Or the guy who recently lead a bunch of folks from Colorado to Israel to await the end of the world. Outsiders always expect some incredible charisma bordering on magic to explain the leader's control, but I think it has more to do with the individuals who are sucked in and the subsequent group dynamics of the followers. It's about their need to find a leader and believe in him. Thinking for ourselves is hard and we are drawn to people who seem confident about having the answers. Also, it's about the seduction of being told you're special.
Women fall for it all the time.
We all want it. It's all about the needs people have, and leaders who figure out how to exploit those needs to their own ends. I just wanted to explore this fascinating story for myself and tell it in an interesting way. In most of my books it works this way, though. Don't let your longing for love blind you to someone else's need to manipulate you.