Straight Talk about Cults

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up-This is not only ``straight talk'' about cults; for YAs, it's the most complete examination of their special appeal for teens and their social and psychological effects on them. Porterfield defines cults, distinguishes between those that are dangerous and those that are nonthreatening, and looks at their special appeal to teens. She combines vignettes of impressionable young people joining cults with a detailed and fair analysis of what makes them vulnerable to the groups' enticements, how they become entrapped, and how new recruits are molded into obedient members. The author also provides a revealing look at leaders such as David Koresh and Jim Jones, showing how they used their undisputed charisma to gain absolute control of their followers' daily lives. The final chapters deal with ways to leave cults and the lasting effects the groups have on former members. The book focuses on the physical and psychological realities of life in especially dangerous cults but there are also brief but vivid portraits of 19th-century utopian and 20th-century religious cults. In addition, issues relating to civil liberties are carefully explored in a chapter concerning the wisdom and effectiveness of coercive deprogramming. Although there is occasional repetition, Straight Talk about Cults is more comprehensive and balanced than Daniel Cohen's Cults (Millbrook, 1994) and Thomas Streissguth's Charismatic Cult Leaders (Oliver, 1995)-and it offers its readers excellent advice on dealing with the challenges posed by these groups.-Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego