What can I say about this book that has not already been said many times over? One of the premier texts in the art of BDSM, "Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns" is a veritable cornucopia of knowledge!

Written by Phillip Miller and Molly Devon, a male dominant and female submissive couple, the first edition was published in 1995, but is still incredibly relevant in 2009.

The book is well-organized and outlines the different facets of BDSM beginning from the well, beginning. This book begins by covering the emotional aspects of a BDSM relationship and what to watch out for. Although written in the “early days of the Internet” this book still has a section on the dangers and precautions that should be taken when meeting someone online. This can only be emphasized in 2009.

Each chapter delves into a different area of BDSM: bondage, flogging, spanking and other modes of “torture” are all covered. The section on flogging is incredibly comprehensive and even includes a diagram of what kinds of implements will inflict which kinds of marks. This has been very useful and I have referred to it countless times through out the years.

One of the wonderful features of the book is that it gives equal weight to both the physical and mental sides of a BDSM relationship. Therefore this book is useful to those who identify as Dominants, Submissives, Tops, Bottoms or anything in between. In addition to the physical sections mentioned above there are also chapters devoted to psychological torture and enslavement, the mental aspects of bondage, humiliation and degradation, and the ways to transcend your body through pain.

Though Philip and Molly discuss all of these fun subjects, there is an interesting dichotomy of tongue in cheek humor and the understanding of the gravity of the situation in which you are participating. Each chapter has a concise, thorough discussion of safety and how to (more) safely perform the activity mentioned in the chapter.

This book is one of the premier texts and deserves that title for the array of topics and the way that they are presented and discussed.

Since getting this book, it has been the one that I have loaned out the most to those just beginning in the lifestyle. The topics are incredibly varied and will appeal to anyone interested in learning more about BDSM.

Still one of the best guides out there for BDSM regardless of experience or skill level. Should be required reading for all newbies.