They draw you in with the promise of empowerment, self-discovery, women helping women. The more secretive those connections are, the more exclusive you feel. Little did you know, you just joined a cult.
Sex trafficking. Self-help coaching. Forced labour. Mentorship. Multi-level marketing. Gaslighting. Investigative journalist Sarah Berman explores the shocking practices of NXIVM, a global organization run by Keith Raniere and his high-profile enablers (Seagram heir Clare Bronfman; Smallville actor Allison Mack; Battlestar Galactica actor Nicki Clyne). Through the accounts of central NXIVM figures, Berman unravels how young women seeking creative coaching and networking opportunities found themselves blackmailed, literally branded, near-starved, and enslaved. With the help of the Bronfman fortune Raniere built a wall of silence around these abuses, leveraging the legal system to go after enemies and whistleblowers.
Don't Call It a Cult shows that these abuses looked very different from the inside, where young women initially received mentorship and protection. Don't Call It a Cult is a riveting account of NXIVM's rise to power, its ability to evade prosecution for decades, and the investigation that finally revealed its dark secrets to the world. It explores why so many were drawn to its message of empowerment yet could not recognize its manipulative and harmful leader for what he was—a criminal.
When I saw the cover for Sarah Berman's Don't Call it a Cult, I knew I needed to read this book.
If you haven't heard of Keith Raniere and the NXIVM cult, where have you been? Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with this cult, as I am from the area. The rumors about the dangers were rampant for years.
As well, I watched HBO's The Vow and learned ever more about the details.
This book gave me even more of an insight into this insane cult. I am still in shock.
If you've heard of NXIVM and want to learn more, read this book.
If you are interested in how people fall into cults, read this book.
The author gives an in-depth recounting of how NXIVM started and how it all evolved, as well as how it unraveled and details of the trials.
This is a heavy read that is not easy to consume. But it's all too realistic and riveting.
Don't Call it a Cult is a fascinating read. I know I'll be recommending this book to many of my friends and family.
No comments:
Post a Comment