Cult

by Warren Adler

Warren Adler is the acclaimed author of 25 novels, published in 30 languages. Two of his books, "The War of the Roses" and "Random Hearts" were made into major motion pictures. He lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and New York City. A successful entrepreneur discovers that his young and impressionable wife has been lured by her fanatical sister into the Glory Cult, a ruthless and powerful group in Oregon run by a charismatic "guru." Determined to free her from the cult's grasp, he teams up with a pair of tough, cunning deprogrammers and plans to kidnap his wife from the cult. However, they soon find themselves in a deadly cat and mouse game with the David Koresh-like leader of the Glories. Their rescue attempt triggers a surprising and horrific climax. This is must reading for those who seek to understand the real meaning of September 11th. Readers will be on edge throughout this page-turner of a novel, and will learn how the power of sinister forces using mind control techniques can turn innocent people into weapons of destruction. Cult will evoke in you a fear, a dread The psychological perspective, the intricacies of brainwashing are all set with an authentic tune, chillingly real an absolutely terrific tale. Nikesh Murali, Reviews Weekly

Genres: Fiction

227 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2002

About the author

Warren Adler was an American author, playwright and poet. His novel The War of the Roses was turned into a dark comedy starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
Adler was an essayist, short-story writer, poet and playwright, whose works have been translated into 25 languages.

Reviews

[linda hole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sorry to say i dnded This book at 33 %. I Just did not understand IT. Maybe IT was. Too political for me

[Anna Janelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay. Here is me truly feeling bad about leaving this mediocre review with only two others. (Sorry, NetGalley. I promised I would be honest in exchange for an advanced reader copy - for better or worse, and here it is).

I've sat on this review for over a week, hoping my indifference would mutate into something more salvageable for a review. Alas, if anything, time has blurred away my good feelings towards this book, and left me saying, "meh?"

I requested this title after: 1) reading the author was responsible for writing The War of the Roses which, granted, I never read or saw - but have heard a great deal about, so, naturally it holds a certain regard, if not earned through experience and 2). I saw it advertised on my PaperWhite Kindle idle screen - stuff that I normally ignore, but because I had seen it on NetGalley, had sparked my interest.

It was a book of lofty, if somewhat controversial ideas, that never really came to fruition plot wise. Granted, it came close to engaging me on several occasions - the sections devoted to deprogramming the cult members were a personal highlight in terms of tension and interest - BUT overall, failed to totally capturing my interest. Now, please allow me some leeway in writing up this review, It's late. My baby is in bed. THIS is how I now define an exciting Friday night - writing a book review that I've been sitting on for a week without the time to write it all down. If anything, the time passed has allowed me to realize how mediocre this book was. I've all but forgotten the plot and characters in the small time that has past since my reading.

Nay, or Naomi, has a troubled past that is dredged up when her ex-boyfriend contacts her for help years after their last contact. Naomi has built a career in fighting for human rights, an agenda that may have been a wedge between her and her materialistic ex, Barney. As it turns out, Barney's much younger wife has abandoned him and their young son after visiting her sister in California where she became involved in a religious sect recognized as "The Glories." Barney is, naturally, shocked and confused - attempting to utilize every legal avenue to make contact with his wife, a now unknown stranger who has abandoned her family for a suspected cult. Has she been brainwashed? Are her human rights being compromised by an evil minded apocalyptic cult that has brainwashed her, kidnapping her, holding her hostage from her family? Or is she merely exercising her right of religious freedom - being born into a culture that is no more suspect that that of the Catholic or Evangelical persuasion? This book attempts to answer these questions - asking readers to search themselves for answers as to what makes one religion valid and rational - while another is religion is deemed to be invalid, or dangerous, or controversial. Where does conscientious religious devotion begin to become cultish, zombie-like behavior? Important questions for our generation - as this book repeatedly insists that the Taliban and the actions of 9/11 are consistent with cult behavior.

