Ron Jeremy, 54, adult film star and legend, recently wrote "The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz." He also appeared on the VH1 cable show "The Surreal Life." He was in Pittsburgh early this year to promote the book at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at the SouthSide Works.

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Q: From your unique perspective, are Americans as puritanical as ever?

A: Not quite. Compared to Germany, France, Italy yes. More things are available to do in those countries without being penalized or prosecuted. But America is less prudish and puritanical than England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They didn't even have legal porn until recently. In fact in Ireland it's still illegal. Arab countries are more puritanical. You cannot have porn at all. In fact it's punishable by death -- you kill the person. So while America is prudish in many ways, it is the greatest country in the world. I really say that with feeling because I have family and relatives who have died in various wars defending the flag. It's got a lot of problems when it comes to sexuality. It's because of religious leaders, that is why.

Q: Do you find celebrities to be less prudish or have a different moral code than the average American?

A: They're more liberal, lets say, than the average American. Celebrities by nature are usually more liberal. In fact Bill O'Reilly always states that fact, and he hates that fact. So does Ann Coulter.

Q: How has the Internet affected the adult film industry?

A: It's made it more amateurish, I guess, but not necessarily worse. Now, because of the Internet, the couple next door can shoot themselves in a porn film and then pass it on. Or do like a porn version of Napster.

Q:Is it having the same financial impact as it is having on the music industry?

A: A little, yes. Because as things get more amateurish there is a bigger market to see what is called a gonzo video or the pro-am video, which is basically a guy interviewing a woman with almost no dialogue, no script, no makeup almost no crew.

Q: What is the reaction you get from people when you tell them what you do for a living?

A: It's fascinating. It's actually much better than you think it is thanks to the reality shows. The reactions are much better especially from women and children. Back in the old days, it was mostly a male audience, but since I did really well in "The Surreal life," (the show had great ratings for Sunday night) it put me and Tammy Faye Mesner (now deceased) into a different plateau in a way. We were called upon to do functions and events and sign autographs, you know?

Q: At one point in the book you describe being arrested, and the officer asked why you stayed in the business. He mentioned you had enough money to do whatever you wanted to do. You didn't really answer him.

A: Because it's still fun. It's still something I enjoy doing. It isn't just for the money. I enjoy acting, picking a funny, goofy, crazy role doing a cute little sexy with a nice girl. All that. It's a good time. It's too much fun to quit.

Q: Is it difficult to separate sex as business from sex as fun?

A: No it's easy. Look at it this way: most guys and even some women can separate romance from sex. Masters and Johnson and I believe even the Kinsey Report, most sexual surveys have used the term "recreational sex" and making love. They are different. You know most guys can go to the bar, meet a cute girl and (have sex). You know that and I know that. Women sometimes can. They usually want to have a relationship first. Guys can also go to a bar and meet a girl that they think is really nice and really sweet and her company is so good we don't even care if sex follows. We just like hanging out with her. Then you get an emotional attachment.

To me, porn is very similar. You meet a girl on the set and you are going to have some quick sex. It's like meeting a girl at the bar. There's not a lot of emotion involved. It's just beautiful sexy bodies getting together. Emotional is a whole different ballgame and a lot harder to achieve.

Q: Did you ever want to have children?

A: Yes, with Juniper, my last girlfriend. We thought about it and we didn't actually make any effort to prevent it. After I hit 50, I really felt like I wanted to have kids.