Thank you to Libro FM for an audio arc of Spencer Schneider’s Manhattan Cult Story: My Unbelievable True Story of Sex, Crimes, Chaos, and Survival. The audio book is narrated by Austin Rising.
Young, professional, and successful Spencer Schneider was recruited to joined a cult called “The School.” Initially, “The School” seemed to be a self-help style class that was attended by rising stars in fields such as law, medicine, and finance. The attendees were hand-selected for this secretive program and they were told that they were not only lucky to have been picked, but to keep it a secret from everyone in their lives. Through psychological manipulation, Schneider believed that this was a benefit to his life and not a cult, even though he noticed more sinister aspects of the organization as his involvement grew deeper.
Former actress, Sharon Gans was the head of “The School.” She could be a harsh critic and formidable character that had her followers catering to her every need, including providing labor for construction on her properties, and fearing upsetting her. There were many rules to follow and a single misstep could have followers ousted from the organization. Gans even orchestrated marriages and divorces within group members, separating children from parents in the process. She was often cruel to her followers, yet maintained control over them.
A member of the cult for several decades, Schneider details how he became trapped and what ultimately gave him the courage to leave. He shares how educated and successful people could become involved in a cult, showing how no one is immune from psychological manipulation.
I found Schneider’s memoir to be fascinating. This was my first time hearing about this particular cult and I love anything true crime. It’s interesting to note that although Gans has died and a lawsuit was filed against her estate by former cult members, a form of “The School” is still active.
I wish I had read the book, rather than listening to the audio version. I did not care for the narrator, especially when he did women’s voices. It was very grating and distracted from Schneider’s writing. I recommend Manhattan Cult Story, just not the audio book version.