Shibari You Can Use

Shibari You Can Use, written by Lee Harrington in collaboration with RiggerJay, who provides the photographs that illustrate the book, is great book on Shibari. Lee Harrington is a sexual educator with over a dozen books under his belt. He tours internationally, giving seminars on diverse erotic topics, and is one of the most recognized authorities in the field of eroticism.

This book is the first of a two-part exploration of rope bondage. (The other being More Shibari You Can Use, discussed in another entry). It begins with a down-to-earth approach to rope bondage. The author deliberately omits its historical background and the discussion of its aesthetic value to focus on the reasons that can lead to an interest in rope bondage. And this includes the psychological dynamic among partners. People can approach Shibari because they want to experience restraint, trance, trust, power exchange, and consensual torment, among other reasons.

The author discusses extensively consent and communication. Negotiation, trust, and emotional dynamics are essential elements of Shibari, so no bondage enthusiast should overlook them. Additionally, the introduction offers a series of very valuable safety recommendations, which any responsible practitioner should keep in mind.

The book then devotes most of its pages to the explanation of different kinds of ties. They go from the simplest to the more complex. It is important to point out that each chapter offers suggestions on which body parts are the first where you should practice. They also indicate which body parts, because of their sensibility or the risk of injury, only a tier who has developed a good technique should try. 

The book includes some interesting chapters on body harnesses and corsets. It even has a chapter dealing with crotch ropes. However, this should only be tried until the previous ties have been dominated. Shibari You Can Use is a practical book, written by an expert, which offers plenty of advice.