Review of The Cult Next Door

Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis · 18 Mar 2023, 14:28

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Cult Next Door" by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone.]

5 out of 5 stars

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The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone contains Elizabeth's experiences in a cult for over twenty years.

Liz was born to Edward and Rachael Burchard. She went to Bronz High School, where she met her boyfriend, Joe. After Liz went to college at Swarthmore in 1977, her boyfriend tragically got hit by a train and died. Trying to cope with this horrific loss, she started seeing George Sharkman, a Biofeedback Therapist, specializing in stress relief. He charged $25 an hour, which was very expensive, but she needed to get over her grief somehow, no matter what it cost.

After an unfortunate incident at the psychiatrist's office where he practiced, George had to find a place to hold his sessions. That place turned out to be Rachael Burchard's apartment. At first, the sessions were once a week, and the attendees were encouraged to bring family and friends to watch George perform "The Energy" experiments. What no one knew was that George delved into the art of hypnosis. The sessions grew more extensive, longer, and more often. He also raised the price to $40 per session. Some devotees of his group went three times a week, and some sessions lasted for hours. Most group members, including Liz, were going broke trying to pay for these sessions but could not find the courage to stop. Liz started a business, Expressions Photography, and George's daughter, Selena, worked her way to partner in Liz's photography business.

Liz finally met Judith, who was not involved in the group. She could tell almost immediately that George was odd, and the group consisted of people under his spell. Judith also saw Selena exploiting Liz and using her in every way possible. Judith looked for a way to get Liz to understand that she was involved in a cult and dedicated her life to helping Liz escape George's clutches.

I enjoyed reading this book, which piqued my interest, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. The book was immensely well-edited, as I found no grammatical errors, and the style flowed easily. There was nothing that I did not like about the book. I have done a lot of reading and watching documentaries on cults, as I find it fascinating how people from all walks of life can be drawn into the teachings of these leaders and their beliefs. It is incredible how people who know something is wrong, like stripping naked in front of a group, will do it because someone tells them to do so.

Charles Manson and the Manson Family, Jim Jones of Jonestown, Marshall Applewhite of Heaven's Gate, David Koresh in Waco, Texas, Warren Jeffs of the Fundamentalist Church, and Keith Raniere of NXIVM are just of few of the cults in recent times that people have fallen prey. Cults are usually based on religious or spiritual beliefs, usually to the extreme. Some of these cults have a doomsday mentality and tell their followers they must do as they said to survive when the world ends. The leaders make them believe that a spaceship or aliens will come down and whisk them away while Earth ceases to exist. Others think they will be reunited in a heaven-like atmosphere and start a new life after they take their own lives here and now.

I give The Cult Next Doors: A Manhattan Memoir 5 out of 5 stars. The book takes you on a journey of Elizabeth's experiences dealing with a man she knew was somehow controlling her life, but she could not break his spell over her. You will enjoy this book if you seek stories with good versus evil scenarios. I would recommend this book for adults and not a younger audience. There is mention of sexual encounters in this book, but they are not graphic. The book explores physical and mental abuse, mind control, brainwashing, and thought insertion, which might trigger some.

Appendix A is a transcript of George's cable TV interview in 2000. Appendix B contains discussion questions to discuss the book with family or friends. It asks about cult myths, why they recruit on college campuses, and the ethics of cults, if any.

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The Cult Next Door
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Leen282 · Post by **Leen282** » 14 May 2025, 04:12

I have read this book several years ago, and was intrigued by the memoir. How easy it is to fall prey to people with bad intentions, to allow for it to continue. Judith is such a wonderful person, seeing through the mental abuse, helping Liz where she can to escape her situation. I can recommend this book since it is an eye-opener how a cult can indeed be as close as next door.

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 14 May 2025, 04:25

A book that raises awareness on the manipulation of cults. It is all too easy for emotion to take over during grief. Liz is very easy to root for. I hope she breaks free!

Post by **Rebecca De Figueiredo** » 14 May 2025, 05:13

Cults can suck vulnerable people in, and change their lives. This memoir promises an in-depth exploration of one woman’s…Liz…experience in one. The reviewer has summarised the plot well, and the book is inviting from the word go.

T PV · Post by **T PV** » 14 May 2025, 06:36

I love reading books from survivors, especially cult survivors. In my opinion, these books share valuable information to protect the rest of the world. It is always about mind control, and I can't wait to find out how she managed to realise this wasn't a good place for her, how she found the courage to leave, and what healthy ways she found out to help her cope with the grief she originally experienced

Lauren Stjohn · Post by **Lauren Stjohn** » 14 May 2025, 07:28

This review was quite enjoyable as it was not filled with useless adjectives. The reviewer jumped straight to the point that Liz's vulnerability seems to be a pivotal turning point for those engaging in a cult endeavor. The review indicates that the author developed the memoir in an easy-to-read format, opening the space for all the characters.

Post by **Idah_Kenei** » 14 May 2025, 07:45

I have never driven myself to read on hypnosis though I'm aware it's an interesting subject..it's intriguing to imagine that one person can have control of your life and be able to do nothing a about it.

Post by **Seetha E** » 14 May 2025, 07:59

Vulnerable moments and feelings of immense despair serve as a perfect setting for the cult mechanisms to dig in. Perfectly captured by the reviewer. I enjoyed reading the review. Adding this to my reading list after reading your review.

Post by **Anu Anand** » 14 May 2025, 08:05

This book seems like a raw and eye-opening journey through manipulation, grief, and control. The fact that it’s based on real experiences makes it all the more powerful. It stands out as a brave and important story. Congrats on BOTD!

Post by **Kibet Hillary** » 14 May 2025, 08:22

Cults and occults are, undoubtedly, a reality and the fact is that they can always result in catastrophic outcomes. The fact that the author included a section to help family and friends discuss this issue makes this not only informative but also an important tool in reducing the likelihood that one will join a cult.
The review is informative. Nice work, @Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis.

Ankita Chaudhary 2 · Post by **Ankita Chaudhary 2** » 14 May 2025, 08:45

The author through her memoir tried to produce an important literature in to the cult theory. Cults are the grim reality in the contemporary world and the fact that people from every background and religion can be their prey. Author through Liz's experiences tried to address the challenges of people who are the victims of cult endeavor.
The reviewer provided a very concise and clear gist of the book, making other readers to read this book.

Post by **Mr Benj** » 14 May 2025, 08:52

The Cult Next Door" by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone., a book that features the main character, Elizabeth and her experiences. It will be interesting to read about how the therapist practicesd hypnosis on his subjects, and how Elizabeth overcame in this story.

Joshua_Xu · Post by **Joshua_Xu** » 14 May 2025, 09:00

From a third-person view, being sucked into a cult is a stupid, idiotic error. But we often fail to consider exactly what experiences the cultist had gone through to get to this spot. I love how the author portrays Liz, not as the stereotypical "in it for the riches" cult member but as someone who is experiencing grief and needs somewhere to feel valued, even if it will cost her dearly in the long run. Sounds like an interesting book, thanks for the review!

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 14 May 2025, 09:10

"The Cult Next Door" is a gripping real-life memoir of manipulation, mind control, and escape. Elizabeth Burchard spent 20+ years in a Manhattan cult disguised as therapy until friendship helped her break free. Chilling, powerful, unforgettable. Congratulations on being BOTD!

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 14 May 2025, 09:43

I had the pleasure of reviewing this book, and I really enjoyed it. Cults have always fascinated me, but this memoir in particular shows that we are all potential cult victims, no matter how well-educated or smart we are. It also explores a side of cults that's often overlooked: the aftermath.
I enjoyed reading your perspective. Thank you.