The Art of Sensual Female Dominance Paperback – August 1, 2000

The audience for this book will quickly discover that this woman knows how to write and she knows her subject backwards and forwards, and inside and out. This is a more advanced look at D&S and S&M than the majority of those on the market. While most of the techniques described in minute detail in this guidebook are far beyond this reader's personal experience, there is always something useful for anyone to learn from reading it. It does answer some of the nagging questions that everyone curious about the scene seeks to know--even if they aren't going to personally try those most advanced experiments in extreme sensation, domination, fisting, humiliation, slave training, water sports or exhibition and group party games. Ditto for actually trying pony training, caning, using the bullwhip and violet wands.This book purports to be intended for women to turn their consenting monogamous adult male partners into happy, sexually satisfied silly putty. The boast is justified. As a male, this reviewer doubts that many men could describe the "in's and out's" of the psychology of humiliation, mind games or other detailed techniques for driving males crazy with desire half as well as this former dominatrix-turned-author. There is no question from the material covered in the book that this woman has vast experience with her subject matter and she doesn't hesitate to share her knowledge in excruciating detail after detail. Even the readers of these games will know instinctively that what she is describing works--sometimes it even begets results just from reading her thoughts as she transfers them to the printed page.Because this book is much more advanced than most on the subject, a lot of time is devoted to playing safely. Two different anatomy charts of the male body are included with the danger zones for each activity clearly marked. It's like a scene out of the old movie classic "Spartacus" where the ex-gladiator drill sergeant is using Kirk Douglas's body to paint the various kill and injury areas to show the other would-be gladiators.One doesn't have to read far to understand how fragile the human body really is. It's obvious why Varrin goes to the trouble of pointing out the danger points for some of her extreme S&M games. For instance she reminds the reader never to use the violet wand above the waist and to know if your partner has any kind of heart trouble or a pace maker. Electricity is always dangerous even in mild doses.Like any serious writer or practitioner of these D&S and S&M scenes, communication, knowledgeable consent, detailed planning, safe sex, and more communication even during and after the scene is completed are indispensable. The reason for the increasing popularity of this kind of play is simple: done correctly it can make a sexual tryst last for hours or even all night and into the next day. Where else can a loving couple have seemingly endless sex? And because it is so satisfying, great care must be taken to protect one's playmate from any kind of injury or real, unwanted harm including utter exhaustion.This book will definitely provide enlightening reading for interested would-be participants as well as the people who are simply curious about the practices described. It's one of the better tomes on the complex subject. And while it's primarily intended as a guide for women to use on their willing, kinky male lovers or husbands, most of the techniques can easily be adapted for any combination of males and females. Even games for "hen parties" are suggested. How many male submissives have lust-filled dreams of being the focal point of a house or dungeon party comprised entirely, or mostly, of skilled dominatrixes with him as the door prize or party favor for all of them to sample?

Ok, as ANOTHER lifestyle Domme on here, I'll echo the sentiment that this is definitely a book written by a paid professional and not coming from the perspective of a woman in a relationship where she's experimenting with dominating the man. As such, it comes off as shallow, and skewed towards catering to male fantasies.Catering to male fantasies, what does that mean? It means making the scene all about what this guy wants, and leaving the woman to whatever enjoyment she can get incidentally. Which may be a lot if you get off on what Varrin suggests, or what you BF or hubby want to do. Or it might be just a little.Personally, prancing around in a fancy outfit, and getting off on how much I'm this guy's fantasy domme, doesn't do it for me. Wearing what I feel like wearing--a corset and a skirt one day, jeans and a tank top the next, etc.--and doing what I please does a whole lot more. And for the typical target reader of this book, who isn't being paid by her guy by the hour, I'm betting she has more in common with me than Claudia's image of the woman in charge.Anyone can figure out the appearance aspects of looking dominant, and there are many forms you can aspire to beyond stereotypical pro-Domme (how about badass chick in jeans/tank top with a Bowie knife? that's pretty hot, just saying...). What's hard is what to do with this person, and how to get into their head, and connecting with what you want that manifests itself this way. You need a book for all these things, not so much focus on calling yourself the queen and what your outfit should be.To anyone that is looking for this type of book, I recommend any of the standard primers (Screw the Roses, the Topping Book, etc.), as well as Sex Tips from a Dominatrix. Although written by another pro-Domme, it's much more technical, has more complete basic info and lots of pics to go with it, and is more focused on the woman's pleasure and written in a more down to earth tone. Not to mention, it has lists of date-night movies and other things which I think people and couples with a budding interest in BDSM might enjoy.

Then you will love this book! Claudia Varrin is the Dr Ruth of the B&D scene. In addition to being able to understand and explore the world of dominants and submissives, she also provides a terrific amount of psychological insights into men and women. She outlines the worlds of the dominants and submissives and gives rules and safety guides for those who wish to choose this lifestyle.Her insights are also helpful in everyday life: for instance why do so many men stay in relationships with women who are absolutely hateful, demanding and humiliating to them? Why would a strong powerful businessman pay a woman to demean him sexually? Who has the real power in these relationships?The book is good because it is honest and no nonsence about a taboo subject that has always been with us. It provides loads of information even if you are not into the scene. If you have been married 30 years and just want to be the woman on top, or ask for a little zing after reading this book you may find your husband thrilled you bought it and brought things up. The book focusses on the sexiest organ in the body---the brain.Ms. Varrin also has another book out which I have not yet read, but I feel if it is half as informative it too is well worth picking up.

I thought this was about the psychology of relationships between men and women -- who is the more dominant or controlling partner. NOT who wants to be dominant sexually. Maybe they're the same thing. I don't know. But I wasn't interested in the mechanics of domination in sex, so I have no idea whether this is a good book or not. I was, however, intrigued enough by the title to keep it in my library. Maybe I'll get curious one day and look at it. Ha, ha.