Manhattan Cult Story

My memoir "Manhattan Cult Story," drops on July 5, 2022, and is now available for pre-order everywhere, including on the Simon and Schuster website. The book went on sale over the weekend and is already the number one new release in two Amazon categories. I would be honored to autograph your copy in person or mail you a beautiful personalized bookplate. The book is about my experiences and I disguise the identities of all student/members because we were all victims. But teachers and leaders are excepted because they are/were predators.

What Is A Class Action?

The article in the Daily Mail (but not the one in The New York Post) about the lawsuit against Sharon's Estate and others neglected to point out this is a class action. A class action is a type of lawsuit which can be brought by one or more people who represent a class of other people who were also hurt by the same acts of the same defendants. They are commonly used in securities fraud cases or mass torts. So to be perfectly clear: if anyone else was a member of school and wants to be part of the class, they can potentially collect damages by joining the class by contacting the attorney for the plaintiffs. You would not need to be named in the lawsuit to be part of the class.

Class Action Lawsuit

Two former members of School filed a class action lawsuit this week against Sharon Gans's estate and others. The suit alleges that, "Through methods traditionally utilized by cults to groom, intimidate, weaken, gaslight, and exploit their victims, OSG coerced and tricked its members," into providing free labor to Gans and others. The suit seeks to recover for unpaid labor members were forced to do for Gans: recruiting, construction, cooking meals, and many other tasks. The suit also names Minerva Taylor, Ken Salaz, Lorraine Imlay, and Greg Koch. Since this a class action, the suit was filed on behalf of all other members who suffered similar damages for provding free labor to School and/or Gans. This would include current and former members of School. The attorney representing the plaintiffs is Mordy Yankowich.

Do You Need Help?

I receive almost weekly calls from former members. Strangers to me. Readers of this blog. Folks who were involved in "School" for a night, a week, month, a year, a decade, what have you. From decades ago. One thing in common: trauma. Doubts, thoughts, dreams, voices. Shame and embarassment. And I also know people who were involved in School who will bet everything they have they suffered no such thing -- that the Work Ideas were fine and that it wasnt so bad, etc. They will even say things such as "leave Alex and Sharon alone - they are dead." I will not argue or debate anyone on this because they can't be argued with. But I do know this: Alex and Sharon and Fred and Robert and Lorraine and the rest of them abused members. Period. That's right: abuse. Bullying. Punishing. Threats. Pressure. Intense. And worse. Criminals. So if you think it was all fine and dandy - good for you -- show your face and name and defend it. For the rest of us, what do you think? Do you need to speak to someone who is compassionate and empathetic and honorable?

Slonim Woods 9

I have three things to say to those who doubt that School is a cult: Slonim Woods 9, Slonim Woods 9, Slonim Woods 9. If you have any question in your mind as to whether you (a former member of School) were in a cult or suffered a supremely trauamatic experience, read Slonim Woods 9. If you think for a moment that Sharon or Alex were "teachers," read [the book referenced above.]

Listen to: Cults, Extremists, and Manipulation: Hear the latest thinking

This Tuesday, on August 10, 2021, at 6pm, there will be a show on the Clubhouse app with several moderators to talk about cults and extremists and manipulation. Im going to be on the call. Its like a conference call (audio only) and anyone can listen in and ask questions. Here's the description of the show: "We live in an era of disinformation and deep desire for community. Hear from insiders about how the desire for connection can form the basis of cults, pockets of extreme thinking, and manipulation on a scale that will astonish. What draws people into cults? How can you recognize a cult? Are cults and extreme thinking on the rise? How do people get into and sometimes out of cults. Hear inside the tent" Here's the link to listen in. You will need the Clubhouse app on your phone. If you cant make it live, the above link will archive the recording which you can listen to without the app.

Coming Soon to a Bookstore and an Amazon Near You

Today I signed a publishing contract with one of the most dynamic independent book publishers around; a great home for this story. The book about the 23 years I spent in Sharon's cult should be out next summer. The book is basically done but it takes time for these things to get edited, designed, printed, indexed, and put through spell check. (Readers of this blog know that I can neither spell nor right complete sentences.) Many thanks to those of you-who-know-who-you-are for helping me and supporting me on this project. Im tickled that I somehow managed to make this shit experience into something quite good. Also, please be advised that it makes no difference to me that Sharon will not be able to read it. I didnt write this for her or her pathetic lackeys. Its for every victim still in her cult, for survivors of her cult, and for victims and survivors of other cults. This is now a #metoo moment for victims and survivors.