Review by Jillyanirene -- The Cult Next Door
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Jillyanirene
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- Latest Review: The Cult Next Door by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone
Review by Jillyanirene -- The Cult Next Door
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Cult Next Door" by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone.]
4 out of 4 stars
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When most people think of a cult, they usually think of a group of weak-minded individuals, in a hidden location with no contact to the outside world. They don’t realize that those suffering from this type of control may be sitting next to them at work, on the bus, or even at their dinner table. Members are often well educated, intelligent individuals who, like all of us, long for acceptance, guidance and direction. Cult leaders often are authority figures who prey on the emotional vulnerability of others with psychological manipulation. In The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone, Elizabeth “Liz” Burchard tells her story, giving readers a glimpse inside of a real life cult and how her life was forever changed the day she met George Sharkman.
Liz grew up in a broken home, her parents divorcing when she was only three years old. When her father passed away, she was left to live alone with her abusive mother. During this time, she watched her mother jump from one phoney health guru to the next, always in search of the latest health trend. This led them to George Sharkman, an Upper East side psychologist. Unlike her mother’s previous gurus, George was surprisingly intelligent and instilled in him was an intense passion for living a life based on a higher truth. As a lost seventeen year old, this resonated with Liz, who was in search of deeper meaning and guidance in her own life. Both Liz and her mother developed a strong respect for George and over time, others joined the group as well. George’s tactics continued to become more bizarre over the years and Liz began to question her involvement. She then was befriended by Judith “Judy” Carlone who helped her reconnect with herself and find the strength to look for a way out.
Once I opened this book, I found it hard to put down and ended up reading it from start to finish in one sitting. In her story, Liz tells her unbiased account from the moment she met George and takes you along for the ride. She never once lets her emotions blind her from giving an honest account how events unfolded. It is easy to see how George’s ideas were based in truth which is what serves as the basis of his manipulation. You watch Liz give him her trust and under his guidance, she starts to rely on his praise in exchange for her sense of self worth. As a reader, you witness her slowly lose her confidence and belief in herself as she begins to rely on George more and more. Like all master manipulators, he knew how to give the right amount of praise and leave his victims craving more.
During sessions, George repeatedly stressed the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone in order to reach new levels of personal growth. This is relatable and you can understand why Liz slowly started to confuse what was her comfort zone limiting her with what she knew to be morally right and wrong. Trusting him, she felt inspired to follow his guidance and slowly do things that would have previously made her feel uncomfortable.
There were many times while reading this that I became frustrated, either with George’s actions or Liz’s self sabotaging decisions. I saw parts of myself in Liz and it reminded me of times when I have stayed in relationships even after I knew they were bad for me. Her friendship with Judy was heaven sent and it was inspirational to witness the meaning of true friendship. As an outsider looking in, it was easy to see George's darkness and most friends would have simply told her to leave instead of taking the time to help her see the answers for herself.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This is an eye opening tale of strength, friendship and forgiveness that is useful to anyone who may be in or know someone in a similar situation. I highly recommend that others read it to get a better understanding of of the human mind and how manipulation really works. It gives hope to those who those who may be in similar situations or provides insight to those who may be able to help someone who truly needs it. It is an honest account of how sometimes the search for truth can blindly lead you down the wrong path and how if this happens, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
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When most people think of a cult, they usually think of a group of weak-minded individuals, in a hidden location with no contact to the outside world. They don’t realize that those suffering from this type of control may be sitting next to them at work, on the bus, or even at their dinner table. Members are often well educated, intelligent individuals who, like all of us, long for acceptance, guidance and direction. Cult leaders often are authority figures who prey on the emotional vulnerability of others with psychological manipulation. In The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone, Elizabeth “Liz” Burchard tells her story, giving readers a glimpse inside of a real life cult and how her life was forever changed the day she met George Sharkman.
Liz grew up in a broken home, her parents divorcing when she was only three years old. When her father passed away, she was left to live alone with her abusive mother. During this time, she watched her mother jump from one phoney health guru to the next, always in search of the latest health trend. This led them to George Sharkman, an Upper East side psychologist. Unlike her mother’s previous gurus, George was surprisingly intelligent and instilled in him was an intense passion for living a life based on a higher truth. As a lost seventeen year old, this resonated with Liz, who was in search of deeper meaning and guidance in her own life. Both Liz and her mother developed a strong respect for George and over time, others joined the group as well. George’s tactics continued to become more bizarre over the years and Liz began to question her involvement. She then was befriended by Judith “Judy” Carlone who helped her reconnect with herself and find the strength to look for a way out.
Once I opened this book, I found it hard to put down and ended up reading it from start to finish in one sitting. In her story, Liz tells her unbiased account from the moment she met George and takes you along for the ride. She never once lets her emotions blind her from giving an honest account how events unfolded. It is easy to see how George’s ideas were based in truth which is what serves as the basis of his manipulation. You watch Liz give him her trust and under his guidance, she starts to rely on his praise in exchange for her sense of self worth. As a reader, you witness her slowly lose her confidence and belief in herself as she begins to rely on George more and more. Like all master manipulators, he knew how to give the right amount of praise and leave his victims craving more.
During sessions, George repeatedly stressed the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone in order to reach new levels of personal growth. This is relatable and you can understand why Liz slowly started to confuse what was her comfort zone limiting her with what she knew to be morally right and wrong. Trusting him, she felt inspired to follow his guidance and slowly do things that would have previously made her feel uncomfortable.
There were many times while reading this that I became frustrated, either with George’s actions or Liz’s self sabotaging decisions. I saw parts of myself in Liz and it reminded me of times when I have stayed in relationships even after I knew they were bad for me. Her friendship with Judy was heaven sent and it was inspirational to witness the meaning of true friendship. As an outsider looking in, it was easy to see George's darkness and most friends would have simply told her to leave instead of taking the time to help her see the answers for herself.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This is an eye opening tale of strength, friendship and forgiveness that is useful to anyone who may be in or know someone in a similar situation. I highly recommend that others read it to get a better understanding of of the human mind and how manipulation really works. It gives hope to those who those who may be in similar situations or provides insight to those who may be able to help someone who truly needs it. It is an honest account of how sometimes the search for truth can blindly lead you down the wrong path and how if this happens, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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