Rogue Messiahs: Tales of Self-Proclaimed Saviors
Wilson's lucid survey of the lives, claims, actions, and abuses of cult leaders makes for compelling reading. He outlines the psychological makeup of these individuals and provides an intriguing narrative that keeps the reader's interest, providing many case histories that most will not be familiar with. The author also focuses on the followers of these "rogue messiahs," whose own personalities allow them to be swept up by the messages of cult leaders and who feed the cult's illusion of power and destiny. The reader gains insight into David Koresh of the Branch Davidians, Jim Jones and Jonestown, and Abram Smith and the Oneida Community, to name a few. The exposition of each cult leader completes another chapter in Wilson's study wherein he highlights the behaviors of these cult leaders and their tendency to fall into a number of well-defined patterns. Wilson (The Outsider) has written more than 80 works, and this book is likely to attract many readers because it is easy to read and focuses on biographical details about cult leaders. Recommended for academic and public library collections dealing with crime and cults.DLeroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach P.L. Distict., FL Sports & RecreationCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.