Review by LivreAmour217 -- The Cult Next Door

[LivreAmour217]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Cult Next Door: A Manhattan Memoir is the true story of one woman's indoctrination into--and eventual liberation from--a cunningly disguised cult. Author Elizabeth Burchard shares the story of her involvement with a "stress management" group run by a man named George Sharkman. Operating under the guise of a therapist, Sharkman takes physical, emotional, and financial advantage of Ms. Burchard (and others) for two decades. The author's story is both powerful and educational, defying common stereotypes surrounding cults and the people who are recruited into them.

Within this memoir, Ms. Burchard goes beyond relaying the bare facts of her involvement with Sharkman's group and provides the reader with the frightening realization that, under the right circumstances, anybody can become entangled within a cult. A talented woman with a college education, Ms. Burchard seemed like the last person who would fall under Sharkman's spell, but certain life events left her vulnerable to his influence. I cannot reveal the specifics of Ms. Burchard's ordeal without providing spoilers, but I can say that anyone who has ever felt lost, uncertain, or alone can relate to her circumstances. I personally found her story to be quite humbling, as I can think back to moments within my own life where I could have been taken advantage of in the same way.

The book is presented in the first person, primarily from Ms. Burchard's viewpoint, although some of the chapters are narrated by coauthor Judith Carlone, a friend of Ms. Burchard's who witnessed much of her ordeal. The transitions between the two authors are very smooth with no difficulties in distinguishing them. The book itself is well written with just a small handful of errors that appear to be typos, and the plot moves at an even pace that holds the reader's attention from beginning to end.

I have no hard criticisms of this book, but I did notice a few stand-alone chapters that were very short and could have been merged with other, more substantial chapters. I wasn't particularly bothered by theses instances, but they felt choppy and I was confused as to why they were chosen to stand alone.

But minor criticisms aside, The Cult Next Door is an excellent book and I can't give it less than 4 out of 4 stars. I believe that everyone could benefit from reading this book, but I would especially recommend it to social workers, teachers, medical professionals, and law enforcement. Being aware of the more subtle aspects of cults would better equip these professionals to help victims.

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The Cult Next Door
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