Pornocracy

by Jo Bartosch, Robert Jessel

They say everybody uses porn. They’re wrong. People don’t use it uses us. And you don’t have to watch it to be one of its victims.

In this thought-provoking and timely book, Jo Bartosch and Robert Jessel expose how the multi-billion-dollar pornography industry has humanity gripped in a chokehold. From rewiring our brains and normalising sexual violence, to shaping new protest movements, the pornographic revolution has achieved a stunning and near-total victory.

The triumph of the pornocrats is made more sinister by society’s widespread acceptance that ‘all men watch porn’, the denial of its devastating harms, and a lack of political will to curb the power of the global pornography business.

The authors answer the questions that politicians and policymakers are too scared to ask. Why, despite over half a century of feminist gains and lessons in schools on ‘consent’, do today’s school children display more sexist attitudes than their parents and grandparents? Do women really want to be choked and humiliated in bed? How can we fight back and reclaim sex, love and relationships?

Drawing on the latest research, Pornocracy charts how the neurological shifts caused by porn use reverberate through society. The book also warns of a dystopian future where AI-powered porn and sextech threaten to reduce us all to masturbating meat puppets on an algorithmic production line.

Provocative and powerful, Pornocracy tells the story of how pornography fundamentally changed—perhaps forever—what it is to be human.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Noah Senthil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A British feminist manifesto against our pornified culture. It is devastating. It is necessary. It is one of the best exposés that I’ve read. They only falter in the final chapter, “Resisting the Pornocracy: Two Personal Views.” I will attempt to supply a third personal view (informed by Christian ethics) in my full review, forthcoming at The Gospel Coalition.

[pony · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating and successfully ties in the current gender ideology craze with pornographic origins. I'm pretty enmeshed in both sides of the culture (unintentionally- as a lesbian, unfortunately everybody's business has become my business either out of force or necessity) and appreciated that most of what was written here wasn't entirely out of touch. that being said I found myself happily zoning out through parts of the book that empathized with men, though the authors did emphasize that men's plights don't hold a candle to women and girls' in the sex industry, patriarchy, etc. 4.5 rounded down.

[Jo Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fearless exposé of how internet porn has hijacked sexuality.

Written with punchy clarity and dark humour, Bartosch and Jessel dismantle the myth that “it’s just porn.” They show how today’s extreme, violent, free content—accessible to any child with a phone—has become the default sex education for a generation, driving teenage erectile dysfunction, widespread acceptance of choking and aggression, and a collapse of mutual intimacy.

This is essential, unflinching reading. Every parent, teacher, counsellor and policymaker needs to read this book—now.

[Rhiannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book. I felt the idea that was presented was interesting but as I started reading the book it felt like I was being fed a narrative.

The interpretation of some words were just wrong and changed to fit the ideologies of the authors. When the queer theory came in they lost me.

I am by no means a scholar, but I am more familiar with concepts in development and sexuality than an average person. I shall bore no-one with unnecessary information, but what this book talks about is a complete misrepresentation of the facts (at least some of the time).

Overall I'm just very disappointed as I feel there is much to be said about the negative effects of pornography on todays society but this book is only interesting for radical white feminists with a sneaky conservative streak they're trying to hide underneath screams of freedom for women.

This book pretends to be pro-women, but it's very obviously not all women.

[Ms Susan Jennifer Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shocking overview of how porn has developed and the ways in which it is harming relationships and strengthening misogynistic views of women. A depressing but important book.

[Jon Margetts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came to this via the Oh God What Now podcast and The Critic. A sensible and comprehensively argued take down of an industry. Draws upon interviews, theoretical research and sectoral analysis of the porn industry to expose the dangers it poses to individuals and society.

[Carla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Heavily ideological, badly sourced and referenced, and badly laid out. I agree with much of the main messaging aroind the impact of porn (which is why I wanted to give this a read) but the book was interspersed with some completely outlandish claims which are simply not founded in reality.

[Ewa Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't why it's saying this is a pre-publication review...the book was published in November. Anyway...
This book is succinct, sharp and forensic in its exploration of porn and the effect it is having on our culture and the terrifyingly misogynistic times we live in. I read it in under two days. It arms the reader with knowledge and should definitely be lent to or bought for any liberal "feminist" friends one may have who subscribe to the sex work is work/porn is empowering school of thought. The authors have had to trawl through some very grim online content to write this book and for that I'm thankful to both of them. The conclusive chapter in which both Bartosch and Jessel offer their take on how to resist the pornocracy offers a glimmer of hope in a climate where we otherwise seem past the point of no return.

[Irina Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well researched and wtitten book. Every parent, teacher, social worker, politician should read this book. It opened my eyes to the power of pornography unleashed into the world of clicks, gaming and AI. It explores how pornography affects brain functions, sexual functions, family and love relationships. I was dreading reading it as the subject is so grim. I found myself compelled to read on page after page, as the Pornocracy grip on our societies laid bare. Amazingly - the book also gives hope, though conditional and limited. Nevertherless - hope. Each one of us can help to break away from Pornocracy and for many - the first step is to read the book.

[elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting idea, not sure i agree totally, especially not their opinion on queer theory (all of ch 7 was hard to read) and wish they’d referenced more. in some places sweeeping generalisations were made with no real evidence to back it up and evidence was cherrypicked i think but overall it was interesting and engaging to read (even tho it was difficult to stomach many parts…)

[Blase · Rating 4 out of 5]

An alarming read.

While I disagree with some of the feminist analysis, the data can not be ignored.

[Noah Senthil (who also left a review here) wrote a helpful April 17, 2026, review article for The Gospel Coalition, which reflects a healthy Christian perspective on the authors' conclusions.]

[Vally Howitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t even finish this

[Katy W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched, worthwhile account of the effects of easily available, violent pornography.

[Vikki Sewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read book for anyone and everyone exposing the harrowing porn industry and its far reaching harm across society, especially and shockingly to children.

[Jenny Harrold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is disturbing to say the least.

[Caro Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fierce & necessary book, if you want to know what is fuelling contemporary attitudes to sex, the body, men, women, consent, and the whole messy concept of “gender identity”.
It’s a gruelling subject - especially the opening chapter which describes just what is going on in pornographer today - but the writers manage an appropriate tone, dry in places with clinical descriptions, but also deeply compassionate to those harmed & self harming through modern pornography.
As the saying goes: this is not your granddad’s porn.