Malignant Pied Pipers of Our Time (book)

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Title Malignant Pied Pipers of Our Time
Paperback Edition
Book cover, 2005 paperback ed.
Author Peter A. Olsson, M.D.
Country United States
Language English
Subject(s) destructive cults, psychology
Genre(s) non-fiction
Publisher PublishAmerica
Released June 13, 2005
Media type Paperback
Pages 205
ISBN ISBN 141377668X ,
ISBN 978-1413776683

Malignant Pied Pipers of Our Time: A Psychological Study of Destructive Cult Leaders from Rev. Jim Jones to Osama bin Laden is a book on destructive cult leaders, written by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Peter A. Olsson, M.D. The book was published in paperback format on June 13, 2005, by PublishAmerica. The book was analyzed in the Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry[1].

Dr. Olsson gave the plenary speech at the annual meeting of The American Society of Psychoanalytic Physicians, in 2006, where he spoke about his book and took questions from fellow physicians[2][3].

The book is required reading, along with Margaret Singer, Ph.D.'s Cults in Our Midst, in Edward Lottick, M.D.'s King's College, Pennsylvania course on "American Cults"[4].

In 2006, Olsson appeared in a documentary on cults on the History Channel: "Decoding the Past", discussing Malignant Pied Pipers of Our Time. Robert Jay Lifton, M.D., also appeared as a commentator on the program.[5].

Contents

[edit] Summary

Olsson analyzes destructive and doomsday cults, and looks into the psychological origins of cult leaders and members. He utilizes the term "malignant pied pipers" in describing cult leaders Jim Jones, David Koresh, Osama bin Laden, Charles Manson, Luc Jouret, Shoko Asahara, Marshall Applewhite, Joseph Di Mambro, and others; specifically with regard to the manner in which they have been involved in the deaths of their followers.

Olsson attempts to understand the psychology behind mass murder and mass suicide events that have surrounded destructive cults.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Turco, R. (2006). Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry, ISSN 1546-0371, Fall 2006, Page(s): 539-577, Volume: 34, Issue: 3.
  2. ^ Annual Meeting, The American Society of Psychoanalytic Physicians, May 21, 2006
  3. ^ The National Scientific Meeting, May 21, 2006, in conjunction with the American Psychiatric Association, conference, Toronto, Canada.
  4. ^ American Cults, Edward Lottick, M.D., course, King's College, Pennsylvania. retrieved 1/17/06, International Cultic Studies Association.
    American Cults - Edward Lottick, M.D. - "I have just completed my third time presenting my semester course at King's College on American Cults. Although the course is upper level for junior and senior students, it is basically introductory contemporary cultic studies. Class size has ranged from 20 to 30 students mostly without any significant prior cult experience. Assigned reading includes Margaret Singer's Cults in Our Midst, Peter Olsson's Malignant Pied Pipers of Our Time, and an assembled compendium of relevant historic news and journal articles from the past several decades. The course has been offered during alternating semesters as a psychology elective. This past semester's class was 20 students composed of 10 psychology majors, 5 criminal justice majors, and a pre-med, pre-law, elementary-education, nursing, and audio-visual major."
  5. ^ 2006, History Channel, "Decoding the Past".
    Cults: Dangerous Devotion: Scholars and survivors discuss the mystery of cults. (120 min). History. (PG/TV-PG)

[edit] External links

Book reviews
  • Reviews, entertainment-reviews.com

[edit] See also