Scarred

The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult That Bound My Life

De: Sarah Edmondson, Kristine Gasbarre

Narrado por: Sarah Edmondson

The shocking and subversive memoir of a 12-year-NXIVM-member-turned-whistleblower, and her inspiring true story of abuse, escape, and redemption.

"Master, would you brand me? It would be an honor."

Scarred follows actress Sarah Edmondson's account of her recruitment into the NXIVM cult, founded by Keith Raniere. It narrates in detail the 12 years she spent within the organization, during which she enrolled over 2,000 members, chronicling her breaking point and her harrowing fight to get out, help others, and heal.

• Complete with personal photographs, this tell-all follows Sarah from the moment she takes her first NXIVM seminar, to the invitation she accepts from her best friend, Lauren Salzman, into DOS - a "secret sisterhood" within the cult - to her journey toward becoming a key witness in the federal case against its founders.
• Listeners will learn how cults like NXIVM get started, why people get involved (and stay), and the importance of whistleblowers who bring light to illegal and unethical practices.
• Sarah Edmondson is a Canadian actress and playwright who has starred in the CBS series Salvation and more than 12 films for the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime. She is featured in the CBC podcast Uncover: Escaping NXIVM and The Vow, the upcoming HBO documentary series on NXIVM.

Scarred isn't just about NXIVM. It is also a story about abuses of power, the role female friendships play in cults, and how sometimes the search to be "better" can override everything else.

• A thrilling listen for fans of true crime and cults, as well as listeners of podcasts like My Favorite Murder and Up and Vanished.
• Great for fans of Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini, Escape by Carolyn Jessop, Beyond Belief by Jenna Miscavige Hill, and Bad Blood by John Carreyrou.
• Evokes questions about friendship, ethics, good, and evil, making it a perfect selection for book clubs.

Audio edition read by the author.

©2019 Sarah Edmondson and Kristine Gasbarre (P)2019 Hachette Audio

5 stars

Wonderful
I read this in the span of a single 24 hr period, couldn't put it down. For anyone who has been part of any sort of destructive cult, or thinks they are part of such a group, you should absolutely read this. It helps clarify exactly what qualifies, how to see red flags clearly.
I have already been healing for about 10 years from a destructive psychotherapy cult, but that made it a more meaningful experience because Sarah helped to usher in an era that involves more justice and understanding than existed in American society and law for people like us than existed when I was leaving my own destructive cult. And for the Keith Renieres of the world, the narcissistic sociopathic leaders of said groups, too.
Thank you

Love! Love! Love!

Amazing book! Could not put it down and a must read!!!! Highly recommend this read!

Sarah, a hero

Your strength saved many, Sarah. May your stepmother's memory be a blessing. Pray for her, as she prays for you. Peace.

Beautiful & heartfelt

I’ve been saving this for some time. Today, I had the house to myself to clean before the holidays and listened to the WHOLE thing in one go. Sure this is a story about uncovering a destructive cult… but more importantly, this is an amazing journey of a brave, strong woman, reclaiming her life. I teared up at the introduction and all through the acknowledgements! I laughed and I cried. Thank you for sharing your story with the world, Sarah 💗

Thank you for your story

Thank you so much for sharing this story, it was great to learn more specifics of your journey outside of The Vow.

Great performance!

Must read/listen

Sarah’s personal story allows people to learn about the quiet threat of groups like nxivm that hide in plain sight all over the world. This is the beginning of what I hope is a cultural shift toward cult/coercive and high control group awareness

Read the book and then listen to the audiobook

Both the book and audiobook are great. I feel like reading the book and then listening to the audiobook is best, as I felt like I got more detail and Sarah’s voice is wonderful. I admire her very much for telling her story.

Authentic, Raw Account of Moral Injury

I can't think of anything I disliked. I don't have any criticisms. A cult survivor myself, I was relieved to hear such an authentic voice, revealing with beautiful vulnerability every aspect of a journey that so many suffer while still drowning in the silence of their shame. By casting light on her every thought and feeling no matter how it may come across, Sarah banishes the darkness and all vile monsters within it. I felt seen, heard, understood. Sarah, you are so incredibly strong and inspiring. I see your good nature, innate and whole. Thank you for everything! ♡

Raw. Real. Brave.

Important listen for anyone dealing with anything even slightly cultish. This is a real account by someone looking to protect future generations from systems that steal peoples's lives. Highly recommend.

Highly recommended and definitely cringeworthy

Found this book on sale so got a two for one. Had my picks from the sale and then this one pops out. The title grabbed me so I gave a listen with the sample. OK the sample still tugged me with the branding but that gave me real doubts about picking this one ... not my usual reads.

Asked my wife about NXIVM, and all I did was say I saw this audio book that I was thinking about and immediately (no she hadn't heard of the author nor this book) and said that sounds like NXIVM. Reading a few reviews showed this story was much more than just the into I got so I took a chance.

I remembered someone in the reviews said something like it was nonsense and nobody in their right mind would fall for this. Granted that person may not understand the dynamics of group mentality. Yes I agree how could this woman fall for all this. I guess then you have to ask how do all those people fall for "faith healers" and how did all those people fall for dictators. After all they require much more than just that one person. They require the followers.

Do people make mistakes, YES. Do people fall for scams, Yes. As I listened to the audio book these question and more popped in my head. Things start off "weird" but anyone in the 80s and 90s will remember well, the fads and things that popped up. Self help books blossomed and not all the advice was true and some really goes against common sense. When you add a group of people who then makes it more normal while breaking down the inner barriers, the unusual becomes normal. They build you up to be a pillar all along grooming you to accept the next insanity.

I am sure the authors had so much more to say on this progression but was probably abridged to keep the story flowing. I think they did a great job of the progression and having the story read by the author who is intimate with the story to ever detail make it even better.

The story was emotional, touching, and definitely worthy of even a whole Audible credit in my opinion. Once I started listening, I found myself listing to it every time I had a free moment. I don't write many reviews, but I spent the time for this one as I highly recommend it. I gave it a solid 4 stars our of 5 but frankly it is really 4 1/2 stars. I rarely give 5 stars to anything so this is one of the better modern books I've come across.