Whip Smart Audiobook By Melissa Febos cover art

Whip Smart

The True Story of a Secret Life

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Whip Smart

By: Melissa Febos
Narrated by: Melissa Febos
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$8.99/mo. after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends July 15, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.

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A dark, wild, powerful memoir about a young woman's transformation from college student to professional dominatrix.

While a college student at The New School, Melissa Febos spent four years working as a dominatrix in a midtown dungeon. In poetic, nuanced prose, she charts in Whip Smart how unchecked risk-taking eventually gave way to a course of self-destruction. But as she recounts crossing over the very boundaries that she set for her own safety, she never plays the victim. In fact, the glory of this memoir is Melissa's ability to illuminate the strange and powerful truths that she learned as she found her way out of a hell of her own making. Rest assured; the listener will emerge from the journey more or less unscathed.

Contains mature themes.

©2010 Melissa Febos (P)2021 Tantor Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
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This story is reflective of many sex workers experiences, the mixture of power & disgust, the search for our real selves. The author reads well, comfortable voice and good audio quality. Really love this book. Onto her next piece after this.

Dark, beautiful & authentic

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I have a past with shared experiences. I really enjoyed listening and stirring up old memories with this book. I love the way Melissa explained and describes her experiences and the reasoning she used keep doing what she did. It shed some light on my own story. Great book! Great perspective.

Great story!

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It was hard for me to listen to the whole book but I'm glad I made it to the end. I appreciated heating the authors voice throughout the story, but the details were hard to hear-'they were distasteful to me. The story reawakened my concerns for my own daughter and made me thankful she is in therapy. I am glad and relieved for the positive ending.

difficult but well written

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I was attracted to the title, and to the obvious seductive physicality of the author. However, I was quickly disabused of that fantasy, which was replaced with appreciation and admiration for the keen intellect and rigorous honesty, reflected in the author, is telling of her story. There are deep truth revealed in this narrative. I have often said to others, the most powerful tool that you have in Your efforts to be an agent of change is your own story. Which smart is a beautiful example of this truth.

Came for the salacious promise, stayed for the naked truth

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Brave. I recommend to anyone wanting to explore the complications of the self and our hidden needs for safety.

Honest and complicated. Human.

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