Whatever. Interesting theory, cardboard characters. A week from my initial reading I can remember the concepts that drove the book - but not the characters' names. I was prepared to love it, but came away, trying to at least like it.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good cult story so much I’ll often settle for an average one. Cult is just one of those themes, like circus or magicians, that immediately grab my attention. Plus I’ve read Adler’s short stories before and quite enjoyed them, so this was an easy choice.
So is it a good cult story or an average one? Well, more of the latter, I’m afraid. There was something definitely missing here, as one might have expected from a book so unimaginatively named.
When I try to nail down exactly what that something is…it isn’t quite the not very likeable characters, it’s more of the inflexible and unyielding moral rigidity of the novel. Very black and white tonally. The author’s ascribes high EVIL categories to things foregoing moral nuances all too easily and frequently.
Or maybe that wasn’t it. Maybe it was the main characters themselves. I just didn’t like them very much.
But once upon a time they liked each other very much, Naomi and Barney. A Jewish liberal dogooder and an Irish apolitical moneycentric businessman. Please note I am only mentioning the characters’ religious/cultural makers because the author makes such a huge deal about it. They loved each other so much, but it just wasn’t enough for Naomi to ignore the fact that Barney didn’t miss out on any sleep over the many social injustices that she would so intensely obsessed over. So, they split up and Barney like a proper man of his ideals and ideas married a pretty young thang and had a baby with her. And when several years later the pretty young thang ended up in a cult, Barney came crawling back to Naomi to use her political connections to try and get her out.
Since this specific cult is properly legal, this goes against much of Naomi’s ideology, but nevertheless she proceeds to help Barney, because she’d never miss out on the opportunity to do good. And also, she never really got over Barney.
And so it becomes a great stand off. On one side Naomi with her good intentions and Barney with his hired deprogrammers and on the other side a bunch of thoroughly brainwashed cultists willing to die for their cause. Guess who wins. Well, the correct answer would be no one, it’s too ugly of a game for proper wins.
There’s a local sheriff involved too, but that’s fairly extraneous. The main plot is Naomi/Barney against the cult. The main character is really Naomi and the main theme is how much she’s willing to compromise her principles. Is brainwashing the brainwashed back to normal too much? She thinks so. And I suppose Adler meant her as an admirable character, but her nuanceless rigid morality is tedious, she’s the liberal people hate when they hate liberals, so dedicated to taking the high road she’s willing to ignore the road signs. She’s slappingly obnoxiously moralistic and to highlight that there’s a constant juxtaposition to the moralfree bottom line money wielding kinda guy that Barney is, which is all too unsubtle and obvious.
The thing is Adler was a genuinely good writer in that he had that organic storytelling quality to his narratives, it’s the plot here that leaves a lot to be desired. It’s almost like it’s too didactic or pedantic or something, what other reason there would be for such fablelike strict moral codes. It means well, but it’s just too blatantly self righteous to enjoy outright. The components end up arranging themselves into something that tends to veer into a slightly hysterical melodrama. But...it does have a cult and it reads quickly. Thanks Netgalley.

This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cult is a short but very intense read. When Barney Harrigan realizes that his wife has been brainwashed into a cult, he is desperate and willing to do anything to get her back, even if it means calling his ex-lover, Naomi, to help him.

The Glory Church is one of the most well-known cults in the country. They are also one of the most feared by outsiders. Too many people have seen family members and friends sucked in, never to be heard from again. The members seemingly become zombies, void of emotion or any kind of reasoning. Their only purpose is to serve Father Glory. Just how far will Barney go, even it means risking his life or the lives of others? Will he become a bigger monster than those he is fighting against? Can Naomi put aside her feelings for Barney and what they shared in order to help him save his wife?

Barney’s desperation is completely realistic. I can’t imagine what I would be willing to do if I lost a family member to something so senseless; the agony of knowing that your family member is being brainwashed but not being held against their will. This book deeply explores the concept of free will and basic human rights. While I found Barney believable and sympathetic, Naomi was grating on my nerves. At first I found her likeable and felt bad for her, towards the end of the book I felt like I just didn’t understand her or what exactly it was that she believed in. Her stance and convictions seemed to change with every page. There is also the issue of what can legally be done to stop these people. The answer unfortunately is very little. There are usually not any laws being broken, and no one is willing to do anything until it’s too late.

I liked the concept of this book. I think that the subject of cults is still a taboo today. Sure it becomes a big story when something tragic happens. The Manson Family, Heaven’s Gate, The Branch Davidians, none of them really made headlines until things went horribly wrong. I felt unnerved reading this knowing that this exact thing could be going on right now in this country. How many families are being destroyed by this?

This book will make you wonder (if not be terrified by the thought) how easily someone in your own family could be lost. It also really made me wonder what motivates the leaders of these groups. Do they really believe the ideals that they are selling? Are they motivated purely by power and money? These are definitely things I am now more interested in researching after reading Cult.

