By lunaKM on March 3, 2010
In January I had a poll in the sidebar asking readers like
you what books you’d like to see me review for Submissive Guide. The
overwhelming response was that you wanted me to review The Submissive Activity
Book: Building Blocks To Better Service by Shannon Reilly. I received the 184
page book without expectations of what I would find within its pages. No one
has yet reviewed it on Amazon.
Flipping quickly through its pages it is first and foremost
a workbook. There are pages and pages of forms for you to fill out to improve
and learn the skills she puts forth in the book. According to Shannon the book
was written for submissives not currently engaged in a D/s relationship that
are looking to establish a structure in their lives that a Dominant normally
would do. It is built to help the submissive learn and improve skills that a
potential Dominant might desire.
The book is broken up into sections with activities towards
different goals. From establishing a personal protocol with rewards and
punishments, goal-setting, schedule making and planning, learning new skills
and furthering education as well as budgeting and learning personal finance.
The book’s second half has helpers for the submissive in understanding their
wants and needs, how to negotiate and establishing limits.
Before each activity form there is a summary of what the
activity is supposed to do for you and how it might help you grow. They are
well thought out, but leave a lot to self exploration. The number of copies of
each workbook activity are sometimes excessive in my opinion and the author
encourages the purchase of her companion book to get more blank copies of the
forms. In today’s technology age, I would have rather had one copy of each
activity page; I can always make copies if necessary. I don’t think the
companion book is really needed at all.
My favourite activity section is the personal protocol.
Shannon describes this section as a way to feel accountable for your actions
even if you aren’t in a relationship. She walks you through behaviours you
would want to encourage and discourage as well as a punishment and reward
system that you manage yourself to keep your new behaviours in check. For those submissives with a real desire to
control and change their lives this is a valuable section.
I dislike the wasted pages that are used for a calendar. While
I can understand that the section is about planning and scheduling, I would
rather encourage the submissive to get a schedule book that is small enough to
carry around with them in their handbag or shoulder bag. This way the activity wouldn’t involve either
carrying the book everywhere or tearing out the pages. Again this would be a
good place to encourage them to make copies of the pages they desire to use
instead of giving them an entire year’s worth of calendar pages.
Honestly though, this book is very much in keeping with the
purpose of this website and I’d recommend it for those of you who want to
experience structure and start working towards your perfect self without a
Dominant. You will then be able to enter into a relationship with more preparedness
and your personal value may be higher.
The Submissive Activity Book
Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (February 22, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1440470499
ISBN-13: 978-1440470493