Ethical Porn for Dicks: A Man’s Guide to Responsible Viewing Pleasure

“Drink responsibly.” You hear that all the time. Unfortunately, something you hear far, far less is “use porn responsibly.” Instead, porn use is vilified, declared blasphemous, and, worst of all, not discussed in a meaningful and healthy fashion. And in a world where porn availability is greater than ever, yet abstinence-only education is still prominent, that’s a recipe for social and sexual disaster.

Dr. David Ley wants us talking about responsible porn use, and in Ethical Porn for Dicks, he discusses the biological, societal, and mental impact porn (and anti-porn rhetoric) has on people, men in particular. This book is about destigmatizing, informing, and exploring a topic so many people would rather avoid, and I think Ley handles the topic with grace, heart, and humor. (The chapter title “Watching Porn While Having, Not Being, a Dick” was a particular favorite of mine.)

He separates actual brain science from both pseudoscientific blather and sensationalist jargon, applying real-life experience as a therapist to show the harmful impact of how we as a society handle porn. It’s an important topic discussed in a forthright manner–something that the subject desperately needs.

I can only hope this book becomes an important stepping stone to greater awareness, kindness, and discussion.