Any book that makes you want to learn more on a topic is a success. 4 stars

[Picky Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though Cult by Warren Adler is a fictional account, the facts portrayed and the stories told are happening all across the US, and even the world. People get hoodwinked into joining religious groups, only to find later, that it’s impossible to leave, even if they want to.

Most people don’t even want to, since they’ve been brainwashed into thinking it’s all normal. People turn over houses, money, retirement accounts, all to further an agenda that wouldn’t typically be their own.

I thought Cult was well-written, even though I didn’t really believe Naomi would have done what she did. An ex-boyfriend calls, and she just jumps at the chance to help him? I think she was acting under a misguided notion that if she helped him, she might get him back somehow. Regardless of that, I didn’t think writing from her perspective was the right way to go. I would have loved to read Cult from the husband’s point of view, or even his wife’s.

Even given the disturbing subject matter, I thought the book was well-written. I have another book by this author, that I got from Netgalley as well, that I’m looking forward to reading. Cults, specifically the psychology behind them, have always fascinated me, so I enjoy the research that goes into books like these. Warren has obviously researched what it takes to deprogram someone from a cult, and though it seems like torture, it is sometimes the only way to go. Cult explores this theory, and offers practical examples of what is involved.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

( Format : audiobook )
Are you so perfect that you can judge me?""
As a great fan of Mr.Adler's work, I had been very much looking forward to this book. He is a wonderful wordsmith. But Cult just did not have the impact for me that his other books have had, be they thrillers or spy, comedy or historical.

As always, the character drawing is superb and the reader is given clear pictures of the aspirations of the protagonists. A young mother leaves her four years old child and her older, rather overbearing husband to join her sister in a closed community, a cult known as the Glories. She essentially signed away her life to be with them, cutting all communication with her family and the rest of the world. Her husband, Barnie, wants her back. He persuades an old girl friend, a human rights activist still just a little in love with him, to help him try to see his wife and bring her home. Intrigued, but against her better judgement, Naomie agrees and comes up against the legal barriers of access to someone who is in the grip of a group which has taken control, even though that same group might be suspect. The law is on their side and there is nothing legally that can be done.

Frustration, anger, violence both physical and psychological ensue. And the vassilation of Naomie over who is right and who wrong, is played out in her indecisions and actions which bring consequences which are disastrous. It is an interesting questioning of the concepts of personal choice, individual rights and the influences of others but the characters as portrayed failed to obtain a reality after the earlier chapters, especially Naomie, whose decisions to stay with Barnie well after her possible influence had ended, were at best bizarre (although her reasonings did give a further glimpse into how so many pressures can have influence on our decisions and who we are or become).

The narration was unfortunate, with Toni Lewis providing a scattergun speech, sounding almost mechanical, and slow - better when the speed was increased to 1.20. The voicing of the characters, however, was good.in dialogue.

Not one of Mr.Adler's best books, but even so, far better than that of many other writers' best. Recommended if what the reader is looking for is a spring board into ideas about personality and the rights of the individual, and how far our choices are our own.

[Davita Crowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject is interesting, the plot is suspenseful and flows in a lineear fashion towards a spiraling climax. From the author of War Of The Roses, another tale of family and marital dysfunction that goes beyond one family to an entire town, beseiged by a maniacal cult leader and his brainless followers.

The Foreward was well-thought out and informative.

The premise is not altogether believable though. The pyschological effects of cults and the irrational actions of the main characters weren't as realistic as they could have been. The repeated mentions of Al Qaeda and 9/11 as a cult and result of brainwashing was more opinion than based in fact. Terrorism to cult activity is a bit like comparing apples to bananas. It was oversimplified and hinted at sensationalism to tie this horrific event nto the book.

I was surprised the author didn't mention Patty Hearst and the SLA. Cults tend to hurt themselves and other members of their own group, they are more about personal power, capitalism (greed) and ideology where terrorist groups are more political in their motives and use violence towards others to make their statements.

The only characters I could visualize were the de-programmer, O'Hara and his sidekick, Roy. I could only empathize with the former. I would have liked to have known the others more intimately. I did not like Nay and felt her to be two one dimensional and stereotypical.

I felt some of the author's political bias come through her character. The Sheriff was a weak character as well. I didn't buy that he would have agreed with allowing an innocent child to be imvolved nor allow his own wife to babysit when the boy's life was in danger.

