Deadly Cults
Deadly Cults is a nonfiction book by Robert L. Snow about how cults work and how they affect people. It was published in 2003 by Praeger. Snow is a retired police captain who once led the homicide division in Indianapolis, and he has written several crime books.
The book explains how cult leaders use rules, charm, and pressure to make individuals conform. It also includes advice on how to avoid joining such groups.
The nine chapters classify different kinds of cults: Religious Cults, Occult Cults, Millennial Cults, New Age Cults, UFO Cults, Doomsday Cults, and Suicide Cults. Snow relies on published sources and adds quotes from witnesses and experts.
Groups discussed include the Branch Davidians, Church Universal and Triumphant, the Church of Satan, the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments, the Peoples Temple, Heaven’s Gate, and the Unification Church.
Snow also recounts a study of 353 former cult members from 48 groups who described their experiences after leaving. Among them, 23 percent had attempted suicide, 63 percent had suicidal thoughts, and 93 percent had anxiety attacks.
A chapter on deprogramming offers advice for helping people leave cults.
Critics responded positively. Booklist called the book insightful. Library Journal said it belongs in all public libraries. Reference & Research Book News noted that Snow focuses on groups that have committed major crimes rather than demonizing all dissenting groups. Library Journal also praised the writing and research, recommending it for both public and academic libraries.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:39 (CET).