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Title details for The Program by Toni Natalie - Available

The Program

Inside the Mind of Keith Raniere and the Rise and Fall of NXIVM

by Toni Natalie
Chet Hardin
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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As seen in the HBO docuseries THE VOW: A jaw-dropping insider look into the world of the so-called "Hollywood Sex Cult" NXIVM chronicling the rise of enigmatic cult leader, Keith Raniere, from its "Patient Zero," his former girlfriend and test subject for his coercive control techniques.
Many have heard of NXIVM and its creator, Keith Raniere, the unassuming Albany man now prosecuted for ensnaring tens of thousands of people in the US, Mexico, Canada and elsewhere, to do his bidding and pay millions of dollars to participate in his self-improvement methodology. But where did Keith Raniere begin?
Enter Toni Natalie, Keith's Patient Zero, the first one indoctrinated into Raniere's methodology and the first one to escape. THE PROGRAM begins with the origin story of NXIVM, follows its rise to international prominence, and takes the reader into the downfall of Raniere through Toni's eyes. During this time she bore witness to the evolution of his methodology, including his use of sex, blackmail, and employment of psychological tools such as neuro-linguistic programming to control and punish those who would not heed his wishes. She uniquely details the fortunes lost and the lives left in disarray that she witnessed contemporaneously, including members of DOS, a group of women coerced into sexual acts under the guise of a "women's empowerment" inner circle, whom Raniere exercised extreme control over directly and through his lieutenants.
But far from being a victim's story, in the spirit of Erin Brockovich, Toni's is a nuanced narrative of a multi-dimensional woman saving herself, and then working tirelessly to help other women do the same for themselves. Today, Toni is happy, reunited with her son, and surrounded by friends and family—it is this perspective that makes her such a unique storyteller.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 24, 2019

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781549123948
      • File size: 227734 KB
      • Duration: 07:54:26

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      September 27, 2019

      In 1998, self-described genius Keith Raniere founded NXIVM, initially a multilevel marketing company that provided professional development seminars that quickly gained a reputation as a cult, in which female members were used as sexual slaves. After defrauding thousands, Raniere was finally convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking in 2019. Author Natalie met Raniere in 1991, when he started his first multilevel marketing company. She quickly became enamored with him, left her husband, and relocated in order to work for him. Their relationship became romantic, even while Raniere kept a harem of women with whom he continued to have sexual relationships. After his first company failed, he created another, and so on, until he established NXIVM. By this point, the author had realized Raniere was nothing more than a narcissistic, abusive con man and left. But Raniere was not about to let her get away easily, as Natalie was bombarded with threats, intimidation, and harassment for years. VERDICT Cowritten with award-winning journalist Hardin, this astounding insider's account of Raniere's methods of manipulation should appeal to readers fascinated by cult leaders and those who become ensnared by them. [See Prepub Alert, 6/1/19.]--Melissa Stoeger, Deerfield P.L., IL

      Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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