Although some cults are harmless, the mass suicides, extremist rhetoric, and spiraling wealth of recent movements suggest a darker side. Robert Schroëder places both ancient and modern cults--from Osiris and the Knights Templar to the Branch Davidian, Hellfire Clubs, Manson "family," Jonestown, Concerned Christians, and The Apotheosis of Elvis--in historical context. Investigating their appeal through the experiences of ex-members and explorations of their leaders, he provides compelling, sometimes disturbing insight into these groups.