Review by Njkinny -- The Cult Next Door
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Njkinny
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Review by Njkinny -- 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 by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone is Elizabeth Burchard’s autobiography where she shares her story of inadvertently getting caught in the trap of a devious man who indoctrinated her and many others to accept his twisted set of beliefs uncritically while also abusing them mentally and emotionally. Caught in a cult that had started under the guise of therapy for treating her stress, her “Guru”, George Sharkman not only chipped away at her self-worth but also took her hard-earned money for doing so!
Spanning over a period of twenty years, this book is a heroic albeit heartbreaking journey of a woman’s battle to reclaim her life and her confidence when faced with mental manipulation that is not easily recognizable. Reading this book made me realize that mental manipulation like this may be happening right under our noses to people around us without seeming like manipulation at all.
Elizabeth had an unhappy childhood. She only got beatings and verbal lashings from her mother. The only safe and happy time for her was when she visited her father who lavished his love and attention to her. But when she was eight, he died and thus, began the downhill journey of her life. When she was a freshman in college, she visited a psychologist with her mother for her stress and there she met George Sharkman, a stress reduction therapist, for the first time. He took over her and her mother’s sessions and soon had them believing his half-truths of a better life. A paradise that awaited them if they followed his teachings.
At the starting of the book, we are given a list of common assumptions people make when they think about cults and the cult-followers, and I was shocked when, after reading through the list, I found that unconsciously I also had the same misconceptions in my mind. This book not only dispels such commonplace assumptions about cults and the people who choose to follow such groups but also gives an honest insight into the circumstances, the mind control and the utter helplessness of people that lead them to join such cults, all in the hope of a better life or the lure of being part of something extraordinary for which, they are made to believe, they have been specially chosen!
George Sharkman made his followers believe that he possessed the “Energy” and painted such a dazzling picture of a mission that his followers felt glorified to be part of his “family”. Even when he abused them with his extreme practices like making them sit naked on his lap, forcing them into relationships they didn’t want, but which he told them were good for them, and making followers of the same sex kiss each other; they still never thought of leaving him. Through George’s manipulations and their blind faith in him, they had already secluded themselves from friends and family who are termed as “dead robots” and “enemies”. With no social support, this group was all they had. They convinced themselves that they felt secure, loved and important here even when they were belittled, abused and fed dreams of grandeur.
This book is an eyeopener. I felt the author’s pain, helplessness, and hopelessness through her writing. She is so intelligent but still unable to breakthrough. Like an addict seeking her next fix, she is drawn back to George. She has no friends and family to support her. Her mother is one of the worst mothers anyone could have.
“Over a lifetime, Rachael, my mother, had traded her intelligence, social support, self-respect, and her only daughter for a life of hoarding, isolation, and delusion.”
My heart broke while I read this book. Sometimes my emotions got so intense that I had to stop, take a walk and then come back later to continue the book. It is raw, honest and a journey that shows that we can never identify cults right away. Maybe, there is a cult operating near us, brainwashing and abusing people we know, all under the guise of “therapy sessions”.
I loved Judy and her husband, Michael for their quiet and unflinching support to Elizabeth that emboldened her to leave the cult behind and reclaim her life.
Professionally edited, I found almost no major errors in the book that is always a major plus for me when rating a book.
Compelling, beautifully written and artifice free, The Cult Next Door is a book unlike any that I have ever read. So many of my misconceptions were rectified after reading it. 4 out of 4 stars to it. Relevant to people all over the world, Njkinny recommends it to all adults. Due to the graphic nature of certain scenes, I don’t recommend this book to young readers. Kudos to Elizabeth for baring her soul and sharing her traumatizing journey with us through this book. I hope more and more people read this book and safeguard themselves and their loved ones from people like George. I wish Elizabeth and Judy the very best and look forward to reading more from them in the future.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Cult Next Door by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone is Elizabeth Burchard’s autobiography where she shares her story of inadvertently getting caught in the trap of a devious man who indoctrinated her and many others to accept his twisted set of beliefs uncritically while also abusing them mentally and emotionally. Caught in a cult that had started under the guise of therapy for treating her stress, her “Guru”, George Sharkman not only chipped away at her self-worth but also took her hard-earned money for doing so!
Spanning over a period of twenty years, this book is a heroic albeit heartbreaking journey of a woman’s battle to reclaim her life and her confidence when faced with mental manipulation that is not easily recognizable. Reading this book made me realize that mental manipulation like this may be happening right under our noses to people around us without seeming like manipulation at all.
Elizabeth had an unhappy childhood. She only got beatings and verbal lashings from her mother. The only safe and happy time for her was when she visited her father who lavished his love and attention to her. But when she was eight, he died and thus, began the downhill journey of her life. When she was a freshman in college, she visited a psychologist with her mother for her stress and there she met George Sharkman, a stress reduction therapist, for the first time. He took over her and her mother’s sessions and soon had them believing his half-truths of a better life. A paradise that awaited them if they followed his teachings.
At the starting of the book, we are given a list of common assumptions people make when they think about cults and the cult-followers, and I was shocked when, after reading through the list, I found that unconsciously I also had the same misconceptions in my mind. This book not only dispels such commonplace assumptions about cults and the people who choose to follow such groups but also gives an honest insight into the circumstances, the mind control and the utter helplessness of people that lead them to join such cults, all in the hope of a better life or the lure of being part of something extraordinary for which, they are made to believe, they have been specially chosen!
George Sharkman made his followers believe that he possessed the “Energy” and painted such a dazzling picture of a mission that his followers felt glorified to be part of his “family”. Even when he abused them with his extreme practices like making them sit naked on his lap, forcing them into relationships they didn’t want, but which he told them were good for them, and making followers of the same sex kiss each other; they still never thought of leaving him. Through George’s manipulations and their blind faith in him, they had already secluded themselves from friends and family who are termed as “dead robots” and “enemies”. With no social support, this group was all they had. They convinced themselves that they felt secure, loved and important here even when they were belittled, abused and fed dreams of grandeur.
This book is an eyeopener. I felt the author’s pain, helplessness, and hopelessness through her writing. She is so intelligent but still unable to breakthrough. Like an addict seeking her next fix, she is drawn back to George. She has no friends and family to support her. Her mother is one of the worst mothers anyone could have.
“Over a lifetime, Rachael, my mother, had traded her intelligence, social support, self-respect, and her only daughter for a life of hoarding, isolation, and delusion.”
My heart broke while I read this book. Sometimes my emotions got so intense that I had to stop, take a walk and then come back later to continue the book. It is raw, honest and a journey that shows that we can never identify cults right away. Maybe, there is a cult operating near us, brainwashing and abusing people we know, all under the guise of “therapy sessions”.
I loved Judy and her husband, Michael for their quiet and unflinching support to Elizabeth that emboldened her to leave the cult behind and reclaim her life.
Professionally edited, I found almost no major errors in the book that is always a major plus for me when rating a book.
Compelling, beautifully written and artifice free, The Cult Next Door is a book unlike any that I have ever read. So many of my misconceptions were rectified after reading it. 4 out of 4 stars to it. Relevant to people all over the world, Njkinny recommends it to all adults. Due to the graphic nature of certain scenes, I don’t recommend this book to young readers. Kudos to Elizabeth for baring her soul and sharing her traumatizing journey with us through this book. I hope more and more people read this book and safeguard themselves and their loved ones from people like George. I wish Elizabeth and Judy the very best and look forward to reading more from them in the future.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Njkinny 
Latest Review: Ripcord Recovery by T.T. Sawyer
