8 Best Books About Cults In America

Originally I am from Texas as I was always interested to study the cult history of Texas. It fascinates me to know the rough law and order history of Texas in the early days. I really loved the way in which the book is laid out. It follows a very decent narrative pace, it is raw and never gets slow. I always wanted to learn intricate details about the Texas Rangers and gladly this book covered it all. People seeking to learn about Texas history will love this book.

While it probably doesn’t seem like a stereotypical cult, The Electric Kool-Aid Test details the experiences with the Merry Pranksters group and their leader Ken Kesey. Kesey formed the Merry Pranksters group during the 1960s when young people were rebelling from tradition and eager to find new lifestyles and experiences. After gathering all of these people on the road with him, Kesey introduced LSD (to many people who had never used any kind of drugs before), thereby enticing new people to join his group and open their minds. Like many cult leaders, Kesey is charismatic and presents himself as someone with all the answers, which eventually becomes quite destructive to the group. Wolfe’s book about the Merry Pranksters is probably why the phrase Don’t drink the Kool-Aid has become commonsay.

Amanda Spencer-Gunn and Historian Cameron Thorne explore a 14-th century ancient journal, which ensures a long-rumored historical heresy. An early church outlawed the Knights Templar as the fighter monks were privately worshiping the primeval goddess. This classic journal also sucks Amanda and Cam into the orbit of a cold-blooded gang of modern-day pagans who are willing to push America into the caring arms of the goddess. So, this book is solely based on real historical artifacts.

Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers, the novel upon which the series is based. In this book, nine guests gather at a wellness retreat, though each is hiding their own secret. Masha, the director of the retreat, her cultish leadership and dark past make the story all the more thrilling.

In the summer of 1969, in Los Angeles, there was a series of seemingly random and brutal murders that caught the headlines of every newspaper across America. And the trail of these murders eventually led investigators to the infamous Charles Manson, who at the time was living in the desert with his family of devoted young men and women. And this book essentially gives readers a definitive account of the investigation, pursuit, and arrest of Manson and his Family, as the book authors dive deeper into what Manson’s hold was over his people that acted as sufficient motivation for savage and unforgivable acts.

This is a memoir by the author who survived the cult and escaped it months before the actual ritual took place. Layton provides a thorough background of the People’s Temple, a three-dimensional image of Jones, and a full account of her difficult journey from the Guyanese forest, wherein most of the organization resided and perished. The novel is a poignant, well-written personal account from one of America’s greatest disastrous cults.

The author uncovered and went on a journey to unveil the secrets on how the representative was assassinated by People’s Temple shooters and Reiterman was injured on the day that over 800 followers of the People’s Temple perished in a widespread ritual in Jonestown, Guyana.Reiterman is a renowned reporter who has won numerous awards.

If you have an interest or are curious about cults then this book is a must. This book dives into what we all want to know – what is a cult, why do people join, and more importantly how do people become brainwashed in cults. Backed by research, the author takes you on a journey through cult norms and how they come to be.