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Sects Appeal: Janice Hallett's Favourite Books on Cults

Posted on 13th December 2022 by Anna Orhanen

In her latest exquisitely twisty thriller, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, the bestselling author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code weaves a labyrinthine tale of investigations into the titular sect who believed one of their member's babies was the anti-Christ. In this exclusive piece, Janice Hallett shares her top five books that feature cults. 

Few aspects of human behaviour are as fascinating as the phenomenon of the cult. What makes an otherwise intelligent individual join an isolated group with ideologies that are marginal at best and dangerous at worst? Why do some people start their own cults and why, once they’ve joined a cult, is it so difficult for followers to leave? I asked all these questions during my research for The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels and here are my top 5 ‘cult classic’ reads.

Brainwashed by Daniel Pick

The history of mind control is given the academic treatment by historian and psychologist Pick, who looks at brainwashing from the Second World War to the present day. From cold war paranoia to the proliferation of 21st Century conspiracy theories we are all subject to hidden persuasion by governments, brands and organisations, and with the internet reaching millions of people daily, perhaps we should all be a bit savvier about it. Pick also explores the hair-raising experiments conducted over the years on the potential of brainwashing as a method of social control. Dark, fascinating and disturbing. 

Cultish by Amanda Montell

In this lively, fascinating and unnerving book, a linguist explores the language of power and fanaticism. While it’s no surprise that history’s most successful cults have used influential language to hook followers and keep them in thrall, Montell broadens her research beyond the usual high-profile names and quasi-religious organisations. Her findings demonstrate that many respectable agencies, companies and movements freely use and exploit similar ‘cultish’ language to gain votes, enlist support and part innocent consumers from their cash. I guarantee that by the final page you will question your own definition of what a cult is - and never look at your gym instructor in the same way again.

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From religious sects to social media influencers, Montell's eye-opening volume explores the social science and appeal of cults, revealing how much of the power these groups with fixed ideologies and rules possess is linked to the language their leaders use.
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Terror, Love and Brainwashing by Alexandra Stein

Dr Alexandra Stein knows what she’s talking about. Now a social psychologist and Honorary Research Fellow at London South Bank University, she spent ten years in a political cult herself, and the 25 years since studying the phenomenon. This book is a captivating, if sobering, blend of personal experience, eye-witness accounts and academic study, as Stein drills down into the factors that make us more vulnerable at certain times in our lives than others. Her own theories and observations as to how brainwashing takes place are absolutely and terrifyingly spot on. 

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From Jehovah’s Witnesses to North Korea, this deeply researched and fascinating volume from a cult survivor and expert sheds light on the emotional and cognitive isolation and manipulative practices used by charismatic leaders – both in cults and totalitarian regimes.

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Educated by Tara Westover

The definition of a cult is not exclusive to religious and ideological organisations. Tara Westover grew up in a family of ‘survivalists’ whose existence was so isolated she didn’t set foot in a classroom until she was 17. On the surface her upbringing appeared idyllic, as she, her parents and seven siblings lived a hippyish lifestyle off-grid in rural, mountainous Idaho. They treated ailments with herbs and were always ready to ‘run to the hills’ and live off the land if the end of the world looked imminent. But this existence was the result of her father’s paranoia and untreated mental health problems. Her escape from his abusive tyranny is an extraordinary story, one of true survival. Westover’s account is particularly heart-breaking on the mixed feelings ‘escape’ can bring when it means leaving loved ones behind.

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Both a fascinating snapshot of survivalist, rural America and an uplifting tribute to the power of learning, Westover’s memoir charts her journey from a bleak Idaho childhood to a Cambridge-educated academic.
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The Girls by Emma Cline

Set in late-60s California, The Girls follows troubled teenager Evie as she falls in with a crowd of older young women who seem so much more together than she feels. The trouble is, their confidence and sense of belonging is courtesy of a charismatic, yet controlling, man. Evie and the girls follow him to an isolated desert compound where their devotion leads to a shocking, murderous conclusion. If this sounds familiar it’s because the infamous Manson Family cult is a strong inspiration behind the story, but it’s no less a serious examination of cult-theory for being fictional. On the contrary, Cline explores the deep vulnerabilities that make young people so susceptible to joining alternative organisations, and why they are therefore the targets of controlling individuals. The older Evie narrates the story of how she was led down unthinkable paths just to feel as if she was running with the crowd.   

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A sinuous thriller based on the warped appeal of the Manson Family and set under the Californian sun, Cline’s disturbing debut is a hypnotic depiction of personality cults, countercultural conformity and psychopathy masquerading as peace and love.
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