Status Updates From Feet of Clay: A Study of Gurus

Written in the 90s, before social media when this became apparent for everyone whose ever used it:

"We like to think that we are irreplaceable, and so we believe it, even though we rationally appreciate that we shall soon be forgotten. Many of us harbour transient grandiose delusions that we are more important than we actually are."

Last chapters read like Buzzcoks lyrics - sanity and insanity; chaos and order; delusion and faith.
On eccentric beliefs as =/= mental illness:
"I have tried to demonstrate that a new belief system, whether it is considered delusional or not, is an attempt at solving problems. Striving to make sense of strange mental experiences is only one example of the universal human desire to bring order out of chaos."

Really good stuff. I know there are more recent books, but happy I went back for this. Interesting on Freud- people quote him as an expert but he's more of a guru, thinking he had individual inspiration (though unlike more toxic gurus, he did being advances in talk therapy and care). The Oedipus stuff is trash, lol, just his experience he declared was universal.

Nothing new, but true! The book is kinda old--but it's been on my list 10yrs & i finally got a copy.

"It appears that once a guru has convinced a follower of his Messianic status, his actual behaviour, as judged by ordinary human standards, becomes largely irrelevant. Belief in a guru, while it persists, entirely overrules rational judgment. Dedicated disciples are as impervious to reason as are infatuated lovers."

Heard to believe Jim Jones, David Koresh, even synanon (not covered) started out with equality, racial integration, shared resources before things took a turn.

"Jones was skillful at cultivating important people, and succeeded in impressing Jane Fonda, Angela Davis, Daniel Ellsberg, and Rosalynn Carter, with whom he once shared a platform."