Before I had the opportunity to read this book, I came across Guy Baldwin's scathing review of it. He convincingly assesses the book as a figment of its author's imagination and contrasts it with his personal experiences in the gay leather scene in San Francisco, which have been very different from the allegedly authentic old guard protocols Weal describes. For me, this raised the question: Is this book still worth reading, given its influence on a generation of leather men and its contribution to the myth of the Old Guard? Does authenticity even matter to enjoy its contents? So, I read it myself.

To me, the value of this book lies in the detailed description of protocol from the lense of a gay leatherman. It answers questions like how to finetune the intensity of your D/s protocol when being with vanilla people vs in kink spaces, what a dominant might expect from his submissive and how to act as a collared sub within the social space of a leather bar. It also mentions the topics of negotiations while still adhering to some standards of protocol, the leather boy's bill of rights and detailed rituals for ceremonies such as collaring. It also translates practices like kajira posture training that have been prevalent within the hetero community for a gay male audience. Other chapters detailing probably inauthentic history and supposed ranks of leather men didn't hold my attention. It's unfortunate that he felt the need to lend authority to his compendium by claiming it to be "authentically old guard" and the only correct way to do this.

If you're looking for inspiration for your own protocols and rituals this book might be for you. Otherwise you'll be better off with a different read.

Review by Guy Baldwin: leatherati.com/the-leathermans-protocol-handbook-guest-editorial-review-by-guy-baldwin-d462183007ff Answer to Guy Baldwin's review by the author John D. Weal: leatherati.com/the-leathermans-protocol-handbook-author-s-review-rebuttal-414e07437b39