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Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships Paperback – August 17, 2006

by Janja Lalich (Author), Madeleine Tobias (Author)

4.6 119 ratings

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Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships
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Cult victims and those who have suffered abusive relationships often suffer from fear, confusion, low self-esteem, and post-traumatic stress. Take Back Your Life explains the seductive draw that leads people into such situations, provides guidelines for assessing what happened, and hands-on tools for getting back on track. Written for victims, their families, and professionals, this book leads readers through the healing process.

Review

Former members of cults (including those born or raised in such groups) will gain valuable insights on their experiences. -- Michael D. Langone, Ph.D., Executive Director, International Cultic Studies Association

I wish every cult member, and every family of a cult member could read Take Back Your Life. -- Eugene H. Methvin, Senior Editor, Reader's Digest

Must reading for everyone who wants to understand the appeal of cults. This book's wisdom is vital. -- Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Stanford University

From the Inside Flap

Cult victims and those who have suffered abusive relationships often suffer from fear, confusion, low-self esteem, and post-traumatic stress. Taking Back Your Life explains the seductive draw that leads people into such situations, provides insightful information for assessing what happened, and hands-on tools for getting back on track. Written for the victims, their families, and professionals, this book leads readers through the healing process. A resource list and numerous personal accounts of those who have successfully made the transition to the normal world provide help and inspiration.

From the Back Cover

Cult victims and those who have suffered abusive relationships often suffer from fear, confusion, low-self esteem, and post-traumatic stress. Taking Back Your Life explains the seductive draw that leads people into such situations, provides insightful information for assessing what happened, and hands-on tools for getting back on track. Written for the victims, their families, and professionals, this book leads readers through the healing process. A resource list and numerous personal accounts of those who have successfully made the transition to the “normal” world provide help and inspiration.

About the Author

Janja Lalich is Associate Professor of Sociology, California State University, Chico and author of Bounded Choice. Madeleine Landau Tobias is a psychotherapist in private practice.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Bay Tree Publishing
Publication date

August 17, 2006
Dimensions

6.04 x 1.01 x 9.06 inches
ISBN-10

0972002154
ISBN-13

978-0972002158
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bay Tree Publishing; 2nd edition (August 17, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0972002154
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0972002158
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.04 x 1.01 x 9.06 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,251,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,120 in Abusive Family Relationships
- #7,841 in Self-Esteem (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 119 ratings

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About the authors

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Janja Lalich
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Janja Lalich, Ph.D. is a researcher, author, and educator specializing in self-sealing, or closed, systems (cults, human trafficking, situations of coercive influence and control, ideological extremism), with a particular focus on recruitment, indoctrination, and methods of influence and control. She is Professor Emerita of Sociology at California State University, Chico and has been studying the social psychology of controversial groups and exploitative and abusive relationships for 30+ years. Dr. Lalich has written and lectured extensively, has advised the international intelligence community on extremism and indoctrination, and has served as consultant and expert witness in civil and criminal cases.
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Madeleine Tobias
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4.6 out of 5

119 global ratings

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Priscilla Gates

This book is a must read for everyone; not just the abused, ostrazed, and misunderstood. Do you care about people? Read this!

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

I was raised in a cult and have experienced unrelenting pain as a result. To further the pain, I am around people (therapists included) who don't have a solitary clue about cults and how a person trying to forge a new life after leaving one struggles with things many people don't even know exists. This book is spot on about everything you experience; in reading it, I felt more understood than ever...and I know I am not alone in the frightening journey (with all the unknowns) of taking back my life. Dr. Lalich provides a plethora of resources and the book stands alone as a complete guide to understanding your experience and moving on from it. As I turned each page, I felt soothed and slowly, the hope is returning. I am still afraid, but I now have an excellent "friend" in the form of a book with a message that truly helps. The author does not leave any stones unturned; this book is straight-forward, user-friendly, and a must read for anyone who wants to understand more about people in general. This book can help far more than those of us who have been in cults. It will also provide guidance and understanding to many unaddressed relationship issues: your life will be all the better for reading this...clearly, I highly recommend it. Stay open-minded and open-hearted and you will be happy you did. This book is replete with much needed wisdom for all of us.

18 people found this helpful

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Marilyn

Life changer book for everyone!