The book did hold my interest but was a bit rushed to the final conclusion, which was anti-climactic. It was not original and I expected a twist of the plot instead.

Thank you to Netgallery for the free copy to read for review and to the author's family. My heart goes out to you for your loss. Warren Adler has passed on and may he rest in peace.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

When a story like this comes along, the thing that always separates the well-written from the more sensationalized storylines is how the story impacts the conversations they stir up. This novel really did an amazing job of creating buzz-filled conversations that pushed the limits of what we think about when it comes to religious freedom vs indoctrination.

The character growth was so layered and complex that it really drew readers into the narrative. The novel introduced a story that felt very real, due in large part to the conflicted and flawed protagonists and antagonists of this narrative. The question of morality comes into play so strongly that readers will be forced to analyze how they would approach this emotional and mentally challenging subject. While saving our loved ones from indoctrination seems like a simple enough task, the means by which we do so and the consequences for those actions are what the characters here are forced to deal with.

The Verdict

A brilliant, complex, and engaging read, author Warren Adler’s “Cult” is a fantastic read. It allows readers to understand the challenging and emotional task of losing loved ones to fanaticism and cult activity, while also exploring the consequences of our choices. The concept of choice is a major theme in this novel, and the twists and turns both halfway through the novel and in the end will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

[Louise Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating subject matter and a clever way of bringing real life cases and scenarios into a fictional setting. It’s a short book and I wonder if there was more that could have been covered. Certainly thought provoking and Adler’s writing is always enjoyable.

[Crystal Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book got on my ever loving nerves. Too bad Naomi didn’t have an amulet.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read. Mostly read at gym. Main criticism is no likable characters.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of, Cult, by Warren Adler. I really wanted to like this book, it sounded like it would be a great read, but it was not.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can read more of my reviews at www.bookishlife.com

Cult is the story of Naomi and her ex-boyfriend, Barney, attempting to save Barney’s wife from a cult that she has recently joined. Naomi is a little unsure about the situation as well as her own feelings towards Charlotte (Barney’s wife) and the choices she made. Throughout the story, Naomi and Barney are introduced and exposed to the Glories and their beliefs and practices. Barney is determined to rescue his wife from this group that he believes has brainwashed his wife, while Naomi is more concerned with Charlotte’s human rights; her right to believe as she wants, her right to make decisions for her own life, etc. Naomi believes that is Charlotte willingly and voluntarily joined the Glories, then she had the right to do so, as long as she wasn’t forced to do so. While Naomi is concerned about Charlotte’s right to choose her own life, Barney is more concerned with proving that she has been brainwashed and forced to stay. As the story progresses, the reader begins to see that neither Naomi nor Barney is completely right or completely wrong in their views of the Glories.

There were several things, both good and bad, that I noticed as I was reading this book.

So, let’s start with a couple of the good things:

Pros: For me, the overall subject of this book is interesting to me. For some reason, cults and their methods and beliefs just pique my interest. I’ve read several of the books from some of the people who has left the polygamist groups. I’ve read other fictional accounts of characters attempting to escape these types of situations. But, Cult is unique in that it, more or less, is told from the perspective of the characters trying to “break someone out” of the cult. They are outsiders themselves. In most of these types of stories, the main perspective comes from the cult member as the try to leave the group. So, I really enjoyed the perspective of this novel.

I also really enjoyed the character of Naomi. In most novels like this, the “outsider” characters are completely against the cult. They believe that everything about the cult is wrong and harmful. However, Naomi is a different type of character. To some degree, she is sympathetic to the cult and its members. She is mainly concerned with human right, and believes that adults should have the right to voluntarily join these communities. She isn’t completely sold of the idea of ‘brainwashing’ and people really have no choice or no control over their own actions. Throughout this book, her views are contrasted with those other “outsiders” that are completely convinced of the harm the cult is doing. In some way, it was interesting to see things from this rare viewpoint.

Cons: As far as things I didn’t like about this novel, there were a couple. To begin with, there were parts of this book that seemed very rushed. I would have liked to have had a little more detail and explanation. It would have been very nice to have a little more explanation of the belief system of the Glories. There are moments and pieces of their beliefs that are referenced or mentioned in passing, but the reader never really gets a full explanation of their belief system.

