Cult Insanity
A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophets, and Blood Atonement
By Irene Spencer
A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophets, and Blood Atonement
By Irene Spencer
Just looking at the title I wanted to see what this book was all about. Yeah, I am one of those people who wonder what goes on in the minds of others. And to know that people choose to take some paths that seem skewed to us makes me all the more interested. Irene Spencer was raised believing polygamy was the only way for a woman to go to heaven. So I had to start with that in my mind as I was reading this story of her life.
As children we follow what our parents and those around them tell us is true. So the norm may be different as we are raised. Taking that into account I was still amazed at the life this woman led. Being on of ten wives and bearing 13 of her husbands 58 children, Irene lived in abject poverty and most often without her husband anywhere around. She was left in the hands of a man who’s beliefs were ever growing of his greatness and power. The women who were left in his charge (and their children) never had enough to see a way out of their situation.
Irene gives us a detailed account of what her life was like. And the insanity of the self appointed leader of this group. From her start as a very young second wife sharing a 3 room hut to seeing a growing community who bought into one man’s beliefs of him being a prophet. She continues on to tell of his demands on the community til he finally has people being put to death for not complying with him. Her fears and race to out run her very own death sentence while trying to save her children and others in the community had me at the very edge of my seat.
I will say this is a look inside the mentality of how a cult starts and continues to grow. I was amazed and also taken back to think that one’s life can be controlled by one person.
You may be interested in reading this one yourself.
I have 5 copies of this interesting book to giveaway to my readers. Just leave me a comment (be sure to include contact info) telling me what about the book sounds interesting to you.
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for some reason... I've always been intrigued by the cult mentality... How can 1 person so over-wright everything we believe and teach and gain such mindless loyalty from a group? It just amazes me... and terrifies me at the same time...
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ReplyDeleteI just read Escape by Carolyn Jessup and this books sounds like it would be along the same lines.
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ReplyDeleteHey Nessa! I sure hope I win one of those books. Even though I am a Christian, books like that tend to catch my eye, because it is so hard for me to understand what makes people in that frame of mind tick.
ReplyDeleteJust left a comment as to why I would like to win the book, now I already have your button, does that count, and I'm already a follower, does that count? I have no idea what an RSS feed is, so I hope you come to Curves tomorrow so I can find out and get another entry. I kinda figure those other two don't count, huh? LOL
ReplyDeletePJ
I follow you already :). ...and this book sounds so interesting, i love reading things like this.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why, but I've alway been extremely interested in reading about polygamy and how the women manage to free themselves from it!!
ReplyDeletechoateorama(at)gmail(dot)com
I believe I have read every true crime book around. I love to explore the minds of the evil and of the good. Cults have always interested me since the horrific Charles Manson killings. thank you
ReplyDeleteMy career has me dealing with what most of us think of as unusual. I would be interested in this book to hear one side of the story and how she overcame what she always believed was right. ksbald2@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI read Spencer's other book (Shattered Dreams) and I thought that it was excellent. She is an amzing writer, and I'd like to read her latest effort.
ReplyDeleteAlicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
such fascination to find out how some people believe and live!
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I subscribe to your Rss feed via Google Reader
ReplyDeleteAlicia Webster
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I am interested because I find polygamy fascinating. Big Love is one of my favorite shows-and I can't figure out why anyone would choose that lifestyle.
ReplyDeletesmchester at gmail dot com
It has always fascinated me how people can be drawn into a cult. I's really like to learn more about what personalities cults attract and why, and cult life.
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I subscribe via email.
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I think it is interesting how people view things, especally religious practices. I am a Christian and it fascinates me at how people can be so ignorant in the face of what the Bible truly says and how misconceptions are brainwashed into others.
ReplyDeleteI love to read books like this, because it's like a window into another world.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read this book-I've always wondered why women would stay in these cults
ReplyDeletetiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
Ok, we'll try this again. I follow your blog.
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ReplyDeleteI also would like to delve into the mind of people whose behavior is so foriegn to me. jelly15301@gmail.com
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ReplyDeleteI've always been intrigued by cult mentalities and how people get dragged into them.
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I would be interested in an insider's views of a cult.
ReplyDeletetraymona[at]aol.com
I've read 3 books written by former members of the FDLS cult & would love to read this book.
