REVIEWS ON BACK COVER of 2nd printing:

``Easily the most comprehensive, erudite, and timely book in print to explore authoritarianism in religion, institutions, power, the family, intimacy and sexual relations, and personal problems such as addiction....Argue[s] persuasively that any system of values that places tradition and the past above the imperative to question the present is destined to become increasingly lethal.'

-- SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BOOK REVIEW, Keith Thompson

``Spells out at length the dangers of becoming addicted to another's authority in any sphere of life.'

-- TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT (London)

``A thorough, wide-ranging analysis of the way power has historically been maintained....Purports to be no less than a diagnosis of what's wrong with the world and how, not merely to fix it, but to save it. Its thesis is elegant and nearly unlimited in its ramifications....[Shows that] authoritarianism is not merely a political phenomenon. It's part of the way we think.'

-- THE NEW MEXICAN (Santa Fe)

``A powerful and important book with the potential to shift readers' minds in a deep way. [The] authors are onto something big--possibly even the root of human error. It can actually change the way one views the world….Elegantly and convincingly articulates many of [our]…unformed thoughts'

-- SYNAPSE

INSIDE BOOK (not in same order & not all are in book¾ some are more recent )

``Discusses how authoritarian leaders manipulate followers and why people surrender to them' - --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

``Crystal-clear analysis…Going deeply into the inherent paradoxes in much of world religion…they explain with blistering clarity why we get seduced.'

-- WHOLE EARTH REVIEW

``Provocative and thorough....Unmask[s] the countless manifestations of authoritarianism in our contemporary culture. Cover[s] vast territory…rais[es] all the vitally important questions….It should definitely be placed in the hands of anyone who has been, or is, or contemplates becoming involved with a guru or cult.' -- YOGA JOURNAL

``Sheds light on our darkening political spirit….Compelling theory about why we keep taking the same tired approaches, despite their proven failure….Now if we can just get the electorate to read it.'

-- MAGICAL BLEND

``[Its] strength…is in its keen appreciation of developmental and evolutionary processes.'

-- COMMON BOUNDARY

``An essential key to understanding...control and manipulation'

-- THE BOOKWATCH

``Don't be deceived by the title. The Guru Papers is about much more than cult groups. A profoundly important critique of the covert authoritarianism of most religions…and of such cultural values as unconditional love, addiction, and twelve-step programs….Thought-provoking and radically important….Extraordinarily rich and complex….[It]can make an important contribution to [changing the old paradigms] if enough people…take it to heart and mind.'

-- LIBERTY

``Provocative [book] recommended without reservation….Ambitious treatise…Interesting thesis….As a long time researcher of addiction, I found [the chapter on addiction] a refreshing analysis of predominant theories of substance abuse. [Their] own model of the divided psyche and `why it feels good to be bad' was not only original but resonant….Particularly useful regarding the futility of the drug war/punitive approach to solving substance abuse problems.'

-- JOURNAL OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS, Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D.

[Shows] the authoritarianism woven into the fabric of our cultural attitudes…Very radical indeed….An especially useful addition to critiques of fundamentalism….[Calls for] a profound change in the basic philosophy of our culture….[Provides] the opportunity to do some critical thinking about our own beliefs.

-- INDEPENDENT THINKING REVIEW

``Explores [how] the struggle for independence and autonomy is countered by deeply embedded structures within every aspect of society…and within the individual psyche….Does not attempt to give answers…Rather, it sounds the alarm and raises questions.'

-- NOETIC SCIENCES REVIEW

``Filled with insight….Deconstructs the authoritarianism of modernity.'

-- Journal of Organizational Change Management, Cliff Chang

``Delivers what it promises….Explores subtle, indirect forces in values and beliefs both personal and global concealed in what people assume and take for granted….Useful information about current negative influences and destructive forces….seeking only to increase awareness and sharpen perception….Merits wide readership…Highly recommended.

-- Cultic Studies Journal

``Very important…Deserves to be noticed….Simply and elegantly written, I predict that this well prove to be one of the most helpful books on psychological oppression of the decade.'

-- CREATION SPIRITUALITY

``A contribution of the highest order….Of immense and immediate consequence….May [it] be widely read and discussed.'

-- BRAIN/MIND BULLETIN

``Undertake[s] the monumental task of reforming the very basis of civilization....While their conjectures are certain to step on the toes of nearly every sacred cow at some point, they are steadfast and unapologetic....Offers both affirmation and optimism.'

-- CREATIVE LOAFING (Atlanta)

``No book has ever stirred me to devote an entire issue to it¾ until now….One of the most deeply insightful works of our time… Clearly articulated….Nearly every page crackles with statements that...provoked one `Aha!' after another as I saw elements of culture, history, and my own experience from a new perspective that made immediate sense….Brilliant sections on love and control, and on the authoritarian basis of addiction.'

-- THE MUSE LETTER

``For those…who prefer to have their world grounded in comfortable, familiar dogmas, this book will make their hair stand on end….Dissect[s], with the best scientific rigor, many old standards of belief.'

