Rating: 
Summary: Nothing new
Review: Altogether i'm rather disappointed. From the title i expected a more in-depth treatment on dominance and submission in a relationship, but Rinella's offering is more of a general introduction to the Leather/BDSM scene. The book is essentially a series of unconnected essays, most of which were published separately elsewhere, and now weakly tied together. It offers a melange of firsthand experiences, expositions on theory, and tidbits of practical advice, all mixed together. The book is definately written from a gay male perspective. While his introduction acknowledges the lesbian, bi, and het participants in the scene, and there is the occasional reference in the text, for the most part he speaks in gay leathermen's terms. If you find "Screw the Roses" or "The Loving Dominant" too het for your liking, this book might be a more comfortable introduction to the scene (although i think those other two provide a more thorough grounding, and are better organised). There's nothing wrong with that--for the most part the practical advice is the same regardless of gender and orientation. But there are exceptions. For instance, he recommends using lubricants with Nonoxynol-9 (a spermicide which has killed the AIDS virus in lab experiments). This may or may not be good advice for men, i don't know, but it is definately bad advice for women. Most women are allergic to N-9, and the resulting irritation and swelling can make them MORE likely to contract an STD. In the end i can't bring myself to recommend this book. If you're looking for a good intro to the scene, there are better books out there. From my own experience, "Screw the Roses" wins hands down for both practical information and fun, and Warren's "The Loving Dominant" covers roughly the same ground as Rinella, in more depth and with better organisation. For those looking for an intro written specifically from a gay men's perspective i can't make a recommendation from my own experience, but the guys i know in the NLA often recommend Joseph Bean and Larry Townsend--and so does Rinella, for that matter. The bottom line is, Rinella's "The Master's Manual" just doesn't add anything new to the body of literature that already exists.
Rating: 
Summary: a good overview...
Review: even for het guys (hmm, i know a cranky one-star boy who needs a lesson)..ahem. i'm a bi female switch, and this book was still useful to me. the chapters are short and concise, written in a conversational (although occasionally only mediocre) manner, and most of the chapters stick to one topic (i.e. you can pick up the book and start anywhere). covers safety from a variety of angles, including emotional responsibility. i recommend it for bottoms & switches as well, as it helps explain a top's headspace, and what a top should and should not be to you. one of the great things i learned: it's okay to ask for punishment even when you're not breaking the rules! another is that you have to be comfortable with having power in a general way before you can be comfortable as a top...but why am i telling you this? buy the book already!
Rating:
Summary: Not for Everyone
Review: i read this but its not the greatest is stricktly form the Gay Male leather point of view which the descript does not explain good info but very heavy on their personal views
Rating: 
Summary: This guy doesn't have a clue
Review: If you are looking for information or pleasure reading on the subject of BDSM, don't go anywhere near this author. The 'author', jack rinella, seems to have a very limited understanding of BDSM. It appears that he uses these barely literate books of his as some sort of slurred, unintelligible series of pickup lines. There is a distinct void of information in these books, quite likely because this `author' doesn't have a clue about BDSM. He seems to view himself as some sort of player and blathers on incessantly about himself, but never approaches an understanding of the topic of BDSM.
This book is horrid. So is his other rambling book of ghastly grammar, misspellings and run-on sentences.. One could hope that he goes back into his little life of obscurity and never bothers us with his inane self-promotional drivel again.
I returned them both. Wow, they are THAT staggeringly bad.
Rating: 
Summary: honest approach appreciated greatly
Review: Jack Rinella may be an expert but as he says time and again in "The Master's Manual" he is still looking for that prefect slave. So why should you listen to a guy who doesn't have the "prefect" yet? Because it is unlikely any of us will and yet most of us will keep looking. The chapters are honest approaches writing to the dominant's eyes that remind us that it isn't just fantasy it is work! Working that can be rewarding in itself before we find that "prefect" whatever. Personally I found a few things I disagree with, but I didn't perceive this book to be about a "one true way" other than deal with reality. Fantasies are great, but reality is what we must face and Rinella's book is a great reassurence for all us tops that the pursue is worth the work and that we are not alone in our search.
Rating:
Summary: honest approach appreciated greatly
Review: Jack Rinella may be an expert but as he says time and again in "The Master's Manual" he is still looking for that prefect slave. So why should you listen to a guy who doesn't have the "prefect" yet? Because it is unlikely any of us will and yet most of us will keep looking. The chapters are honest approaches writing to the dominant's eyes that remind us that it isn't just fantasy it is work! Working that can be rewarding in itself before we find that "prefect" whatever. Personally I found a few things I disagree with, but I didn't perceive this book to be about a "one true way" other than deal with reality. Fantasies are great, but reality is what we must face and Rinella's book is a great reassurence for all us tops that the pursue is worth the work and that we are not alone in our search.
Rating:
Summary: Helps me Feel Good About Being in SM
Review: Jack Rinella puts us into an okay space. His style of writing about bondage and kinky sex is matter of fact, down to earth, and "Hey, this isn't strange, this is us!" The Master's Manaual isn't so much a technical handbook as the gospel truth, a common sense reader designed to make us appreciate the simplicity behind what we often make so complicated. SM often get caught up in details and power trips but Jack puts that aside in favor of maternal wisdom, self-esteem and respect of one another. SM involves getting to know one another on a deeper than personal level and The Master's Manual lays some foundations for the process involved in doing that. You can't really claim to understand SM until you've read it.
Rating:
Summary: Basic Thoughts
Review: The book seemed to me to be almost condescending and patronizing adding little to no significant information that would effectively aid anyone who might somehow find Him or Herself in a D/s relationship nor does it offer any assistance for those who might be confronted with a partner whom may wish to experience a D/s dynamic. Much more could have and should have been done with this book. Hardly worth the time to either write it or read it and hardly worth the effort to write it or read it and not worth the purchase price.
Rating:
Summary: Good primer, little else
Review: This book had a few relative good points. However there was nothing in here that could not be found in more enjoyable publications. The reading was dry and the book was easily put down.
Rating:
Summary: Great Look at D/s
Review: This book is a series of essays the author wrote about various D/s topics. While written from a gay male perspective, the information presented here transcends all sexual orientations and genders and can be applied to any D/s relationship. I'm truly sorry the one individual who posted the negative review failed to understand this. Screw the Roses is an excellent book, but does not explore D/s dynamics as well as this book. I'm also a het male Dominant, but I learned a lot from reading this book! Well worth reading for any Dominant who wishes to learn more about D/s.
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