ReplyDeleteI would hope it would shed some light on why, why?
ReplyDeleteI have always had some questions about Polygamy. It would be very interesting to read this
ReplyDeletejason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
The world of polygamy fascinates me for some reason. I can see where it is used in both bad and good ways. I would really love to read more about it! Thanks!
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Wow! This sounds really good. I've always thought that in my younger days, I'd have been a good "target" for a cult. Maybe this will shed some inside fo if that is a true statement or not.
ReplyDeleteHey Nessa! I couldn't remember if I left a comment about posting you on my blog yesterday (the 28 or 29) I can't remember. One of these days I'm actually gonna get my blog typed by 11 and me in bed no later than 115 or 11:30.
ReplyDeletePJ
I too like to see what goes through some people heads.This book sounds like it might do that
ReplyDeleteYes, I liked the book Under the Banner of Heaven and since reading that have wanted to read other books about the FLDS cult or whatever they are...
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I follow you with google
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I follow you on twitter (kmayans)
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I want to know what life in the cult was like.
ReplyDeleteIt fascinates me to see what people do (allegedly) in the name of jesus.
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ReplyDeleteI have always found cult stories very interesting. I am especially curious about the women involved as they are usually second class citizens and am never sure why they would sign up for such treatment.
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ReplyDeleteI've always wondered what the initial draw is. Why does one stay when the situation is changing so drastically.
ReplyDeleteI am an email subscriber under sharonaquilino(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI too have always wondered how a cult leader could change so many people's mind..
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the chance to win :)
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
I follow your blog with Google
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I follow you on twitter
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I have always found cults very interesting. I would love to read this book!
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I follow your blog.
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I follow you on twitter.
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I would love to know what the hold is that women do not escape these situations more often than they do and why it goes to such great lengths before an attempt at escape is made. I want to know why women so often unquestioningly volunteer themselves to live as second class citizens.
ReplyDeleteI've read Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith" and would like to read this!
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I've always wondered what draws someone in and then convinces them to stay in such an untenable situation.
ReplyDeleteYour review had me intrigued. I do wonder how easily people can be swayed by those around them. Thank you
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I am following you on google. Thank you
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I have always wondered what goes through the girls minds when they go through a life like this. I could not even imagine
ReplyDeleteThe world of polygamy fascinates me. I have been raised Jewish, but often wonder what would have happened if I was born into a different religion. Thanks! sbcashortie (at) hotmail (dot) com
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ReplyDeleteI blogged about the giveaway at http://beccascontestlist.blogspot.com/2009/10/cult-insanity-memoir-of-polygamy.html
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to read the "inside story" of what happens in a cult. I can't imagine how it must be!
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ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway :)
The cult mentality and polygamy are very fascinating. It would be so interesting to read about someone's personal experience with this. Thanks!
ReplyDeletepjgirl74 at aol dot com
It's interesting to me why people would join something like this, I've watched some shows about it too. It's scary and strange.
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I'd like to read it to be able to get a peek at what goes on in the mind of those who join and follow cults.
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ReplyDeleteI have always been interested in cults, and I have wondered what makes people stay. I think this would be an interesting read. Thanks!
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I find it interesting the power these cult leaders exercise over people and how the human spirit enables followers to wake up amd ralize the truth to escape. garrettsambo@aol.com
ReplyDeleteIt sounds interesting because I'm wondering what kind of people get drawn into these cults.
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kngmckellar@hotmail.com
Polygamy is an interesting topic to me
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting. You should read Under the Banner of Heaven. It's a really good book about fundamentalist Mormonism.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book. I've read several books about the polygamy group in Utah. It's fascinating and scary how much control the leaders have.
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follower on Twitter- ksh123
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very interesting. I've always wondered how people get involved with these cults. I guess some people are born and raised thinking this is normal behavior and the rest of the members are maybe brainwashed? I would love to read the book, sounds good. Thanks for having the contest!
ReplyDeleteI've always been very interested in psychology and this sounds so interesting.
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ReplyDeleteI am interested to read about what it took to get out of a cult and to be safe doing so.
ReplyDeleteThe insider account sounds interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in learning what makes people join such things.
ReplyDeleteWhat interests me is the author's ability to escape the cult she was in.
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I subscribed to your feed.
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I have always found cults fascinating and this looks really interesting.
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