relationship is it’s own and there is no right or wrong way to live M/s…it is what works for you.
I highly recommend this book for everyone those new and old to M/s.