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Cults  By  cover art

Cults

By: Max Cutler
Narrated by: Pete Simonelli,Raquel Beattie,Erin Ruth Walker,Danny Campbell,Daniel Henning,Aven Shore,Matt Godfrey,Chanté McCormick,Jaime Lincoln Smith
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Publisher's summary

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 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 everyday 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 analyzing 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.

©2022 Max Cutler. All rights reserved. (P)2022 2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

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What listeners say about Cults

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • KJ
  • 04-12-23

Disappointed

I didn't like the writing voice of the author; I've never listened to the associated podcast so maybe I should have before reading this, but his inconsistencies and lack of detail in some chapters were annoying and grating. I didn't feel like each cult got the same examination.
Additionally, this was a poorly done book. There are multiple pronunciation errors, including the reader mispronouncing "Nexium" in the Keith Raniere chapter. I don't know if this book just wasn't actually proofed or what happened, but that's incredibly poor quality.
Get this one at your library and save your money.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Informative insight into the mind of people.

Great listen all the way through. I had to write down some of the subjects and books to get even better understanding. My take away from this is that religion and cults are on different side of the same coin.

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Nothing new

Nothing new. Just an overview of different cults with little insight. I was anticipating more in depth insight.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

If you listen to the Cults Podcast...

I found that it was just kind of a repeat of the Cults podcast. If you're not a listener I think you will find it very interesting. otherwise I'd skip it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good content but could use more depth

I think some of the cults deserved more analysis. The narrative feels shallow at times but overall a great listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An amazing listen!

An amazing listen, very in depth, great voices reading to you! Absolutely loved it I couldn’t put it down!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating listen

Loved the full cast recording with a different narrator for each cult leader covered. Really helped separate them and made this feel almost like fiction.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

In depth background, good listen

I liked that a different person read each story, it was very well done. The stories were good with details I’ve not heard before.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen.

Wow. There are insane and smart people out there. Beware. Love the detail l, but not burdensome with specifics.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Readers - interesting subject

really enjoyed most of it - I have to admit I skipped over the ones I knew about, but liked hearing about the ones I didn't

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