Painfully Obvious: An Irreverent and Unauthorized Manual for Leather/SM

By Robert Davolt

"Painfully Obvious" is a collection of 40 provocative essays by the former publisher of Drummer magazine and popular San Francisco leather columnist Robert davolt. Originally written for the LeatherPage.com this anthology takes an unorthodox look at leather relationships, community, contests, business, tradition, history and leadership. Inside perspective and practical tips on "what To War," "Leather On The Cheap" and "Passing The Bar," are delivered with authoritative research and barbed humor.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1881943194
• ISBN13: 9781881943198
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Daedalus Publishing Company
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.6" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up

Customer Reviews

The Etiquette of Leather Examined

Whatever your opinion of the leather life style, this book will be an assist in understanding it. Witty and accurate, Davolt does what ever writer is told to do: Write about what you know. He does and eloquently. This is a subculture that is wider than may be thought and one of the more prominent in the gay community. Beyond that, it's a text book on how to run committees, events and contests. That he focuses on leather does not hinder his advice from being very applicable to every confused organizer everywhere. If only for his suggestions on how to fire volunteers, it's worth the cost. His dissection of what can-and probably will-go wrong and how to avoid the myriad pitfalls is spot on. The leather community should welcome this as a sorting out of the various factions within their ranks and the general community will welcome it as a bridge between what they've, perhaps erroneously perceived, and reality.

This book ROCKS!

An uproariously true to life take on the leather scene, with equal doses of cynicism, humor and heart. Akin to what would come out if you ran the Marquis De Sade and Erma Bombeck through a meat grinder. LOVED IT!

Great book!

Great resource filled with common sense information about the dos and don'ts about being a member of the gay subculture known as the leather community. Robert has a way of critiqing the leather community and the ways and mores and yet not criticizing (at least, not too harshly) but still staying true to the relationships with the people that he is inherantly talking about. As someone who has an idea of the various situations of which he speaks I'm amazed and disarmed by his tact, his font of information and yet his brutal honesty. This is definitely a book for those people who are interested in what goes on with gay leather men but don't want to wade through an esoteric tome that reduces human sexuality to theory and endless analysis. The tone is direct, factual, funny and warm. Bravo!

It's almost like looking in a mirror

Painfully Obvious is a priceless collection of life experiences. Each essay helps to broaden our perspective of what it means to be a Leatherman. With his off the cuff humor and insight he has managed reach us all at a personal level. Even though you know you should not take his words to seriously secretly you can't help but not to.

Lively Good Advice

The essay on "20 Things You Should Never Say Into a Live Microphone" is worth the price of admission alone. Re-reading that little article should be required before anyone steps onto a stage! Davolt gives a lively tour of the urban leather world, well seasoned with good advice from someone who's been there and done it all, and who can still laugh about it. A treasure.