The CultWatcher Handbook  (PDF Download) This booklet is a collection of papers and articles designed to give you an overall idea of the identifying marks of a cult , and to impart some strategies should you in some way be affected by an extremist group.
Cults: A Practical Guide  (Order Form) Both educators and students will find this booklet topical and relevant. This guide is highly recommended as a helpful reference for all concerned in recognition of deceptive cults and their methods.
'Dangerous Persuaders' - by Louise Samways. This recently updated Australian book explores methods used by various controlling and abusive groups. Louise offers practical help and advice to the victims and their families, alerts readers about how approaches are made, and suggests strategies for avoiding them. * The book can be downloaded free via this link *
'Releasing The Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves' - by Steven Hassan. Hassan is a model of clear exposition, his original ideas are brilliantly presented in a captivating style. I am confident that readers of his new book, Releasing the Bonds, will share my enthusiasm for what this author tells us about how to deal with the growing menace of cults." - Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D. President of the American Psychological Association 2002 (apa.org)
'Cults In Our Midst' - By Margaret Thaler Singer PhD. "In this book I will use the term cult and cultic group to refer to any one of a large number of groups that have sprung up in our society and that are similar in the way that they originate, their power structure, and their governance. Cults range from the relatively benign to those that exercise extraordinary control over members' lives and use thought-reform processes to influence and control members."
'Take Back Your Life' - Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich (Associate Professor of Sociology at California State University) and Madeleine Tobias. "Must reading for everyone who wants to understand the appeal of cults. This book's wisdom is vital." Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Stanford University
'Leaving the Fold' - A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving their Religion by Marlene Winell "Leaving the Fold is invaluable to those who have gone through the ordeal of religious addiction, abuse, and disillusionment, and who need a recovery plan. I highly recommend this book not only to the wounded, but also urge all pastors to study it carefully and then re-assess their own ministries. Dr. Marlene Winell has made a most important contribution to deal with the most heart-wrenching of experiences." -Rev. Austin Miles
'Churches that Abuse' - by Dr. Ronald M. Enroth. "The perversion of power that we see in abusive churches disrupts and divides families, fosters an unhealthy dependence of members on the leadership, and creates, ultimately, spiritual confusion in the lives of victims." The complete book is available for download via this link
'Battle for the Mind' - By William Sargant. This book originally published in the 1950s, with many newer editions and reprints, remains a classic on the topic of mind control and brainwashing.
'The Brain That Changes Itself' - By Norman Doidge, M.D. "What we have learned .. is that neuroplasticity contributes to both the constrained and unconstrained aspects of our nature" and "it renders our brains not only more resourceful but also more vulnerable to outside influences.".. "certain practices used by cults or in brainwashing, which obey the laws of neuroplasticity, demonstrate that sometimes individual identities can be changed in adulthood, even against a person’s will."

 

         - Specific Groups

(AMWAY / MLM)   'Merchants of Deception' - An Insider's Look at the worldwide, systematic conspiracy of lies - By Eric Scheibeler. "Scheibeler describes the mental conditioning that diminished his ability to make critical judgments in the face of overwhelming factual evidence" - BRUCE A. CRAIG, retired Assistant Attorney General, Wisconsin Department of Justice - Office of Consumer Protection. UK Justice Norris found in 2008 that out of an IBO population of 33,000, "only about 90 made sufficient incomes to cover the costs of actively building their business".

(ANTHROPOSOPHY)   'Sun at Midnight: Rudolf Steiner Movement and the Western Esoteric Tradition' - By Geoffrey Ahern. This book is a synopsis on Anthroposophy and all it's activities. The Steiner schools are grounded in these beliefs which are often shrouded in mainstream terminology. This book will help families make an informed decision for their children. Email CIFS - to purchase this limited edition Au$40.

