I'd love a deep dive into cults from a solid, well-sourced book. It can be about cults in general, or any specific cult. It can be from witnesses, survivors, or scholars. Bonus points for lesser known cults out there! Thanks!
*The Man-Leopard Murders: History and Society in Colonial Nigeria* by David Pratten.
*Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders* by Vincent Bugliosi.
mindbodyproblem on
This is not what you’re asking for but there’s a historical novel called The Books of Jacob which you might enjoy after you’ve exhausted your non-fiction books.
It’s about a real cult in 18th century Poland and Lithuania that had your typical charismatic leader who combined Jewish and Christian thinking into a unique religious cult. The cult aspects are very 20th century: communal living, orgies, running afoul of the law.
It’s allegedly very well researched, though sources aren’t cited. The book covers several decades and contains a good cultural and historical account of the broader sociopolitical environment.
A huge book, won the author the Nobel.
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freerangelibrarian on
Monkey on a Stick: Murder, Madness and the Hare Krishnas.
petesynonomy on
“Thought Control and Totalism in Communist China” is very good.
secret_identity_too on
I highly recommend Prophet’s Prey by Sam Brower (it’s a sister book to Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer) – I read both books and couldn’t get enough of their investigations.
Last year I read Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones and followed it up with Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young – both are about the Children of God cult. Faith Jones’s parents were super high up in the cult, and I felt that reading her book first (or listening to the audiobooks, as I did for these two) gave me the background I needed for Young’s book. (Honestly, listening to Young’s book was the first time book content made me actually have to stop reading/listening and take a break for a few minutes before resuming).
I’m sure folks will recommend Educated by Tara Westover – I thought it was good, but people have expressed doubts on the story’s authenticity.
I read a *lot* of escaping FLDS books (after reading Prophet’s Prey) — The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner, Breaking Free by Rachel Jeffs, Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall, and Escape by Carolyn Jessup.
e_paradoxa on
Don’t Call It a Cult by Sarah Berman
Scarred by Sara Edmondson
Blazing Eye Sees All by Leah Sotttile
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
Squatch-707 on
Helter Skelter
sotiredwontquit on
Educated by Tara Westover. She’s an exceptional writer and her story is spot-on for anyone who grew up in that religion.
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“Extraordinary Popular Delusions of Our Times” by Daniel Martin has a whole section on religious cults, including the Kenya Starvation Cult (which has been in the news lately). They are mostly short chapters, so not a deep dive, but he covers a lot of ground and it is an easy read.
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Cultish by Amanda Montell for sure!
The Road to Jonestown by Jeff Guinn
Cultish by Amanda Montell
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
*The Man-Leopard Murders: History and Society in Colonial Nigeria* by David Pratten.
*Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders* by Vincent Bugliosi.
This is not what you’re asking for but there’s a historical novel called The Books of Jacob which you might enjoy after you’ve exhausted your non-fiction books.
It’s about a real cult in 18th century Poland and Lithuania that had your typical charismatic leader who combined Jewish and Christian thinking into a unique religious cult. The cult aspects are very 20th century: communal living, orgies, running afoul of the law.
It’s allegedly very well researched, though sources aren’t cited. The book covers several decades and contains a good cultural and historical account of the broader sociopolitical environment.
A huge book, won the author the Nobel.
[removed]
Monkey on a Stick: Murder, Madness and the Hare Krishnas.
“Thought Control and Totalism in Communist China” is very good.
I highly recommend Prophet’s Prey by Sam Brower (it’s a sister book to Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer) – I read both books and couldn’t get enough of their investigations.
Last year I read Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones and followed it up with Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young – both are about the Children of God cult. Faith Jones’s parents were super high up in the cult, and I felt that reading her book first (or listening to the audiobooks, as I did for these two) gave me the background I needed for Young’s book. (Honestly, listening to Young’s book was the first time book content made me actually have to stop reading/listening and take a break for a few minutes before resuming).
I’m sure folks will recommend Educated by Tara Westover – I thought it was good, but people have expressed doubts on the story’s authenticity.
I read a *lot* of escaping FLDS books (after reading Prophet’s Prey) — The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner, Breaking Free by Rachel Jeffs, Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall, and Escape by Carolyn Jessup.
Don’t Call It a Cult by Sarah Berman
Scarred by Sara Edmondson
Blazing Eye Sees All by Leah Sotttile
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
Helter Skelter
Educated by Tara Westover. She’s an exceptional writer and her story is spot-on for anyone who grew up in that religion.
“Extraordinary Popular Delusions of Our Times” by Daniel Martin has a whole section on religious cults, including the Kenya Starvation Cult (which has been in the news lately). They are mostly short chapters, so not a deep dive, but he covers a lot of ground and it is an easy read.
A Well Trained Wife by Tia Levings.