Review by shynmr -- The Cult Next Door
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shynmr
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Review by shynmr -- 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 is Elizabeth Burchard’s personal recounting of her unwitting indoctrination into, and membership in, a cult. Elizabeth’s coauthor, Judith Carlone, was largely responsible for helping Elizabeth ween herself off the cult and create distance and perspective. Together, they have told a story that is both cautionary and redemptive: no one is free from the risk of being ensnared by predators, but there is always hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. This book has earned every bit of 4 out of 4 stars.
Elizabeth first shares stories about her early life, which lay the foundation for her susceptibility to indoctrination into a cult. Despite being an intelligent, affluent woman, Elizabeth’s desire for love and belongingness led her to totally submit to the machinations of biofeedback technician George Sharkman. She placed misguided trust in George and unwittingly allowed herself to be led down an exploitative path that eventually led to the loss of both her personal identity and her life savings.
George is supposed to be someone Elizabeth can trust, but he turns out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He uses Elizabeth’s feelings of inadequacy and desire for belongingness to drag her deeper and deeper into the cult, despite her better judgement. She suffers personal loss, illness, and isolation from the rest of the world as the story progresses. Eventually, she ends up bankrupt and questioning the legitimacy of George’s group, but her dependency on it prevents her from making any unilateral moves. Fortunately, as I mentioned, this story is both cautionary and redemptive. Her co-author’s entry on the scene is where redemption is found; by accepting outside input and attempting to be objective, Elizabeth slowly saw her circumstances for what they were, extricated herself from the cult, and regained her identity.
This book is very well edited and only has a few errors. Although the text is very accessible and could be comprehended by nearly all reading levels, it is not appropriate for all audiences. There are strong themes of the abuse (sexual, physical, psychological, and verbal) that are often innate in a cult. Although most of the scenes are not overly graphic, the context and content are sufficient to warrant caution and not allow younger readers to read the book independently. The book would be appropriate for a family to read and discuss together. The “Questions for Discussion” section at the end of the book could enable discussion of the situations Elizabeth experienced and better arm everyone against the perils of cults.
Elizabeth’s candid story provides great insight for the readers into the risks associated with not having a support system. The chronological storytelling makes it easy to follow Elizabeth’s immersion into the cult and watch her identity slip away. The fact that Elizabeth was so easily immersed in the world of a cult, despite being educated and affluent, serves as a great warning and reminder that we need to surround ourselves with people we can trust. I highly recommend The Cult Next Door to anyone interested in cults, personal identity, and the power of manipulative, egomaniacal personalities.
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The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Cult Next Door is Elizabeth Burchard’s personal recounting of her unwitting indoctrination into, and membership in, a cult. Elizabeth’s coauthor, Judith Carlone, was largely responsible for helping Elizabeth ween herself off the cult and create distance and perspective. Together, they have told a story that is both cautionary and redemptive: no one is free from the risk of being ensnared by predators, but there is always hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. This book has earned every bit of 4 out of 4 stars.
Elizabeth first shares stories about her early life, which lay the foundation for her susceptibility to indoctrination into a cult. Despite being an intelligent, affluent woman, Elizabeth’s desire for love and belongingness led her to totally submit to the machinations of biofeedback technician George Sharkman. She placed misguided trust in George and unwittingly allowed herself to be led down an exploitative path that eventually led to the loss of both her personal identity and her life savings.
George is supposed to be someone Elizabeth can trust, but he turns out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He uses Elizabeth’s feelings of inadequacy and desire for belongingness to drag her deeper and deeper into the cult, despite her better judgement. She suffers personal loss, illness, and isolation from the rest of the world as the story progresses. Eventually, she ends up bankrupt and questioning the legitimacy of George’s group, but her dependency on it prevents her from making any unilateral moves. Fortunately, as I mentioned, this story is both cautionary and redemptive. Her co-author’s entry on the scene is where redemption is found; by accepting outside input and attempting to be objective, Elizabeth slowly saw her circumstances for what they were, extricated herself from the cult, and regained her identity.
This book is very well edited and only has a few errors. Although the text is very accessible and could be comprehended by nearly all reading levels, it is not appropriate for all audiences. There are strong themes of the abuse (sexual, physical, psychological, and verbal) that are often innate in a cult. Although most of the scenes are not overly graphic, the context and content are sufficient to warrant caution and not allow younger readers to read the book independently. The book would be appropriate for a family to read and discuss together. The “Questions for Discussion” section at the end of the book could enable discussion of the situations Elizabeth experienced and better arm everyone against the perils of cults.
Elizabeth’s candid story provides great insight for the readers into the risks associated with not having a support system. The chronological storytelling makes it easy to follow Elizabeth’s immersion into the cult and watch her identity slip away. The fact that Elizabeth was so easily immersed in the world of a cult, despite being educated and affluent, serves as a great warning and reminder that we need to surround ourselves with people we can trust. I highly recommend The Cult Next Door to anyone interested in cults, personal identity, and the power of manipulative, egomaniacal personalities.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: My Father Wakes Up Laughing by Jo Simons