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2015

Verified Purchase

If you read this book, you will be forever a critical thinker, able to see what's what! Holy cow🐂
Ever feel like you have been under the influence ? As I read this book, a life time of branding and news, political, religious, new age marketing and advertising with charismatic leaders,seminars, corporations and groups are now exposed for what they are. From mini cults to full blown movements , the descriptions will set you free!
I might give this book a sub subtitle of "no longer under the influence"! Even if you never got involved with a cult, this book explains how people rise to level of leadership where people follow, like Hitler, bin laden, guru's, cult leaders, terrorist leaders and movements, politicians, multi level marketing,
This book will deprogrammed even the most loyal advocate. The truth will actually set you free! With the crazy terrorist attacks that are going on in the world , this book gives anyone a clear view of how this can happen and how education and exposure of the leaders will be the only way to end it. Everyone should read this book.
Love
Marilyn

12 people found this helpful

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Kai Karrel

A life changing book!

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2011

Verified Purchase

This book is a must read for anyone recovering for leaving a cult, or an abusive relationship. I've read many books on this subject matter, is this one is by far one of the best. Identifying a cult, or a mind-controlling environment is always a simple matter, and more so leaving a high-demand or controlling group. Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias did a marvelous job, leading the reader through the process of healing and understanding the hardships and pain they've been through, helping them cope with the introduction to a new life style and a completely foreign and new environment. I can't stress enough how beneficial this book was for me, it was shocking to read how my experience was so similar to so many, and how many of the symptoms I've been dealing with are known psychological effects in the field of cultic studies. Reading this book is almost like a having a close friend holding your hand and guiding you through your own healing process and opening your eyes to the reclaiming your freedom and your choices in life.

27 people found this helpful

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Interim

Take Back Your Life

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

Few understand the power of the cult-behavior which has inflicted our social portrait in America. Most people believe that only so-named cults are perpetrating such control behaviors, but it reaches into individual families, into church leadership, and into all strata of out of balance personal relationships. This is a way to check yourself, or a loved one, and to develop anti-venom to begin to be free. Thoughtful reading.

22 people found this helpful

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T. L. Rowton

A life changing book!

Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2013

Verified Purchase

I was a member of a martial arts "school" for over twenty years and as a result of without ever realizing it became indoctrinated into a life style that cost me just about everything I had! Not so much financially, but as a person. I never questioned the "master" because to do so was seen as sacreligious. Only by realizing the truth about it all have I hagan to search for the solution.
This book was written as though my experience was the guideline for its inception and the authors insight and help have made it possible to recover and move on with my life. I could not possibly stress the importance of reading this book if you or someone you know has been in a cult or fallen prey to "wolves in sheep's clothing"!

32 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Wonderful and insightful

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2020

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Look forward to reading this, although thanks to a friend I have heard parts of the book but its better to take in for yourself and underline key parts.

3 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Very helpful

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021

Verified Purchase

Really helpful book.

3 people found this helpful

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David S

Life Taken Back

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2011

Verified Purchase

If you or someone you know are considering exiting a cult or abusive relationship or have recently done so, Take Back Your Life is a must purchase. It gives you the tools and support information necessary to identify the characteristics of the abusive relationship, group leader, and provides steps to take for a full and complete recovery process. I'm not too certain how I would have been able to begin taking back my life without having purchased and read Take Back Your Life.

9 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Miss E J Field-Rayner

If you're recovering from a cult or an abusive relationship then this book is a must have.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2022

Verified Purchase

It gives great insight into the powerful appeal of cults and gives clear and healing advice about recovery. Highly recommend.

Gizzy

Well written

Reviewed in Canada on October 19, 2014

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It wasn't for me, but could certainly help others.

One person found this helpful

asdajohnlover

Amazing! A Life-Changing book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2013

Verified Purchase

This book has changed my life! It gave me the confidence to realise that what happened to me in the cult was not my fault. I am going to read it again in a year's time to see how I have progressed in my attitude to life. I would encourage anybody who has been in a cult to buy this book, as it could help you to move on in life & put the past behind you.

jon atack

essential reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2015

Verified Purchase

I've spent over three decades talking with cult members, and for anyone who has been involved in a cult or fanatical movement of any kind, this is an easily understood roadmap to recovery. If you or someone you love has been involved in a 'high demand' or totalist group this is one of the must read books - along with Steve Hassan's new edition of Combating Cult Mind Control.

3 people found this helpful

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Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships Paperback – August 17, 2006

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From the Back Cover

About the Author

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About the authors

Janja Lalich

Madeleine Tobias

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