Bridge to Lust - Pleasure Performance Power by Erika Lust
Check out the below IG post of my dear industry friend Erika in which she tell you about her new book
Behind the Lens and Beyond the Shame: Celebrating Erika Lust’s New Memoir, Lust: Pleasure, Performance, Power
When you have spent two decades navigating, designing, and carving out an independent path in the intimate wellness and pleasure space, you develop a profound respect for the pioneers who refused to accept the industry status quo.
My good friend and fellow industry visionary, Erika Lust, has done just that. For over twenty years, Erika has challenged tired stereotypes and shattered convention by building an ethical, feminist adult cinema that honors consent, diversity, and human connection. Now, she is pulling back the curtain even further with her deeply anticipated book: Lust: Pleasure, Performance, Power (co-authored with Mary Katharine Tramontana).
This isn't just a memoir; it is a vital manifesto for anyone who has ever carried the weight of cultural shame alongside the flame of desire.
A Candid Look at Craft and Conviction
What I have always respected most about Erika’s work is her uncompromising commitment to authenticity. In Lust, she takes readers back to her beginnings as a shy "good girl" from Sweden and charts the fascinating, often turbulent journey of building one of the most talked-about ethical studios in the world. She offers an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to make art about intimacy—from safety on set and genuine collaboration with performers to fighting back against moral panic and outdated censorship.
As Kirkus aptly describes it, the book is a "keen, authoritative, and provocative hybrid of erotic discussion, memoir, and academic discourse." High praise from voices across our broader cultural landscape—including Cindy Gallop and Dr. Justin Lehmiller—echo what many of us in the field already know: Erika’s perspective is essential reading for anyone invested in a better, more honest future for human sexuality.
Why This Book Matters
We live in a culture that loves to weaponize or misunderstand pleasure. As Erika argues, adult media is not the root of society's problems, but rather a mirror of them. By refusing to scapegoat desire and instead advocating for nuanced, empathetic storytelling, she reminds us that pleasure is a basic right—and that the conversations we have about sexuality, representation, and power are inextricably linked.
Having walked a parallel path in this industry since 2006, creating physical pieces designed to elevate intimate wellness, I deeply admire the tenacity it takes to challenge the mainstream narrative year after year. Erika’s story is a powerful reminder that staying true to your vision can change the conversation on a global scale.
If you believe in a world where desire is met with openness rather than shame, add this to your reading list.
You can explore the book, read early praise, and find ordering details at memoirbyerika.com
