Zealot Audiobook By Jo Thornely cover art

Zealot

A Book About Cults

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Zealot

By: Jo Thornely
Narrated by: Jo Thornely
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Why would anyone join a cult?

Maybe they're unhappy with their current religion, or they want to change the world, or they're disappointed with their lives and want to find something bigger or holier that makes sense of this confusing, chaotic and dangerous world. Or maybe they just want to give themselves the best possible chance of having sex with aliens.

Whatever the reason, once people are in, it's usually very difficult for them to leave. Cults have ways of making their followers do loopy, dangerous stuff to prove their loyalty, and in return they get a chance to feel secure within the cult's embrace, with an added bonus of being utterly terrified of the outside world.

From the tragic Jonestown Kool-Aid drinkers to the Australian cult The Family to the fiery Waco climax of The Branch Davidians, this is a wide-sweeping look at cults around the world, from the host of the popular podcast Zealot.

©2019 Jo Thornely (P)2019 Hachette Australia Audio Religious Studies True Crime Middle East

Editor's Pick

Just in case you need a reminder not to join a cult
"While I’ve listened to my fair share of cult stories, I can honestly say this was the first one that also had me chuckling. Despite the dark and oftentimes disturbing subject matter (this is a book about cults, after all) Jo Thornley manages to infuse just the right amount of wry humor and snark to keep it from getting too dark."
—Michael C., Audible Editor

Humorous Storytelling • Thorough Research • Entertaining Narration • Perfect Snark Level • Funny Delivery
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This book is awesome! It is narrated by the author and it is just so funny and such a joy. It reminds me of listening to My Favorite Murder the podcast because the topic is so horrifying but the experience of listening is enjoyable because it's told in such a hilarious way.

I don't normally feel compelled to write a review

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I’d only heard of 3 of the 10 cults and was able to learn quite a lot. Obviously plenty are missing like Scientology and the Mansons, but the selection presented was good. I enjoyed the snark and humor as cult leaders absolutely deserved to be mocked. It made the book fun too instead of reading like a generic textbook.

Educational and fun

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Very interesting. Learned about cults I didn't know existed. Recommend this download. You won't be disappointed.

Encyclopedia of Cults

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If such a thing is possible…an excellent lighthearted look at various cults. Author is an excellent narrator.

Thoroughly entertaining

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Like anyone else considering this book, I'm fascinated by cults and other such things. The tragedy of Jonestown and the like are heinous, what cult leaders do is abominable... but Jo Thornely literally had me snorting coffee out my nose on one occasion and waking my dogs up so many times laughing out loud that they left my office in disgust.

So, buy this book. Enjoy this book and don't sweat the cuss words. It's all icing on the cake of this delightful ride through cults. I hope she does a part 2!!

I feel bad for laughing so much!

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I really enjoyed the I'm formation but didn't like the authors immature commentary. Felt like a thirteen years old was reading and adding in ridiculous comments.

Good I'm formation.

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The book is thoroughly researched and have the perfect level of snark. Interesting and funny.

perfect level of snark

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good book that I enjoyed. but keep in mind the aurther/ narrator is from Australia and you can tell in her mannerism, its has a few quotes that some people would consider vulgar, but I enjoy that. While the performance is good, its missing a certain je ne sais quoi that professional narrator have, but since the author narrates it's not unexpected, it's better some author narration

Rosting cult leaders with Sass

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I’ve read/listened to a lot of true crime and books on cults. This is sarcastically narrated by the author which is perfect to keep you entertained through those “less than murderous” cults. Highly recommend it if you have a sense of humor and are interested in cults

Very entertaining

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I loved it! Her podcast goes over the same things but this was in much more detail. And I very much like the end of when you know you're in a cult and what to do.

Funny and Intelligent

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