-- FATE

``One of the most compelling, `can't put it down' books I've read in a long time….Challenging concepts….Fascinating insights into the leader/follower relationship….[Reveals] the usually veiled authoritarianism embedded in the world views and values of Western society.'

-- COMMUNITIES

``Takes on the whole concept of authority, showing how it can affect people on the most intimate levels of their lives.'

-- EXPRESS (Berkeley, CA)

``Elegantly identifies the masks that power uses to hide its abuse of others…No Orwellian doublespeak, just hard-hitting practical logic that rips the guts out of sacred cows that have fed too long in pastures provided by a naïve and idealistic population….It's about time.'

-- Point Reyes Light (Ca)

``A book worth getting and studying in its entirety [that] raises serious questions of human survival.'

-- PRESS DEMOCRAT (Santa Rosa, CA)

``Outstanding book...Methodically [reveals] why some people surrender self-determination.' -- WASHINGTON [D.C.] JEWISH WEEK

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``A powerful and magnificent book about our own individual integrity beyond any historic and self-appointed authority.'

--James Kavenaugh, author of A Modern Priest Looks at His Outdated Church, and God Lives: From Religious Guilt to Spiritual Freedom

``Brilliantly analytical, always probing, pushing at the edges of what we know, this adventurous book offers in every chapter an unflinching view of the structure and psychology of reality.' --John Tytell, author of Naked Angels: The Lives and Literature of the Beat Generation; Passionate Lives; Ezra Pound; The Living Theater

'Offers new insights for…restructuring American society. Traditional forms of social control have clearly failed...A powerful and critical analysis of how efforts by government and religion to impose authority actually contribute to social problems….A convincing argument.' -- James Austin, Exec. Vice President of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency; co-author of Reinventing Juvenile Justice; It's about Time: America's Imprisonment Binge

'A magnificent contribution…Breathtakingly insightful....The most reasonable and coherent picture of the evolution of religious ideas to date….Your vision of spirituality beyond authoritarianism seems to point in exactly the right direction….Tremendous contribution to our collective understanding.' --Richard Heinberg, author of Memories and Visions of Paradise

``Anyone who reads The Guru Papers will be profoundly changed. Its ideas are like a medical laser beam vaporizing cancer cells, exposing the underlying healthy tissues of truth. I can only hope that this book will be widely read and will serve to bring hope to all of humankind as we enter the 21st century.' --Steven Hassan, author of Combatting Cult Mind Control

'A brilliant book. It inspires new insights each time one re-reads it. I have had the experience of opening the book randomly to any page and receiving just the wisdom I was needing to help

me take my next step toward freedom.' --Susan Campbell, author of The Couple's Journey and Beyond the Power Struggle

'With x-ray analysis and laser precision it discloses and traces authoritarian structures. It expands consciousness of the consciousness journey itself, exposing its ever present darker side....They even offer a flashlight guide through this darkness. Uncompromising in its thesis, sparing no current idol, it is a poignant attack on the illusions of our times.'

-- Mike Arons, Professor of Psychology, West Georgia College

``A bold book; a timely book; an important book. It can teach us to think responsibly about `spiritual' questions....Deserves to be a basic text in comparative religion.'

-- Abraham Levitsky, co-author with Fritz Perls of The Rules and Games of Gestalt Therapy and gestalt therapist

``The chapter on addiction presents an exciting and provocative new concept about the origin and process of addiction. A must read for therapists and addiction counselors.'

-- Ann McKain, President of The American Academy of Psychotherapists, 1994-96

``Insightful and clear...Expands the concept of authoritarianism and gives a new slant on the human condition…Shows that to overcome our staggering problems, we must learn to think non-authoritarian…Convincing argument that will make readers re-sort their thinking.' -- John Irwin, author of many books on criminology and culture, including The Felon, Prisons in Turmoil, Scenes

'Answers a host of questions about the source of recurring problems among people....Unmasks the insidiously pervasive nature of authoritarian values that permeate society…Perceptive guidelines for detecting hidden authoritarianism and intervention strategies for self-empowerment…Deals with the most fundamental aspects of the Yin and Yang of human nature and the meaning of social community. -- Philip Zimbardo, author of The Psychology of Attitude Change and Social Influence

'Alarming, enlightening, and riveting, scary in what it uncovers…Helps us understand society's serious failures and offers suggestions for remedying the errors. Eminently readable, its insights provide us with powerful tools for building a better, more humane, society.' -- Merrill Joan Gerber, Prizewinning novelist, author of King of the World, The Kingdom of Brooklyn , and others

'One of the most important books for the 21st century…Elegantly identifies the masks that power uses to hide its abuses. It's about time!' -- Ford Greene, anti-cult attorney

``If one thoroughly absorbs the message…the questions raised by it are so profound…that they can never be put out of one's mind.'

-- Don Havis, book review for Humanists