Your Brain on Porn

Internet Pornography and the Emerging Science of Addiction

By: Gary Wilson

Narrated by: Noah Church

Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

Revised and updated in December 2017.

When high speed Internet became widely available a few years ago, growing numbers of people began to worry that their porn use was running out of control. Far from preparing them for fulfilling relationships, viewing an endless stream of porn videos led to unexpected symptoms. Perhaps most surprisingly, for the first time in history erectile dysfunction was becoming a significant problem for young men. This led to one of the largest informal experiments in the history of science. Tens of thousands of people have tried abstaining from sexually stimulating material in a process they call "rebooting." Many of them reported startling changes, from improved concentration and elevated mood to a greater capacity for real-life intimacy.

Gary Wilson has listened to the stories of those who have tried giving up Internet porn and related them to an account of how the reward system of the brain interacts with its environment. And now a growing body of research in neuroscience is confirming what these pioneers have discovered for themselves - Internet pornography can be seriously addictive and damaging.

In Your Brain on Porn Wilson provides a concise introduction to the phenomenon of Internet porn addiction that draws on both first-person accounts and the findings of cognitive neuroscience. In a voice that is generous and humane, he also offers advice for those who want to stop using Internet pornography. The publication of Your Brain on Porn is a landmark in our attempts to understand, and remain balanced in, a world where addiction is big business.

©2014, 2017 Gary Wilson (P)2017 Gary Wilson

Good info

Gives a lot of good insight as to what is and isn't healthy with porn. He at no point says you do or don't have a problem, you need to self assess.

Narrator sounds like a frat boy talking about his sexual conquests.

It gets kind of graphic and his descriptions more information than is necessary for helping those who are trying to overcome pornography addiction and may trigger some on wholesome thoughts. the info by Dr. Wilson is pretty good corroborated by a lot of research

very informative!!!!

FOLKS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FOOLS GOLD EFFECT PORN HAS AND HOW IT'S ACTUALLY A DEPRESSANT THAT AT BEST KEEPS YOU IN THE SAME PLACE,AND AT WORSE, EXPIDITES YOUR DESCENT INTO PROVERBIAL HELL THROUGH THE ABUSE OF DOPAMINE. THUS ZAPPING YOUR AMBITION AND ZEST FOR LIFE!!!!

a must-read for all couple therapists!

I'm a couple and family therapist and consider my self very well read but this book contains information I've never heard before in any other school program, workshop or even books. It helped me correctly identify the problem and help a client save his marriage. I'm very sure that without the knowledge provided in this book I would, as all his previous mental health professionals, have looked for history of trauma and misdiagnosed him with attachment disorder, depression and social anxiety. We could have spent months talking about his relationship with his mother. He is very lucky I happened to find this book and I am now recommending it to all my students and colleagues.

a great view about porn addiction and how it works

But nothing else. you will understand how porn addiction works but the understanding won't help you to quit. but it will give you a notion how the stuff works.

No holds barred

I come from a conservative background, but only for last 25 years. Prior to that I spent the first part of my life up to age 21 living a seculare life.

I appreciate forwardness of the author and the candid testimonials. If you are working on recovery from a porn enduced life then you need to hear from all sides. If you are a conservative (Christian) background you need not act offended when you listen to this book. These are real people and their data being presented... so that you can see "porn knows no devisity" and it is waging havoc on many lives. Thank you for not holding back. ML

Life changing.

This should be listened or read by every single person, especially men. The harms porn cause should be exposed just like cigarettes. Every porn website should put some advertisement of the harms caused by porn exposure.
This book is very informative, sounds unbiased and totally scientific based.
Should be mandatory to read at school. Honestly, I am astonished.

Great work

it is very important book for me I believe that everybody should read it. Great work very detailed.

buen libro basado en dato científico

muy bueno la verdad es que da una luz sobre lo que ocurre en el cerebro y el ámbito neurológico muy útil para entender lo que ocurre con el porno

A must read in this day and age

This is one seriously scary, yet scientifically sound attempt to reveal and explain how internet porn influences and even rewires the brain. Anyone dealing with youth or other sexual beings who are also avid users of the internet (i.e. the most of us in developed countries) should seriously consider reading this book.

Everyone take note

This is a good book.

The only criticism was in the presentation - it could have benefited with a different narrator when quoting the multitude of useful testimonials.

I don't watch porn now, but it hasn't always been that way -- and the 2012 Ted Talk (The Great Porn Experiment) by the same guy was one of the reasons I made that decision to stop -- not morality or politics, but science and common sense.

Of course, I do think there are moral reasons for avoiding pornography, but there are so many grey areas and "what ifs" in the moral argument that they're not really enough on their own -- they were never enough for me.

This book covers the mental health aspects, it gives a good explanation on what happens to the brain when regularly engaging with porn, especially high speed Internet porn, and talks about the potential and actual long term damage that happens as a result. Damage to ourselves, our personal potential, and to our relationships.

Most importantly, it offers simple advice to anyone wishing to quit, with information on what to expect through the various stages after making that decision, including the long term benefits.

Abstaining from porn should really be the default setting for humanity, but in today's society it really isn't -- and I promise the benefits of getting back to a pre-porn state of mind are an absolute positive.

Please consume this book.

well worth a listen

if your slightly concerned about you Internet use this book is well worth a listen, helps explain many habits i had fallen in to, and does so without being preachy or condescending, a rare feature given the topic

Shines light on degenerate social phenomenons

Highlights how the reality of many social phenomenons, such as fetishes and bizarre sexual orientations are often a result of porn use. Contains a high degree of well sourced scientific data.

Very enlightening

Many more books like this are needed that speak about this topic of the harms of pornogprahy, especially from an unbiased scientific point of view.

The book only states the facts and evidence and clearly displays how pornogprahy is a major issue that will have massive negative implications for a large portion of society who consume it and are addicted to it.

Very informative

This book is packed witch great insights. From how the brain functions fundamentally, to how porn influences and uses these mechanisms to cause problems.

Everyone teenager should go through this book.

This is critical information in todays world... We have a true problem in the emergence of virtual reality. Excellent book.

Helpful, but not flawless

It has a lot of relevant information but sometimes leans a bit heavily on Reddit threads

informative

This book made me realize, giving scientific proof, what I have known subconsciously for years: porn is not good for anyone.

Very suitable for the average reader

This book is an easy listen , informative , but the problem is using more than the needed number of self-reports .

Essential for everyone using internet

This book opend my eyes, must read for everyone who is using internet. It can literally save your life. Very well written with lots of brain science explained, This can be applied to any addiction, now i undestand how our brain works and how we prioratize things or tasks.
Thanks to Gary and his team.