A bold look at the unexpected ways porn shapes our lives, with a feminist defense, drawn from Erika Lust’s decades in adult filmmaking, that argues for a more ethical porn that can transform sexual politics

For more than two decades, Erika Lust has been pushing back against shame and stereotypes, building a new kind of adult cinema—one that is feminist, ethical, and deeply human. In Lust: Pleasure, Performance, Power, she tells the story of how a shy “good girl” from Sweden came to create one of the most talked-about studios in the world. She takes us behind the scenes of her films, where every detail matters: the casting, the consent talks, the way a set can feel safe, playful, and alive. We meet performers who are treated as collaborators, not objects, and glimpse the passion and chaos of making art about sex.

Lust makes the provocative argument that porn is not the root of society’s problems but a mirror of them. Instead of scapegoating it and missing the chance to address those problems, Erika offers pragmatic solutions for how we can develop and improve the industry. She rejects censorship and moral-panic legislation, which history shows only makes things worse, and instead points to the power of telling more complex, nuanced stories of sex and gender. While sharing openly about her experience as a director, Erika argues that pleasure is not shameful or frivolous but a basic right, and that questions of sexuality and representation are inseparable from our broader culture and politics.

Raw, passionate, and inspiring, Lust is a manifesto for anyone who has ever felt ashamed of desire, as well as a reminder that telling the truth about sex can change the world.