I would have also liked a little more background and development of some of the characters, specifically the character of O’Hara. He was a ‘deprogrammer’ that escaped from the Glories and the reader is told repeatedly that he knows how they think and believe. That’s how he is able to ‘deprogram’ what they have been taught. But, other than that, there really isn’t a whole lot shared about him. He becomes a more important character as the plot moves along, and more information about him would have been helpful.

In the end, I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. There were some interesting parts and the main perspectives were somewhat unique. But, overall, it just seemed like something was missing. I can’t quite put my finger on it or explain it, but it just needed…something.

I might be willing to suggest this book to other people that are interested in this topic, but other than that, I probably wouldn’t recommend it.

Have you read Cult? Or any other book that deals with this topic? I would love any suggestions you might have.

[elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was terrible.

The main character was insufferable, but strangely devoid of any real personality outside of the prescribed dimension of the Smug Liberal stereotype. If she was meant to be the skeptical reader's entry into the reality of the story, Mr. Adler clearly doesn't grasp that the kind of people that would pick up a book like this would already be willing to accept the basics of the psychology of cults.

AND it wasn't even good psychology, oh my god. Was any research done at all? I highly doubt it.

I skimmed the last 25% of this book because I couldn't take it anymore. The other characters are also stereotypical, but since most of this book was spent going over again and again and again AND AGAIN how morally superior the main character is to apparently even God or whatever you believe in, we didn't have to spend much time with the nobodies and their pseudo-philosophical pronouncements. This book was already plenty rife with pseudo-philosophical pronouncements anyway.

THIS WAS A TERRIBLE BOOK. I'd give it zero or even negative stars if I could.

[Leianne Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wonderful. Until the ending. Hold on, let me finish.I have a bit of an obsession with human right, cults and other forms of persecution. This book is a work of fiction but it was still well written from the perspective of a woman who is helping an ex-boyfriend attempt to save his wife from a highly dangerous cult. Despite her conflicting emotions of trying to guide a man she loved deeply towards saving his wife, the story flowed well and brought out emotions I have personally felt in my life.The ending, however, was extremely rushed and appeared to be not as thought out as the rest of the book. It was not the ending I wanted and it was not the ending I felt did the story any justice. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, action packed story with a surprise ending. If you are a fan of real cult survival stories, you will notice the wonderful way Adler paralleled his characters mindset and brainwashing. I am glad I read this. It was a fantastic read. Unfortunately, I couldn't cope with the end and it wil likely not go on my “to re-read” list.

[M.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A compelling, gripping fictionalization of the power of cults over the minds of men.

This book takes bits and pieces of Waco, Jonestown, Heaven's Gate and other cults and combines just enough reality with fiction to give a clear and terrifying picture of just how dangerous and disturbing cult mentality is.

Naomi (Nay) gets a sudden call from an ex-boyfriend (Barney) she hasn't heard from in years. His wife has been "kidnapped" by The Glories, a pseudo-Christian cult that controls the body and soul of its members. Nay is a human rights worker with some government contacts and Barney pleads with her to help. Thousands of miles, two deprogrammers and a plan that unfolds as swiftly as you can read, this story won't let you go.

[Jay Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

An astonishing look at the issues of brainwashing in religious cults. The story illuminates the difficulties for family, friends and law enforcement when a person is lost to a cult. Not a dry documentary, but an intense story with enough madness, terror and blame to spread across all involved. The novel addresses the issue of what is morally right when dealing with the evils of a brain-washing sect, and leaves the answer in the reader's lap. This is a novel that deserves discussion.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling novel which inspires the reader to ponder questions of morality, compassion, religious and intellectual freedom, and the gulfs between genders, individuals, and generations. What is the right act? Is there a single right--or is morality relativistic?

[Nev Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad.About softheads getting sucked into a religious cult.These seem to grow on trees in the USA

[Debby Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

there are better books on the theme but the story moved with some unpredictable twists

[Kevin Cowdall · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Cult' unfolds a nightmare which could happen to anyone: Adler is the master of creating everyday characters whose lives slowly disintegrate page by page. Soon to be a movie, too!

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was slow and uninteresting. I had high hopes when I bought it, but I found myself disliking the characters and just really unable to get into the story at all.

[Corey Coots · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book's premise had so much potential, but did not follow through. Nay, the main character, was not terribly likable, and I found myself becoming increasingly annoyed with her...and the end, meh.