While the title of this illustrated volume isn't necessarily misleading, all the illustrations are. Dozens of pages have illustrations of a stereotypical Dominatrix with a bullwhip, handcuffs, sexy dominatrix rubber and leather fashions etc., etc. However, this book is like a lamb hiding in wolf's clothing. The book's description mentions that the book tells you among other things, "how to get what you want in bed." One of the sexiest tips in this tome is how to get your partner to help you with the dishes by turning that routine cleaning task into something fun by capturing his attention by wearing stockings. Wonderful, wonderful. Wearing stockings will really help tear your man away from the football or baseball game he is watching on television. That's doubtful advice, unless maybe stockings are all that you are wearing?
This book is basically a "Self-Help" book for shy, passive, put-upon women who seem to be getting taken advantage of by everyone. The book gives advice about how such a woman should organize her life so that she thinks more like a dominatrix. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that the thought process of a dominatrix is really pinpointed. This book is about taking control of one's life and sets up the mythical dominatrix as a kind of all-knowing Super Hero. The book includes advice for improving posture, acting and dressing more confidently, and general advice on how to eliminate many of those unnecessary activities that aren't fun to do, but that people often get roped into doing. It emphasizes how to say "no" when someone wants to draft you into all kinds of activities you'd rather not do. It tries to explain how to organize your time, your work, your clothes closet, your housework, your social engagements, your money and life in general to make you more productive and efficient. Becoming more efficient frees up more time for fun.
It gives the inexperienced woman a method of figure out what they want in life and how to go about getting it. It's about setting goals and keeping track of your progress. It's about time management in every activity. It provides some useful information on how to use body language to make you seem more self-confident. It's got advice for spotting and avoiding so-called friends, co-workers and family members that steal your valuable time, steal your attention, and people who destroy your self-confidence while pretending they are your best friends. The advice in this book reminded me of the advice given in the book "Maybe He's Just Not Into You". So much of it is simple common sense.
My biggest complaint with this book was the fact it was a greatly exaggerated metaphor rather than having much to do with being or really acting like a true dominatrix as most people define that life-style. It's about helping a women take control of every aspect of her life--gaining some respect. There is nothing in this book that could be considered kinky or sexy. The book is masquerading as something that it is not. It's trying to use sex to sell, hide the fact it is a simple self-help book for shy women. The advice contained in this book is more plentiful in the "Dear Abby-Dear Beth" type of advice columns that are found in most newspapers. If a Self-Help book that has little or nothing to do with acting like a dominatrix, or even defining the term dominatrix is what the reader is looking for, then this is a book for you. If a reader is looking for anything other than a self-help guide, then this isn't the book for them. It's definitely not "sassy and saucy" as is advertised in the book's cover blurb. The books illustrations are mostly misleading. Buyer Beware!
