What makes people want to be kinky? Doctors have discovered that they did not come from overly violent homes, nor are they social outcasts who live on the edge of society; they are normal, everyday people who have jobs, families, and social responsibilities. The truth is that some of us are gifted with a desire for the mystery and control of kink while others are not. For centuries kink has been hidden in the deepest closets and become the shame and secret that people hide. We are just now achieving a comfort level with sexuality that allows for people to be more open about their desires without persecution.

Let's start with what kink is and is not. Some call it BDSM, which simply stands for "bondage and dominance" and "sadism and masochism". The two terms used to be separate, and now they are used in unison to describe more accurately the strong connection between the two. Kink is many things to many people. To some it is the one outlet that can be used to lose complete control and become an obedient submissive. To others it is a way to dominate and express appreciation for another through discipline. Some practice kinks on themselves and do not require partners for arousal.

Kink involves many areas of sexual play and is considered an underground subculture that can be a one-time event or a lifestyle. With all of the elements available for a kink enthusiast, it is difficult to know where to get started for a decent drive-by education. This book contains a short synopsis of kink but is not a complete education and does not claim to be.

Kink is a lifestyle, and all lifestyle choices must be experienced and lived to be fully learned. I can listen to a book about surviving in the wilderness, but that doesn't mean I can actually survive.