Bound by BDSM: What Practitioners can teach Everyone about Building a Happier Life by Alicia M. Walker and Arielle Kuperberg is due in print Fall 2025.
Why are BDSM practitioners so happy? It turns out, BDSM isn't just about whips and chains.
With engaging stories, compelling research, and a warm, conversational tone, Bound by BDSM: Unexpected Lessons for Building a Happier Life reveals how BDSM practitioners use clear boundaries, enthusiastic consent, open dialogue, and a strong community to create fulfilling relationships and build richer, more intentional lives. Their approach to trust and vulnerability offers a valuable model for building intimacy and fostering authentic connections. BDSM also allows practitioners to exercise their creativity and break the mold - whether it comes to trying out new practices in the bedroom or bending ideas about gender.
Whether you're vanilla, kinky, or just here for the life advice, this book -packed with humor and insight-is a refreshingly open-minded guide to building stronger relationships, deeper intimacy, and a more intentional approach to connection.
Praise for Bound by BDSM: Unexpected Lessons for Building a Happier Life
“Even if you don't know anything about BDSM or don't have an interest in knowing anything about BDSM, there are valuable lessons and insights for anyone in any kind of relationship, romantic or not, in Alicia M. Walker and Arielle Kuperberg's well-researched, informative and engaging book.”
—Vicki Larson, author of LATitude: How You Can Make a Live Apart Together Relationship Work
“Bound by BDSM is not just a book about kinky sex and its how-tos, but a guide to leading a more fulfilling life. It details Walker’s and Kuperberg’s research into the private lives of actual BDSM practitioners and gives readers an inside look into what makes BDSM pleasurable and desirable. The book also warns of the dangers of not knowing how to do it well. Bound by BDSM is for anyone who wants to learn how to practice better communication and connection, and how these can lead to a more pleasurable and passionate relationship. This book was a fascinating and important read.”
—Tammy Nelson, director of the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute and author of Open Monogamy: A Guide to Co-Creating Your Ideal Relationship Agreement
“Whether the heights of ecstasy or the depths of authenticity—whatever you crave—Bound by BDSM will inspire you to stretch your body, expand your mind, and reach for what you need.”
—Lisa Wade, author of American Hookup: The Culture of Sex on Campus