Breaking the Spell: Pornography, Passive Screens, and The Neuroscience of Compulsion

ENDORSED BY #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR GARY CHAPMAN, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING PSYCHOLOGIST ROY F. BAUMEISTER, PhD, DUKE UNIVERSITY PSYCHIATRIST HAROLD G. KOENIG, MD, BLACK HAWK DOWN VETERAN AND AUTHOR JEFF STRUECKER, AND OTHER RESPECTED LEADERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE, FAITH, AND HUMAN FLOURISHING.

“For all who are struggling with porn addiction, and for those who want to help those who are, this book will be a welcome pathway to understanding and breaking the bond. I highly recommend it.” — Gary Chapman, PhD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages®

“For people whose lives have been damaged by pornography watching, Robert Henry offers a wise and thoughtful path to recover. Based on scientific research, personal experience of struggle, and professional experience as a military chaplain, he lays out one promising method that may especially bring hope to those who wish to break from pornography addiction.” — Roy F. Baumeister, PhD, New York Times bestselling co-author of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

“What makes this book unique is its integration of faith and science. Drawing on neuroscience, Chaplain Henry highlights how prolonged and passive screen time has measurable effects on the brain, weakening judgment, decision-making, and impulse control. This insight is both sobering and hopeful.” — Harold G. Koenig, MD, MHSc, Duke University Medical Center

What if the battle isn't just about pornography?

What if the deeper issue is an overstimulated brain living in a world designed to capture and consume our attention?

Many of us struggle with behaviors that quietly erode focus, discipline, motivation, relationships, and personal well-being. For some, it's pornography. For others, it's endless scrolling, binge-watching, overeating, alcohol, procrastination, or the constant pull of digital stimulation.

In Breaking the Spell, chaplain Robert Henry explores a surprising connection between passive screen consumption, impulse control, and compulsive behavior. Drawing from neuroscience, behavioral psychology, personal experience, and years of helping others navigate life's challenges, Henry examines how overstimulation can weaken our ability to regulate desires, make sound decisions, and stay aligned with our goals.

But this book is not about shame, fear, or condemnation.

It is about understanding how the brain works—and learning practical ways to strengthen it.

Inside you'll discover:

• Why compulsive behaviors are often harder to break than we realize

• How passive screen habits affect attention, motivation, and impulse control

• The neuroscience behind overstimulation, dopamine, and self-control

• The BTS Method for resetting and rebuilding healthier habits

• Practical strategies to regain clarity, discipline, resilience, and lasting freedom

Whether you're personally struggling, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to live with greater intention in an age of distraction, Breaking the Spell offers a compassionate, thought-provoking, and practical roadmap toward lasting change.

Freedom begins by understanding what is holding us captive.