Inside Out: A Memoir of Entering and Breaking Out of A Minneapolis Political Cult (Minnesota) [Perfect Paperback]

Alexandra Stein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002 | Series: Minnesota

A gripping literary memoir of life inside an extremist political group.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Invaluable . . . honest . . . intelligent. --Doris Lessing

About the Author

Alexandra Stein was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has also lived in England, France, and the United States. She writes creative non-fiction and is currently studying for a doctorate in sociology at the University of Minnesota. She lives in Minneapolis with her two children.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.; 1 edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878391878
• ISBN-13: 978-0878391875
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,454,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Look at a Political Cult, November 25, 2003

By 

Gordon Neufeld (Schenectady, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside Out: A Memoir of Entering and Breaking Out of A Minneapolis Political Cult (Minnesota) (Perfect Paperback)

This superbly written book provides a look at a phenomenon not widely recognized; namely, that a cult can be created around a political ideology just as easily as around a religious belief system. In the case of the little-known organization to which Ms. Stein belonged, known simply as the "O", most group members did not even know who the leader was, as he communicated solely by written instructions to his followers. This demonstrates that cult dynamics can come into play even where the leader is not a charismatic figure in the usual sense of the word. Ms. Stein's gruelling ordeal, which began as an idealistic effort based on Marxist principles and ended in exhaustion and the discovery of a shocking crime, makes for a memorable read. Inside Out is a very useful addition to cult memoir literature from a talented writer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and thoroughly frightening, September 6, 2005

By 

Bluebird (Fort Wayne IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Out: A Memoir of Entering and Breaking Out of A Minneapolis Political Cult (Minnesota) (Perfect Paperback)

A haunting, splendidly written account of one person's plunge into a world of manipulation and brainwashing. Although the organization that Ms. Stein found herself entangled with is beyond the fringe of extreme, it leads one to realize how many so-called mainstream organizations employ some of the same tactics to subjugate their members. Her story illustrates what can happen to a person who desperately wants to belong -- at virtually any cost.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read for progressives, November 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside Out: A Memoir of Entering and Breaking Out of A Minneapolis Political Cult (Minnesota) (Perfect Paperback)

I couldn't put this book down. So creepy! So close to home! A must-read for anyone who's lost a loved one to, or had personal experience with, a totalist organization -- religious, rightwing, sectarian leftist, "personal development," therapuetic, how-to-succeed, etc.