Cults like us : why doomsday thinking drives America
Jane Borden (Author)
"A colorful and enlightening pop history that explains why the eccentric doomsday beliefs of our Puritan founders are still driving American culture today -- and proposes that the United States is the largest cult of all. Since the Mayflower sidled up near Plymouth Rock, cult ideology has been ingrained in the DNA of the United States. In this eye-opening book, journalist Jane Borden argues that Puritan doomsday belief never went away; it just went secular and became American culture. From our fascination with cowboys and superheroes to our allegiance to influencers and self-help, susceptibility to advertising, and undying devotion to the almighty dollar, Americans remain particularly vulnerable to a specific brand of cultlike thinking. With in-depth research and compelling insight, Borden uncovers the American history you didn't learn in school, including how we are still being influenced, making us a nation of easy marks for scam artists and strongmen. Along the way, she also revisits some of the most infamous cults in this country -- including Mankind United and Love Has Won -- presenting them as integral parts of our national psyche rather than as aberrations" -- Jacket flap
Print Book, English, 2025
First One Signal Publishers/Atria Books hardcover edition
One Signal Publishers / Atria, New York, 2025