(CHILDREN OF GOD / THE FAMILY)   'Not Without My Sister' - By Juliana Buhring, Celeste Jones, Kristina Jones "I am pleased to anounce my new book co-writen with my sisters, Celeste Jones and Juliana Burhing. We were born into The Family - this is our story." ...the true story of three girls violated and betrayed by those they trusted

(EXCLUSIVE BRETHREN)
'Behind the Exclusive Brethren' - Michael Bachelard 'One of the most sober and well-argued exposés I have ever read … Michael Bachelard reveals the Brethren's God as Mammon, their behaviour as that of schoolyard bullies, and their Christianity all about self-love.'  Lucy Sussex (Sunday Age)
'Breakout: How I Escaped From the Exclusive Brethren' - David Tchappat Most members are so isolated within the sect that they can't even imagine a life on the outside. But not all members can live such a controlled existence. Once David Tchappat had a taste of the real world as a teenager, there was no going back despite the fact he knew he would be cruelly ostracised from his family, friends and the only life he had known.
'Don't Call Me Sister' - Marion Field The events described... have left an indelible impression on me and others who suffered in the same way. It is sad that a group which originated with such humility and sincerity should have deteriorated in such a way.
'Shut Up Sarah' - Marion Field 'It is an indictment that today, over 10 years later, the Exclusive Brethren continue to be regarded by many as the epitomy of Hypocrisy... the heartless and unChristian way in which they rip families apart in the name of their home-grown legalism'

(GURU MYSTICISM)   'The Serpent Rising' - By Mary Garden "There is no other book that I know of which reveals the addictive nature of the search for spiritual enlightenment better than this one... Mary Garden's book may just stop you from falling into that vortex of group hysteria where discernment and commonsense are discarded in favour of dubious mysticism." Sue Gough, Courier Mail. $8 incl postage - Contact Author.

'Breaking the Spell' - By Jane Stork Breaking the Spell is Jane Stork's extraordinary life story. Equally moving and disturbing, it chronicles the rise and fall of the religion Rajneeshism and the Rolls Royce guru, and Jane's part in the events that led to its collapse. After serving time in the US, Jane started a new life in Germany, but soon realised she could never truly be free until she had faced up to the past. With an international arrest warrant hanging over her head, and a son who is gravely ill, Jane finally does so with devastating clarity.

(HILLSONG)   'People in Glass Houses' - By Tania Levin. People in Glass Houses tells how a small Assemblies of God church in a suburban school hall became a multi-million dollar tax-free enterprise and a powerful force in Australia today. Opening up the world of Christian fundamentalism, this is a powerful, personal and at times very funny exploration of an all singing, all swaying mega church.News Article

(JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES)   'Out Of The Cocoon' - Brenda Lee "Out of the Cocoon is a powerful and touching account of one young woman’s journey to freedom from repression and religious intolerance. I picked it up one evening and couldn’t stop reading until I was finished late that night. It will hold you like a compelling paperback novel and touch you on the deeper levels of spiritual freedom and growth." — Steve Chandler, author of Reinventing Yourself

