Review by Varsha16_ -- The Cult Next Door
-
Varsha16_
- Posts: 7
- Joined: 16 Sep 2020, 23:15
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 13
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-varsha16.html
- Latest Review: Timewise by Robert Leet
Review by Varsha16_ -- The Cult Next Door
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Cult Next Door" by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone.]
The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir written by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone is a memoir about Elizabeth’s descent into a mind-controlling cult, and Judith’s friendship that helped her escape it. The book is nothing less than an eye-opener, as it throws light into the cult culture, and the dynamics that goes on there.
Elizabeth has gone through abuse by her own mother and has suffered the loss of her father in childhood. The story starts with Elizabeth and her mom attending biofeedback therapy sessions by George Sharkman in a Manhattan psychologist’s office. Sharkman fills their minds with visions of a glorious future by introducing them to energy, and concepts which he copies from other sources, and uses out of context. Elizabeth recruits two of her college friends to take the therapy sessions, as she finds the sessions helpful, and the group starts to grow. Sharkman, who is the narcissistic cult leader, uses the members for his sexual experiments, becomes violent if someone doesn’t follow his commands, and even drains them financially. The group members begin to worship him like a Messiah and do everything in their power to get his attention.
It describes the lifestyle of cult members and their beliefs. From how the members are ordered not to have relations to any non-cult members, to how they are taught to not consult or trust the doctors if they develop a disease, and believe in the “Energy” to cure it. The author has described how the members develop a dependency on their leader that they spend all the income, savings, inheritance to take more and more hours of sessions, not thinking about anything else.
I really like how the story depicts that sometimes it’s all in front of the eyes, yet we are too blind to see it. There are certain traits of Elizabeth that we can find in all of us, especially how we are always lingering to seek others validation in our lives, and how that need of validation can be exploited in the evillest way. The prologue says that we think how is it possible to get into such things until you actually become a part of it. It rejects the myth that only not-so-bright people get themselves caught in things like a cult. The author has put a journey of three decades with labels describing the part of the journey from childhood to healing, which makes it very lucid.
The story is structured in a consistent chronological manner and thus is easy to read. Due to some of the profane content, I would not recommend it to young readers. Everywhere in the adult audience should read this book, especially the ones who have suffered abuse in their childhood. One can literally feel the pain and helplessness in the author’s writing.
I didn’t find any typographical errors in the book. The book is exceptionally well-edited. I don’t find anything which I didn’t like about the book, hence no reason to give it a lower rating. I would rate The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir 4 out of 4 stars.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir written by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone is a memoir about Elizabeth’s descent into a mind-controlling cult, and Judith’s friendship that helped her escape it. The book is nothing less than an eye-opener, as it throws light into the cult culture, and the dynamics that goes on there.
Elizabeth has gone through abuse by her own mother and has suffered the loss of her father in childhood. The story starts with Elizabeth and her mom attending biofeedback therapy sessions by George Sharkman in a Manhattan psychologist’s office. Sharkman fills their minds with visions of a glorious future by introducing them to energy, and concepts which he copies from other sources, and uses out of context. Elizabeth recruits two of her college friends to take the therapy sessions, as she finds the sessions helpful, and the group starts to grow. Sharkman, who is the narcissistic cult leader, uses the members for his sexual experiments, becomes violent if someone doesn’t follow his commands, and even drains them financially. The group members begin to worship him like a Messiah and do everything in their power to get his attention.
It describes the lifestyle of cult members and their beliefs. From how the members are ordered not to have relations to any non-cult members, to how they are taught to not consult or trust the doctors if they develop a disease, and believe in the “Energy” to cure it. The author has described how the members develop a dependency on their leader that they spend all the income, savings, inheritance to take more and more hours of sessions, not thinking about anything else.
I really like how the story depicts that sometimes it’s all in front of the eyes, yet we are too blind to see it. There are certain traits of Elizabeth that we can find in all of us, especially how we are always lingering to seek others validation in our lives, and how that need of validation can be exploited in the evillest way. The prologue says that we think how is it possible to get into such things until you actually become a part of it. It rejects the myth that only not-so-bright people get themselves caught in things like a cult. The author has put a journey of three decades with labels describing the part of the journey from childhood to healing, which makes it very lucid.
The story is structured in a consistent chronological manner and thus is easy to read. Due to some of the profane content, I would not recommend it to young readers. Everywhere in the adult audience should read this book, especially the ones who have suffered abuse in their childhood. One can literally feel the pain and helplessness in the author’s writing.
I didn’t find any typographical errors in the book. The book is exceptionally well-edited. I don’t find anything which I didn’t like about the book, hence no reason to give it a lower rating. I would rate The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir 4 out of 4 stars.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Timewise by Robert Leet
