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Cults

Inside the World's Most Notorious Groups and Understanding the People Who Joined Them
By Max Cutler
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,868 ratings, 488 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Cults by Max Cutler, the book delves into the unnerving histories of some of the world's most infamous cults. It explores the psychology behind these groups and the charismatic leaders who draw people into their often dangerous belief systems. Through gripping narratives, readers gain insights into the events and motivations that led to these real-world horrors, making it a riveting read for true crime enthusiasts.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you find the psychology behind cults fascinating and enjoy delving into mysterious and gripping true crime stories, this book might be perfect for you. It offers an in-depth exploration of the individuals and circumstances that lead to the formation of such groups, delivering thrilling insights into some of history's most notorious and enigmatic cults.

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"Mystery. Manipulation. Murder. Cults are associated with all of these. But what really goes on inside them? More specifically, what goes on inside the minds of cult leaders and the people who join them? Based on the hit podcast Cults, this is essential reading for any true crime fan."--Provided by publisher.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Mystery. Manipulation. Murder. Cults are associated with all of these. But what really goes on inside them? More specifically, what goes on inside the minds of cult leaders and the people who join them? Based on the hit podcast Cults, this is essential reading for any true crime fan.

Cults prey on the very attributes that make us human: our desire to belong, to find a deeper meaning in life, to live every day with divine purpose. Their existence creates a sense that any one of us, at any time, could step off the cliff’s edge and fall into that daunting abyss of manipulation and unhinged dedication to a misplaced cause. Perhaps it’s this mindset that keeps us so utterly obsessed and desperate to learn more, or it’s that the stories are so bizarre and unsettling that we are simply in awe of the mechanics that make these infamous groups tick.

The premier storytelling podcast studio Parcast has been focusing on unearthing these mechanics—the cult leaders and followers, and the world and culture that gave birth to both. Parcast’s work in analysing dozens of case studies has revealed patterns: distinct ways that cult leaders from different generations resemble one another. What links the ten notorious figures profiled in Cults are as disturbing as they are stunning—from Manson to Applewhite, Koresh to Raël, the stories woven here are both spellbinding and disturbing.

Cults is more than just a compilation of grisly biographies, however. In these pages, Parcast’s founder Max Cutler and national bestselling author Kevin Conley look closely at the lives of some of the most disreputable cult figures and tell the stories of their rise to power and fall from grace, sanity, and decency. Beyond that, it is a study of humanity, an unflinching look at what happens when the most vulnerable recesses of the mind are manipulated and how the things we hold most sacred can be twisted into the lowest form of malevolence.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Cults by Max Cutler is praised as an addictive and chilling read, offering a deep dive into the psychology of cult leaders and their followers. It provides both narrative detail and insightful exploration of what draws individuals to cults, as seen through stories of infamous figures like Manson and Koresh. The book is described as well-researched and organized, appealing to true-crime enthusiasts and fans of Cutler's storytelling.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781982133542

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 12 July 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Gallery

Contributors:

  • With Kevin Conley

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 33.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 583g

Pages: 416

Collections

Biography & Memoir Crime & Thriller Education & Reference Fiction Max Cutler Religion & Spirituality True Crime

About the Author

Max Cutler created and founded Parcast Studios in 2016. With Cutler at the helm, Parcast has launched some of the most popular and highly-ranked weekly podcasts, specializing in popular genres like mystery, true crime, pop culture, wellness, and history. After three years of exponential growth, Spotify acquired Parcast in 2019. Cutler maintains his role as head of the studio, revolutionizing the podcast space and creating hit after hit. Most recently featured on Fortune’s 40 Under 40, Forbes’ 30 Under 30, and The Hollywood Reporter’s 35 Rising Executives Under 35 lists, Cutler shows no sign of slowing down, as Parcast continues to lead the industry in global growth with over fifty adaptations to date and more to come.

Kevin Conley is the author of the national bestseller Stud: Adventures in Breeding and The Full Burn: On the Set, at the Bar, Behind the Wheel, and Over the Edge with Hollywood Stuntmen. A former editor at The New Yorker, he has written for GQ, Sports Illustrated, and The New York Times Magazine, among others. He lives with his family in Connecticut.

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