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Cult Insanity: A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophets, and Blood Atonement Audiobook
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(3.00) - 382 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Life for Irene Spencer was a series of devastating disappointments and hardships. Irene's first book, Shattered Dreams, is the staggering chronicle of her struggle to provide for her children in abject poverty and feelings of abandonment each time her husband left to be with one of his other wives. Irene was raised to believe that polygamy was the way of life necessary for her ticket to heaven. The hard knocks of her environment were just the beginning of Irene's shocking tale.
In Cult Insanity, Spencer reveals the outrageous behavior of her brother-in-law Ervil—a self-proclaimed prophet who determined he was called to set the house of God in order—and how he terrorized their colony. Claiming to be God's avenger and to have a license to kill in the name of God, Ervil ordered the murders of friends and family members, eliminating all those who challenged his authority. Cult Insanity is a riveting, terrifying memoir of polygamist life under the tyranny of a madman.
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"Chilling, true life account of a womans' experience in a polygamous morman cult in 50's to the 80's. Not the best written of books, but one I couldn't put down due to the madness of these peoples lives."
— Pam (5 out of 5 stars)
Cult Insanity Listener Reviews
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" Interesting insight into the FLDS. Blook Attonement. "
— Allison, 2/12/2014 -
" Captivating alternate history story about Mitt Romney without the money. "
— Libromaniac, 2/9/2014 -
" This woman has an amazing story to tell. She was one of the plig wives of a Labaron brother. They lived in Mexico in poverty and unbelievable conditions. I've read other memoirs on this that I liked better and her writing wasn't great but it was still very interesting. "
— Misty, 12/13/2013 -
" This book was great and I am on the look out for the first one by Irene Spencer. I'm not sure what my deal is with polygamy books but I'm so fascinated! "
— Nisha, 11/25/2013 -
" disappointing after loving shattered dreams - too much about the politics of the family & not the relationships i think "
— Michelle, 11/20/2013 -
" Out of morbid curiosity I attempted to listen to this book. I got to chapter 10 and it was just depressing to me... so I didn't finish it. :( "
— Tori, 11/19/2013 -
" Still interesting, but not as captivating as her first book. I think by the time I read this one, I was almost sick of the characters and felt too much pity for them. "
— Kristina, 8/29/2013 -
" Shattered Dreams was good, but this seemed just a rehash of exactly the same incidents, only with a slightly different focus. There wasn't really any new material here, and by omitting the daily details of her life it was less interesting. "
— Terrie, 8/19/2013 -
" I read her first book - it was interesting and heartbreaking. I think she should've stopped there, and included tiny bits from this book in her first. It didn't flow well and seemed really scattered. I feel sad for her to have lost so many years, though. "
— Julie, 8/5/2013 -
" Compelling book on Ervil LeBaron and his quest to kill everyone who wouldn't follow him. "
— Cetta, 7/20/2013 -
" If you don't know much about the Mormon religion or who is who, then this book will be confusing at best. The author jumps around from topic to topic a lot, and not always in chronological order. "
— Micaela, 5/8/2013 -
" i love books about this crazy religion! i dont know why but i find them endlessly entertaining. This one really lives up to its title! what a bunch of freaks! "
— Rebekah, 4/12/2013 -
" Interesting story spanning decades. The title pretty well summarizes it. "
— Cal, 1/30/2013 -
" I'll admit, I'm fascinated by the topic. Fairly well written and an interesting read (when read with the same caveats as any memoir). "
— Lana, 1/17/2013 -
" It was alright, I really couldn't get attached to the story. "
— Erin, 1/16/2013 -
" Important story to read - explains the unbelievable. However, could use an editing. "
— Jesse, 12/19/2012 -
" This was an insanely good book! I read it as quickly as a week and would defintely read it again! "
— Aim, 11/29/2012 -
" I wasn't impressed with the writing style of this book. This was a tragic story and it's sad to know so many lives were lost. "
— Melissa, 7/27/2012 -
" Tough read because of the million people referenced throughout the book. I would recommend reading this authors first book before trying to tackle this one. "
— Sonya, 6/5/2012 -
" I love Irene's books, even though it is non-fiction, it reads like fiction. She is easy to read. "
— Dara, 2/14/2012 -
" Very interesting read. What a horrible way to live. "
— Tisa, 10/18/2011 -
" Tough read because of the million people referenced throughout the book. I would recommend reading this authors first book before trying to tackle this one. "
— Sonya, 5/7/2011 -
" Still interesting, but not as captivating as her first book. I think by the time I read this one, I was almost sick of the characters and felt too much pity for them. "
— Kristina, 3/7/2011 -
" Very interesting read. What a horrible way to live. "
— Tisa, 3/4/2011 -
" Really interesting I'm glad I read this book but it is such a heavy topic that I had to read something really light and simple afterward. "
— Michelle, 1/4/2011 -
" Compelling book on Ervil LeBaron and his quest to kill everyone who wouldn't follow him. "
— Cetta, 1/4/2011 -
" This woman has an amazing story to tell. She was one of the plig wives of a Labaron brother. They lived in Mexico in poverty and unbelievable conditions. I've read other memoirs on this that I liked better and her writing wasn't great but it was still very interesting. "
— Misty, 8/19/2010 -
" This book was great and I am on the look out for the first one by Irene Spencer. I'm not sure what my deal is with polygamy books but I'm so fascinated! "
— Nisha, 2/23/2010 -
" disappointing after loving shattered dreams - too much about the politics of the family & not the relationships i think "
— Michelle, 2/5/2010
About Irene Spencer
Irene Spencer is public speaker, avid traveler, and author of many books. She comes from four generations of polygamy. As the second of ten wives, she was the mother of fourteen of her previous husband’s fifty-eight children—during her twenty-eight years in a polygamous marriage. Irene and Hector J. Spencer, her faithful husband of twenty-two years, travel to spread their love between all of their children and loved ones. Although she had only a ninth-grade education, Irene earned her GED and took a creative writing class at University of Las Vegas. Irene serves as a keynote speaker for “rescue missions,” church congregations, women’s centers, and other groups and events throughout the country.
About Laural Merlington
Laural Merlington is an audiobook narrator with over two hundred titles to her credit and a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. An Audie Award nominee, she has also directed over one hundred audiobooks. She has performed and directed for thirty years in theaters throughout the country. In addition to her extensive theater and voice-over work, she teaches college in her home state of Michigan.