Elizabeth R. (esjro) -
This was a very interesting book. Although I disagreed with the author in categorizing ALL porn/erotica as bad for women and the men who generally consume it, in looking at the types of extreme images that are now commonplace on the internet today, she does make some thought-provoking points. Particularly interesting are her examinations of how porn depicts interracial relationships and reinforces negative racial stereotypes, and the correlations she makes between porn depicting "barely legal" type teens with child pornography.
There is no mention of women who enjoy erotic books or movies for their own enjoyment. When she discusses couples who incorporate porn into their relationship, the outcome is always negative (the women felt coerced into behaviors they were uncomfortable with, etc.) The lack of balance is the reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. Nonetheless, she does bring to light some legitimate problems with the types of porn consumed by me and now boys at a startlingly early age.
Warning: The language of this book is VERY graphic. Some of the depictions of acts the author has witnessed in porn will make your stomach churn.
There is no mention of women who enjoy erotic books or movies for their own enjoyment. When she discusses couples who incorporate porn into their relationship, the outcome is always negative (the women felt coerced into behaviors they were uncomfortable with, etc.) The lack of balance is the reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. Nonetheless, she does bring to light some legitimate problems with the types of porn consumed by me and now boys at a startlingly early age.
Warning: The language of this book is VERY graphic. Some of the depictions of acts the author has witnessed in porn will make your stomach churn.
Brandon S. (behemoth) reviewed Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality on + 76 more book reviews
I was really fascinated by some of the ideas mentioned in this book. The first chapter tells the history of how pornography went mainstream through Playboy, Penthouse, and Hustler. The strategy used by Hugh Hefner to break in and keep the magazine from going bankrupt was very interesting.
The third chapter talks about all the entities (hotel chains, tv networks, banks, etc...) that profit from pornography and how pornography is a business first. Pornography is focused on making money; not empowering individuals sexually, freedom of speech, or anything else. It is simply looking to make money and doesn't care about the health or safety of people if it will make money.
The book ran into problems for me when it spent about half of its pages describing violent, vulgar sex acts with explicit language to prove that pornography has evolved into a violent assault on healthy sex. The use of so many examples was overkill and too unpleasant for me to enjoy.
In the end this book is like spicy buffalo wings, a few bites are really enjoyable but after that it becomes a test of how much pain you can stomach.
The third chapter talks about all the entities (hotel chains, tv networks, banks, etc...) that profit from pornography and how pornography is a business first. Pornography is focused on making money; not empowering individuals sexually, freedom of speech, or anything else. It is simply looking to make money and doesn't care about the health or safety of people if it will make money.
The book ran into problems for me when it spent about half of its pages describing violent, vulgar sex acts with explicit language to prove that pornography has evolved into a violent assault on healthy sex. The use of so many examples was overkill and too unpleasant for me to enjoy.
In the end this book is like spicy buffalo wings, a few bites are really enjoyable but after that it becomes a test of how much pain you can stomach.
