Review by Kareka88 -- The Cult Next Door

[Jmees_9611]

I really like your review with "The cult next door". And I also hope those who are in the manipulation of cults, like Elizabeth, can get out and get through those horrifying events. Elizabeth and Judith are very brave to tell their stories and retell their experiences.

[goldengal1315]

Cults get their power but exploiting the weakness they perceive in their victims. They then further play on this weakness to get the victims away from the very support systems ( ie people ) that had they tried harder or been more aware may have avoided a situation with the cult and it's leaders in the first place. In this world we live in I find it sad we don't try harder not to push the vulnerable right into the hands of the vultures

[TheTrueNyree]

Good review! "In this book, Elizabeth illustrates how someone in authority can lead people astray. No matter your age, financial standing, education, race, gender, religion, culture, background, upbringing, etc., people can become susceptible to the influence of others be it for good or for bad." This si very true. A person can be influence easily when they look up to the person that is giving the advice. They can be in desperate need of help, and there for will believe information is good just because they need it to be. And people manipulate people they feel are desperate or person they know to have limited information on the subject they are looking to influence in. Sad this happens a lot in life. Some can definitely benefit from the book, but I am not interested in reading this one. Congrats on BOTD!

[chelhack]

Although, this story tells of abuse on many different levels. After reading this book it was hard for me to feel sympathy for author/protagonist Elizabeth R. Burchard because throughout the story she tells how she defied George Sharkman which leads me to believe that she was not as brainwashed as the others.

[chelhack]

Although, this story tells of abuse on many different levels. After reading this book it was hard for me to feel sympathy for author/protagonist Elizabeth R. Burchard because throughout the story she tells how she defied George Sharkman which leads me to believe that she was not as brainwashed as the others.

[Fozia-Bajwa]

Elizabeth tells her story, which depicts how much damage being involved in a cult can have on a person. The book covers the timeframe from her childhood in the 1970's through 2008. In the first chapter she explains that her father was a Professor of Psychology at Temple University and her mother was one of his students who married and eventually settled in New York City. Her parent's got divorced and she stayed with her Mother who, once her Father died, becomes very verbally and physically abusive. Elizabeth's Mother, Rachael has her own problems and tends to follow many of the New Age fads that were prevalent during the 1970's.

This is a story of a girl named Elizabeth who suffered from a terrible journey of her mother's life and same effect is going to happen to him in her life. Mostly in the real world it happens that the children of divorced parents suffer a complex life and go ahead on the behalf of manipulators. Same is the case with Elizabeth because she suffers from abuse, torture, exploitation and manipulation. Thanks for a thorough review and Congratulations to this book for becoming a BOTD.

[FictionLover]

Rachel follows many "gurus" for health and wellness and tries to get Elizabeth involved at an early age. When Elizabeth is in college, they eventually end up in the office of Dr. Keith Rogers, Ph.D. and enlist in semi-weekly treatments for stress reduction therapy with Dr. Roger's "Biofeedback" technician George Sharkman.

I am not fond of memories of personal abuse. The sample I read revolved around her mother's hoarding and dysfunctional, but not abusive behavior. I don't want to read any further, but I will say that I'm glad that most health "gurus" I have read about are not abusive frauds.

[mariakavo88]

This sounds very interesting. As a 0sychology major, I am always interested in books about human nature and about ways in which people act, whether by free will or conversion, or force. Forensic psychology is my.main interest and this book sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the review.

[CinWin]

Very good review. I agree with you that it is an easy and compelling read. I read the first few chapters and did not want to stop. Thanks for the review.

[happynessc0]

I like to read about cults and mental health issues cause I find it very intriguing. Wow, the author has a lot of fortitude to write from her own unpleasant experience. Thanks for your engaging review.

[ianfrb77]

Hope this work will enlight those people who are still traped in the ones they base their cult on: a husband, a family member, a friend... manipulate is easy for those who seek nothing but their own satisfaction and benefit. Great job.

[Shilpa Paul]

Thanks for the review. The story of Elizabeth experiencing abuse for such along time is heart rendering. Hope she moves on in life with new hope and positive attitude towards life.

[bellaterrabooks]

System conditioning leads individuals to be more susceptible to cult behaviors. When someone is seeking out a leader, such as a teacher or a therapist, like in this case, that person is vulnerable to the strong suggestions of the most dominant power. Belief systems become indoctrinated into every fiber of a person’s being and eventually the sense of self is completely lost. For Elizabeth, she was preconditioned to be pliable to the prevailing ideology of her therapist because of her early disparaging relationships. Fortunately, she escaped the confines of the cult to write a memoir hopefully to help others to learn the indications of these groups.

[Marissa Michael]

A memoir about a woman exposed to cult at the early age when she's expecting the cure to depression but receive the opposite from a charismatic manipulator. Thank God she is break free from this cult. The type of book that I want to read because the truth like this can't be unheeded.

[Nandy]

Sounds like an inspirational read and very educational in some aspects