Autopornography: A Memoir of Life in the Lust Lane

by Scott O'Hara

Book Overview

In this provocative book, retired porn star Scott O'Hara (known as "Spunk" by many of his fans from an early punk photospread) gives a backstage look at the world of pornography, revealing why he loved it, what he got out of it, and why he left it. In an autobiographical style, he considers and poses answers to some fascinating questions: What is sex? What makes a porn star? And why does pornography really upset people? You'll really get to know this...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560238984
• ISBN13: 9781560238980
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Hedonistic and Narcissistic Scott

Honestly, how else can I summarize Scott's book but that of a hedonist and a narcissist when reading about a guy who lived his life so free and open, had no thought for tomorrow, an "eat, drink and merry for tomorrow we die" attitude? He seemed to have no morals except those he created, he was brought up on religion and rejected it. In fact, one person said "his attitude sacrilegious, his comments blasphemous and his behavior completely immoral", and you get the impression he was complimented by it. Sex seemed to be his life and "he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword". I was astounded by the book but as I continued to read more of it I really felt how much I was enjoying it and what a good writer he was and towards the last few chapters I decided I would have to keep this book on my shelves instead of give it away to the library because it really was good and worth another read someday. Like the reviewer Dave said--'Scott had balls' and that is the truth. Agreed,he couldn't have been as shy as he makes us to believe if he was having all the sex he was having and there was that period where he said he had approximately 3 dozen partners in 6 weeks I think it was. And then to be unremorseful about having unprotected sex when he knew he was HIV+ is just beyond comprehension for me. I put my sex life to rest when AIDS came around and while everyone else I know is dead I am still alive. Porno does it for me now. Not the same but I HAD to control myself or die I realized and I am grateful for my self discipline. I liked reading the book very much, but I just don't think I would have been Scott's type of person. I am too rigid, fundamentally Christian, and respectful of others to have the unprotected, anonymous, and fleeting episodes he had. He did not believe in long term relationships either and that is sad. True, it's not the be-all & end-all but it is the ideal in society I believe. Well, he is rather typical of gay males and that is why we are hated and despised because of our uncontrolled and random sexual habits. He seemed to enjoy his life, as short as it was. I do wonder if he had any regrets---but I bet not. Another one who did it 'his way'. I did like that he really did seem to know and understand himself and his body and that is a really good thing because SO many people are oblivious to themselves and the world and I think end up not getting much out of life or what they were hoping for. I think Scott got everything he wanted, except a long life and there's nothing in the book that says he wanted that.

An excellent account of an authentic human being.

Scott's book is remarkably well-written and a pleasure to read. It's very refreshing to read about someone who survived the eighties without being infected by all the New Age psychobabble and relationship doctoring going on. Scott did not like his family, especially his mother, and he was not worried about trying to fix it. That's just how it was. He had his own philosophy and enjoyed living up to his own standards.I'm saddened to find that he passed away in February 1998 but I am truly inspired by the life he led. He spent most of his time doing only what he loved most. There are not many people who can honestly say that.This is really a fun book to read and the cover ain't bad to look at either!

Extremely written written and fascinating

I was surprised and delighted! I did not put much faith that this book would be more than a tell-all of the gay porn industry. I was surprised--quite pleasantly--to find an eloquently written and insightful autobiography of one of adult films' bad boys. O'Hara does not shy away from recounting his family upbringing, nor does he apologize for any radical views he has of his life growing up. He tells it like it was, from his perspective, growing up in a super-religious yet non-traditional family who instilled in him a sense of integrity he still maintains today. To be honest, I expected a lot of smutty stories and inside scoop on gay porn stars. There's that, too, to a degree. But it is written clearly, intelligently and with a writers--not a porn star's--artistry. The book makes Chi Chi Larue's and Joey Stefano's recent biographies look like they were written by reporters from The Enquirer! A must-read for all gay porn lovers.