The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control
Written by Steven Hassan
Narrated by Steven Hassan
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
Since the 2016 election, Donald Trump’s behavior has become both more disturbing and yet increasingly familiar. He relies on phrases like, “fake news,” “build the wall,” and continues to spread the divisive mentality of us-vs.-them. He lies constantly, has no conscience, never admits when he is wrong, and projects all of his shortcomings on to others. He has become more authoritarian, more outrageous, and yet many of his followers remain blindly devoted. Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert and a major Trump supporter, calls him one of the most persuasive people living. His need to squash alternate information and his insistence of constant ego stroking are all characteristics of other famous leaders—cult leaders.
In The Cult of Trump, mind control and licensed mental health expert Steven Hassan draws parallels between our current president and people like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Ron Hubbard, and Sun Myung Moon, arguing that this presidency is in many ways like a destructive cult. He specifically details the ways in which people are influenced through an array of social psychology methods and how they become fiercely loyal and obedient. Hassan was a former “Moonie” himself, and he presents a “thoughtful and well-researched analysis of some of the most puzzling aspects of the current presidency, including the remarkable passivity of fellow Republicans [and] the gross pandering of many members of the press” (Thomas G. Gutheil, MD and professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School).
The Cult of Trump is an accessible and in-depth analysis of the president, showing that under the right circumstances, even sane, rational, well-adjusted people can be persuaded to believe the most outrageous ideas. “This book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the current political climate” (Judith Stevens-Long, PhD and author of Living Well, Dying Well).
Steven Hassan
Steven Hassan is a mental health professional who specializes in helping people to recover from mind control as well as helping loved ones to exit without coercion. He has been helping people leave destructive relationships and organizations since 1976 after he was rescued from the infamous cult, the Moonies. Hassan directs the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, a counseling and publishing organization outside of Boston, teaches at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and is pursuing a doctorate from Fielding University. He is the author of Combating Cult Mind Control and Releasing the Bonds and Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs.
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Reviews for The Cult of Trump
148 ratings17 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5He nailed it on what trump would do if not re-elected.
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An expert on and survivor of cults, Steven Hassan’s book is thought provoking on many issues, and instructive on how to heal our divided society.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I bit slow and repetitive did not like the narrated much.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Spot On from an expert with personal experience of cults and mind control.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5An interesting take from a person who's spent their entire professional life helping people exit cults.
I'm not entirely sold on the author's position that Trump is some kind of brainwashing genius. I was much more interested in the chapters that cover the more systemic aspects of America's right wing media echo chamber, and the fundamentalist religious cults that thrive in it.4 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5So interesting. Couldn’t put it down. All should read
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I thought it was pretty good. Nice to understand why people believe things and why it’s so frustrating not agree on basic truths. Narration was great and added to understanding of the cult concepts (great speed, pause, and emphasis)
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very well written and extremely informative. I loved it ❣️
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It give eye opening facts of what mind control is and how politician uses to distort people
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Every educated individual in the worls should take the time to read and consider this book. While the title seems political the subject matter is not. So if you are secure in your political beliefs in either direction don't let the title throw you. The content is about pyschology, and extremisms. I found it fascinating and deeply engaging! And i can quite confidently state that my political views are unaltered, though my scope has expanded.
8 people found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5As usual liberals and democrats accuse others of their own practices. Let's see the brainwashing cult examples of liberals: 1. aborting a baby (even after it is born) is not infanticide. 2. Claiming the end of the world due to supposed climate change for the last 15 years or so (and they still buy ocean front homes and fly in private jets). 3. Censoring conservatives is "preserving the truth" (actually communistic propaganda tactics of censoring, book burning, etc.) 4. Not finding ANY evidence of Russia collusion after millions of dollars of investigations, but Trump is still "guilty" (Hillary actually made deals with Russia over uranium and more). 5. Biden and his family are on China's payroll... The list is never ending of democratic hypocrisy. The democratic party is a brainwashing, lying, cult.
9 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you have family or friends who have been convinced that Trump is good for America this is a much needed resource.
6 people found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Not even in the neighborhood with actual reality. A waste of time.
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Just another projection book by and for the far left looney sand hypocrites. There is no more a cut of Trump than the true cult of the worst presidents in US history , Obama and Biden. Anyone who would believe conservatism and love of country is a cult must be drinking the Saul Alinsky kool aide.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5If you've ever talked to a "Trumpist" and presented facts to them, observable verifiable facts, only to find yourself dismissed, this book is for you. This book is an "oh I get it now" for understanding how intelligent and sane Americans continue to believe in Trump and right wing propoganda.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Best book I have read on Trump(I have read around 150, because it explains why so many people followed Trump.Looked through this lens of a cult so many things start to make sense.He also does a great job of explaining how cults work and comparing that to what Trump does.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hassan, after being "deprogrammed" when he left a cult, became a psychologist whose work focuses on deprogramming and healing former cult members. He makes a fair case that Donald Trump employs, knowingly or not, many of the tactics that cult leaders like Jim Jones and David Koresh used to recruit and exploit the people who became their followers. Hassan explains each technique and illustrates Mr, Trump's use of them. He also offer what strike me as reasonable suggestions for speaking to diehard Trump supporters, beginning with offering them respect and attentively listening rather than trying to argue with them. It seems to me that such an approach will at least bear the fruit of increasing civil discourse.
1 person found this helpful