The Porn Myth: Exposing the Reality Behind the Fantasy of Pornography

The cultural consensus around pornography - that it is harmless or even liberating - has been defended with arguments ranging from libertarian principle to feminist empowerment. Matthew Fradd is not interested in those arguments. In The Porn Myth, he deploys the one that critics claim to respect most: science. Drawing on neurological research, sociological studies, and firsthand testimony from performers and users, Fradd dismantles the claims used to normalize pornography one by one. The neurological evidence is particularly striking: pornography hijacks the brain's reward circuitry in ways that mirror substance addiction, producing tolerance, withdrawal, and compulsive use. Endorsed by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Fight the New Drug, and Covenant Eyes, The Porn Myth is a rare secular argument - accessible to readers of any faith or none - for why pornography is not a victimless private choice but a genuine public health crisis. For parents, counselors, spouses, and anyone trying to understand what the research actually shows, this is the book to start with.