Modern Cults

The History of Slasher Films: From Cult Classics to Modern Horror Icons is your ultimate guide to one of cinema’s most enduring—and thrilling—genres. Whether you're a longtime horror fan or just discovering the thrill of the Final Girl, this engaging and in-depth book traces the evolution of the slasher film from its early roots in the 1930s to its 21st-century reinvention. Packed with fascinating film history, cultural analysis, iconic characters, and must-watch movie recommendations, this book explores how slasher movies reflect our fears, challenge social norms, and continue to ...

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...

Includes exclusive audio cameos from One Tree Hill cast members Tyler Hilton, Paul Johansson, James Lafferty, and Chad Michael Murray! An “incredible” (Alex Cooper, Call Her Daddy), “riveting” (People) New York Times bestselling memoir by One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz about her...

Grounded in investigative research and real survivor stories, Surviving Modern Yoga uncovers the physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by Ashtanga yoga leader Pattabhi Jois—and reckons with the culture, structures, and mythos that enabled it. Yoga culture sells well-meaning westerners the full...

In 1993, David Koresh and a band of heavily armed evangelical Christians took on the might of the US government. A two-month siege of their compound in Waco, Texas, ended in a firefight that killed seventy-six, including twenty-five children. America is still picking up the pieces, and we still haven't heard the full story.

One-on-one with Satan. A chilling and highly convincing account of possession and exorcism in modern America, hailed by NBC Radio as "one of the most stirring books on the contemporary scene."

You found the book. Or maybe…it found you. Inside this volume are stories no one should read—yet they exist, waiting for someone to turn the page. A girl finds her reflection smiling back without her. A birthday party has one extra guest no one invited. A viral slime recipe starts changing kids into something else. A father keeps working for his family, even after death. Each tale in Inkbound is sharper than the last, pulling you deeper into the curse that binds them. At first, they seem like fiction—urban legends, school rumors, creepy YouTube stories. But then they start to echo ...

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A BookPage Best Nonfiction Book of 2024 From the bestselling author of Cultish and host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult, a delicious blend of cultural criticism and personal narrative that explores our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages, and...

In Matthew Lyons' pulse-pounding crime horror, A Mask of Flies, a criminal on the run after a failed heist must confront dark family secrets and demons from her past made flesh. THE PAST HAS TEETH In the grisly aftermath of a botched bank heist, career criminal Anne Heller has no choice but to...

This program is read by the authors (David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker), Laura Orrico and Joe Praino, with special appearances by an all-star cast of comedy giants, including the film's stars, Julie Hagerty and Robert Hays, as well as Beau Bridges, Barry Diller, Michael Eisner, Peter...

What do we really know about modern practicing polygamists - not fictional ones like the Henrickson family on HBO’s Big Love? We’ve seen the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the news, the underage brides in pioneer dresses on a Texas ranch. But the FLDS is just one of many groups that have broken with mainstream Mormonism to follow those parts of Joseph Smith’s doctrine disavowed by the LDS Church. Gaining unprecedented access to these communities, journalist Sanjiv Bhattacharya reveals a shadow country....

The History of Body Horror Films: From Grotesque Origins to Modern Mutation is the ultimate guide for horror lovers, film students, and pop culture enthusiasts who want to dive deep into one of cinema’s most disturbing and thought-provoking subgenres. This comprehensive, 6000-word book explores the evolution of body horror movies from their eerie beginnings in early cinema to their grotesque peaks during the golden age of gore, all the way to their reemergence in today’s era of prestige horror. Discover how visionary directors like David Cronenberg, Shinya Tsukamoto, and Julia Ducournau...

“Life is currently on hold while I read the series” - Goodreads reviewer The past taints everything. Wynter has helped to create a safe home with her family. Her music career is taking off with an overseas recording opportunity and a new all-girl rock band. Her brothers could use some help. Indio returns from London and there's a room waiting for him if he'll take it, as well as an old flame in the wings. Caleb has a new chance at love, and Jesse continues his search for the perfect girl. Out of the blue, their mother Miriam returns seeking reconciliation. Her years of neglect have ...

Ayn Rand and her philosophical school, Objectivism, have had a considerable influence upon American popular culture, yet the true story of her life and work has yet to be told. In this book, Jeff Walker debunks the cult-like following that developed around the author of the classics Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead - a cult that persists even today.

Belief and Cult argues that belief isn't uniquely Christian but was central to ancient Roman religion. Drawing on cognitive theory, Jacob Mackey shows that despite having nothing to do with salvation or faith, belief underlay every aspect of Roman religious practices—emotions, individual and collective cult action, ritual norms, social reality, and social power. In doing so, he also offers a thorough argument for the importance of belief to other non-Christian religions.

Something is wrong with the children along the Mississippi and it might have something to do with the mothers of KANT. Tatiara has never been closer to a case than when her sister Aliyah shows up with a foreboding fear that her new girlfriend might be tangled up in a pyramid scheme--or worse, a supernatural cult. Tatiara and Charlotte pack for a trip up the Mississippi, taking their investigation agency on the move to Memphis, Tennessee. With a cult of blonde-haired, blue-eyed Karens trying to keep her from the truth, Tatiara will need all of her quick problem-solving--and a little bit of ...

What do self-help culture, influencer branding, therapy-speak, and political polarization have in common? They all reflect a deeper crisis: the rise of hyper-individualism. In this provocative and timely book, The Age of Hyper-Individualism explores how the modern obsession with the self—its improvement, expression, and protection—has reshaped nearly every aspect of contemporary life. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, politics, spirituality, and pop culture, Daniel Kirrin examines how we got here and what it’s costing us. From the commodification of identity to the marketization of ...

Step inside one of the most unusual and talked-about intentional communities in the world. For decades, the Twelve Tribes—known to many as the Yellow Deli people—have fascinated outsiders with their simple living, communal lifestyle, and distinct interpretation of the Bible. Yet just as often, they have sparked confusion, controversy, and passionate debate. This book provides a clear, accessible, and deeply informative look at the beliefs, daily life, history, and inner workings of the Twelve Tribes community. Drawing from detailed research and community accounts, it explores: How the ...

The strange and sinister world of cults is a source of endless fascination. Their secrets, rituals and shadowy hierarchies make for some of the most disturbing and shocking revelations in history. Most chilling of all is the fact that many of their followers forfeit all independence in order to carry out the often sadistic bidding of a mysterious master manipulator - and continue to defend their leader to this day.

David Koresh and the Branch Davidians: Inside the History, Beliefs, Leadership, and Tragic Legacy of the Waco Siege offers a clear, thorough, and accessible examination of one of the most controversial events in modern American history. This book guides readers through the origins of the Branch Davidians, the rise of David Koresh, and the theological ideas that shaped the Mount Carmel community. Through careful explanation and well structured chapters, the book explores how Koresh’s prophetic interpretations, charismatic leadership, and influence over his followers formed the foundation ...