Human beings exploit other human beings in a multitude of ways, from abusive relationships to totalitarian governments. Somewhere in between lies the world of cults. What can their behaviour teach us about exploitation and manipulation? How can we self-protect?
The coercive tools employed by charismatic leaders of the cults we've heard of - NXIVM, Heaven's Gate, the Branch Davidians at Waco and The Family in Victoria - are used by many more hiding in plain sight. Over and over again smart, rational people fall for these tactics, trading their freedom for psychological and sometimes physical bondage.
At the heart of what it is to be human is the desire to belong. This desire makes us appallingly vulnerable to the manipulations of others. Cult leaders know this, but they're not the only ones who do.
In Do As I Say, Sarah Steel tells the human tale behind the sensationalism. Sharing deeply personal stories, gathered over years of interviews, she allows them to shine a light onto the problematic behaviours that occur in cults and how they are also present across society in general. What can cult behaviour teach us about leadership? How can we recognise the unhealthy pressure applied by bosses, lovers, politicians, advertisers and businesses, religious leaders, and friends that forces us to act against our interests?