(SCIENTOLOGY)   'Scientology: Abuse at the Top' - By Amy Scobee Amy Scobee tells the eye-opening account of her 27 years inside the Church from innocence at age 14 to her nightmarish experiences in the highest management body at Scientology's secret International Headquarters. Hear of the abuses she both witnessed and experienced first hand.
'Hollywood, Satanism, Scientology, & Suicide' - By Jerry Staton "I expose Scientology in this country, because to expose it is to kill it. Scientology is one of those monsters of darkness to whom the light of truth is death." - Jerry Staton Jerry Staton is an independent reporter and is also the reporter of the case of adult endangerment mentioned in this article.
'My Billion Year Contract' - By Nancy Many “Nancy Many’s book is the first full-length study to provide insight into how some of Scientology’s techniques and policies may cause or contribute to severe mental health problems among members.” - Stephen A. Kent Professor, Department of Sociology, Adjunct Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of Alberta
'The Complex' - By John Duignan. "Writing the book has been a cleansing and often cathartic experience, I can now, with some considerable relief, leave it all behind me and really start to build a new life." We follow his journey through the Church and the painful investigation that leads to his eventual realisation that there is something very wrong at Scientology's core. Or audiobook:   prologue   Ch.1   Ch.2   Ch.3   Ch.4
'Blown for Good' - By Marc Headley. "If you want to leave Scientology ... you will not be able to speak to your mother or your children or you family members again… " "When you have dozens of people speaking out, it's no longer credible to say they are all malcontents and criminals." - Jeff Hawkins Marc Headley audio
'The Scandal of Scientology' - By Paulette Cooper. Quote: "Instead of trying to hide what is going on in their house, they may have to clean it up." "I happened upon the hard-to-find Scandal of Scientology by Paulette Cooper. Now I was fascinated, and started collecting everything I could get my eager hands on - magazine articles, newspaper clippings, government files, anything." - Jon Atack
'Bare-Faced Messiah' - By Russell Miller. Quote: "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion". "... I have reached the conclusion that this application is both mischievous and misconceived and must be dismissed." - Justice Vinelott on legal action prior to publication.
'A Piece of Blue Sky' - By Jon Atack. Quote: "Hubbard found it easy to create schemes to part his new following from their money. One of the first tasks was to arrange "grades" of membership, offering supposedly greater rewards, at increasingly higher prices. Over thirty years later. an associate wryly remembered Hubbard turning to him and confiding, no doubt with a smile, 'Let's sell these people a piece of blue sky.' ".
'The Total Freedom Trap' - By Jon Atack. Quote: "An enormous amount of documented evidence demonstrates that Hubbard was not what he claimed to be, and that his subject does not confer the benefits claimed for it. Using profoundly invasive hypnotic techniques, Scientology has managed to inspire the at times fanatical devotion of tens of thousands of previously normal and intelligent people."
'L. Ron Hubbard: Messiah or Madman' - By Bent Corydon. Quote: "He used his gift for combining words to exploit something which is truly sacred: Man's hope and quest for values that are greater than the mundane. His 'magical incantations' were words and symbols; combinations of words like 'Total Freedom,' being designed to entice; and 'Church of Scientology'; and 'rehabilitation project force,' designed to deceive."

(SRI CHINMOY)   'Cartwheels In A Sari - A Memoir of Growing Up Cult' - By Jayanti Tamm. "A former devotee born into Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy's ministry has written a scathing memoir about her life growing up in the Queens-based religious group. Jayanti Tamm, 46, an English professor at Ocean County College in New Jersey, chronicles her first 25 years in Chinmoy's group in the book "Cartwheels in a Sari," released this month. Tamm characterizes the charismatic leader's group as a cult, and documents Chinmoy's "masterful tactics of manipulation." - New York Daily News

(THE FELLOWSHIP )   'Fractured Families: The Story of a Melbourne Cult' - By Morag Zwartz "One Sunday evening, close on 65 years ago, in the genteel suburb of Canterbury, an earnest bunch of church men and women gathered in the home of Alan and Frances Neil to share their faith... They could not know they were laying the foundation for a parachurch organisation, which would live on for many decades to come, outlive most of those present, and acquire a reputation as cruelly elitist and sectarian."

(ZION FULL SALVATION MINISTRY)   'My Brother's Eyes' - By John and David Ayliffe. My Brother's Eyes tells the true story of a dangerous religious cult that operated in NSW. Called Zion Full Salvation Ministry, the cult began as part of an inner city Anglican Church in Sydney. It was founded by a woman who claimed to have Christ's stigmata and to be the embodiment of God on earth. When the woman died 16 years later, most of the 70-odd congregation had been stripped of their finances and investments and in many cases their self-esteem too. My Brother's Eyes is a troubling story but has a happy ending as it tells the story of the separation of the brothers and their eventual reunion.