The actual mechanics of much of BDSM---otherwise known as S&M or leather---is well-documented in numerous how-to books, various movies, and numerous novels. It is often seen as kinky sex, and is commonly portrayed as involving skin-tight black leather clothing, chains, ropes, and nude or semi-nude participants writhing in delicious erotic ecstasy while being flogged or whipped by domineering "masters" and "mistresses". And maybe this is what it is to many of the people involved. And, in fact, it doesn't really sound half bad. But there's much more to it than this. In reality there are wants, needs, and hungers being explored and satisfied by BDSM participants which often they aren't even aware of themselves. "This Curious Human Phenomenon" looks under the hood to find out what's really going on, at why people "do" BDSM, at what makes it so enticing, at what needs it meets, and at why these can't readily be met elsewhere. This is not a how-to book. Instead, it is designed to be a bridge to understanding for people who want to take their BDSM to that mythical "next step".