The Pit: A Group Encounter Defiled

by Gene Church, Conrad D. Carnes

A study of abuse in encounter groups of the early 1970s

161 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Jasonlylescampbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most horrific books I have ever read? Combine fight club with power of positive thinking with hard right conservative (with that crazy brutal macho element that ends up looking like survival of the fittest) and call it all Leadership Dynamics Institute. Oh and throw in the 70s when Chinatown, Wildbunch, etc when language and violence knew no bounds.

A friend of mine's father was an executive in Holiday Magic the notorious cosmetic pyramid scheme. She loaned me the book which is a first hand account of their side biz Leadership Training. Its like a group abusive relationship, using any means necessary to break people down, literally, physically telling them they are nothing so they can finally be "honest". And then its up from there. Every means is used to separate, to employ participants in the violence, etc. The author and others in his group were part of a class action lawsuit against this training.

It is hard to find anything online that states whether this is known factual. It was made into a movie in 1985.

I am not sure I learned anything. I do not like Napoleon Hill or Amway ... Bill Patrick (founder of Holiday Magic) is sort of their baseline. I guess reading such a horrific book, I am mostly glad that I am finished.

[Cwl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 60s/70s predecessor to staff training events goes way off the rails. Instead of looking at charts on PowerPoints, attendees get stripped naked and put into coffins, slapped around, and starved, all in the name of "improved productivity" and "honesty". I mostly view those types of events as near cousins to televangelist rallies & they generally are just as effective at changing behavior. So you'd think I'd be WAY into this exposé, but parts of it weren't convincing (people nearly die! The Washington Redskins show up!). It's written in a really blase way, too. But it's quick enough that you can finish it up in one day if you're really interested in Leadership Dynamics or old-timey mid-level-marketing scams.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very graphic portrayal of personal development weekend events in the
1970's. I worked with a man who went through this experience in this book.

[Wim De Hert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of "The Pit", proposed as a non-fiction, actual event, starts off from a basic premise: "People do not change their ways until they absolutely need to." The seminar aiming to better people's lives makes it a point to make sure this necessity arises. Whether you agree or disagree with the techniques used, Pit definitely makes a point where it comes to human nature. Well-worth a read.