Sarah Steel

Instead of progressing through a list of cults and describing them one by one, Sarah Steel has reflected on the patterns and dynamics that have repeatedly shown up in her research and interviews and then provided individual examples from a variety of cult backgrounds to demonstrate how they play out. It’s food for thought about similar dynamics in workplace bullying, gaslighting institutions, domestic violence and coercive control and (hopefully) has helped me understand a friend’s past experiences a little better.… (mer)

Sarah Steel, the creator and host of the popular 'Let's Talk About Sects' podcast, examines the dynamics of cults and the people involved with them in Do As I Say: How Cults Control, Why We Join Them, and What They Teach Us About Bullying, Abuse and Coercion.

The definition of a cult is not always clear, but most of us are certain we would recognise one, so I found it interesting that many of the former members (who weren’t born into one) interviewed by Steel claim they didn’t join a cult, they joined ‘a group’ or ‘a movement’ or’ a community’, and it was only much later, some not until after they’d left, that they recognised they had been recruited into a cult. They’d often been vulnerable at the time, not because they were naive or unintelligent as people are wont to think, but because they were at a turning point in their lives and searching for purpose or a sense belonging.

Toxic cults, Steel demonstrates, are incredibly adept at promising to have the answers for those seeking them, and irrespective of country, culture or belief system, share similar unhealthy traits designed to impose control on their followers. Steel explores the tactics they exploit to recruit and keep members, and why people, especially women, find it so difficult to leave once they become enmeshed. It’s far more complicated than you might think and Steel, sharing fascinating firsthand accounts and meticulous research, provides thoughtful insight into the issues.

Steel also addresses the elements of cultic behaviour that can be found in a range of societal organisations including mainstream religion, MLM companies, political groups, fandoms, and street gangs. There is some discussion about conspiracy theories including those that have arisen due to the pandemic. I appreciated the focus on cults operating in Australia, somewhat surprised to how many have a foothold here, though often these are an offshoot of North American or British groups imported via the global reach of the internet, and disappointed to learn that Australia’s weak whistle-blower laws offer them so much protection.

Written in an almost conversational tone, Do As I Say reads well. I particularly like that Steel allows for individuals to share their personal stories. I do think the book could benefit from some boxouts to highlight or summarise points made in the narrative though.

Do As I Say is an interesting, thought-provoking read that should suit a range of readers interested in the topic. In her conclusion, Steel suggests transparency, empathy, bridging and education, especially in regards to understanding coercive control, is a way to not only combat unhealthy cults, but will also help those caught in abusive intimate relationships. Certainly something needs to change as society increasingly veers towards absolutism.… (mer)

I am the author of Cult Girls (comedic graphic novel) and I follow Sarah on twitter. Cult awareness is so important because children are being trafficked for big businesses and are shunning children, hiding abusers and mentally manipulating members. It took years of reading books to heal myself and make a change in my family and be a better parent and live a happier, more fulfilling life. It is also important to read and study cults, because it is easy to lump cults with religions and they are not the same. Many churches in my area do wonderful things for people and you can leave at anytime with repurcussion and they have a safer way of working with children and not using FEAR, voilence and "us against them" mentalities. Thank you for writing this Sarah Steel.… (mer)

This is an entertaining book in the erotic chastisement genre. It tells of two young women in a dominant/submissive relationship who undertake detecting work relating to crimes which are not particularly serious, but which merit rather more discreet punishment, using corporal techniques to deter future wrong-doing. The guilty ones are mostly female, which allows much scope for a considerable number of F/F chastisement scenarios, and of course the relationship of the pair of sleuths also provides opportunities for stinging applications of various instruments to the lower regions. It is an inventive work, well-written and amusing, although I did find the prose rather heavy at times. However, it's a notable contribution to the genre.… (mer)