International Kindle Paperwhite
EUR 5.11 with 63 percent savings
Print List Price: EUR 13.63
You will be charged USD 5.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

How it works

  1. Choose your delivery method
  2. Send now or schedule for later
  3. Add your personal message
  4. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.

Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

  • Doomsday Cults ; The Devil's Hostages

Follow the author

Get new release updates & improved recommendations
Alan R Warren
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Doomsday Cults ; The Devil's Hostages Kindle Edition

by Alan R Warren (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars (19)

Jim Jones convinced his 1000 followers they would all have to commit suicide since he was going to die. Shoko Asahara convinced his followers to release a weapon of mass destruction, the deadly sarin gas, on a Tokyo subway. The Order of the Solar Temple lured the rich and famous, including Princess Grace of Monaco, and convinced them to die a fiery death now on Earth to be reborn on a better planet called Sirius. Charles Manson convinced his followers to kill, in an attempt to incite an apocalyptic race war. These are a few of the doomsday cults examined in this book by bestselling author Alan R. Warren. Its focus is on cults whose destructive behavior was due in large part to their apocalyptic beliefs or doomsday movements. It includes details surrounding the massacres and a look into how their members became so brainwashed they committed unimaginable crimes at the command of their leader.Usually, when we hear about these cults and their massacres, we ask ourselves how it possibly happened. We could also ask ourselves, what then is the difference between a cult and a religion? We once had a small group of people who unquestionably followed a person who believed he was the son of God. Two thousand years later, that following is one of the most recognized religions in the world. This book in no way criticizes believing in God. Rather, it examines how a social movement grows into a full religion and when it does not. And what makes the conventional faiths such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism stand above groups such as the Branch Davidians or Children of God.

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    246 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Alan R Warren
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    June 25, 2020
  6. File size
    1.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08BX96P2Z
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Alan R Warren
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 25, 2020
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.1 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 246 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1989980101
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #3,317,296 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars (19)

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Alan R Warren

Alan R Warren

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Alan R. Warren is an award-winning, bestselling author and the long-time producer and host of the widely popular NBC radio show House of Mystery. For over 13 years, the program has captivated audiences on stations such as KCAA 106.5 F.M. Los Angeles, 102.3 F.M. Riverside, 1050 A.M. Palm Springs, and KKNW 1150 A.M. Seattle/Tacoma, while also being syndicated across the United States.

Warren has authored 34 nonfiction books, specializing in true crime, cults, human trafficking, history, and memoirs, published by notable houses like RJ Parker/Vronksy Publishing (Canada) and WildBlue Press (USA). His work has garnered widespread acclaim, with several titles achieving bestseller status.

In Canada, his standout works include Beyond Suspicion: The True Story of Colonel Russell Williams, featured on CNN’s Lies, Crimes & Videos (Season 4, 2022), and Murder Times Six: The True Story of the Wells Gray Park Murders. In the U.S., his bestselling The Killing Game: Serial Killer Rodney Alcala has been spotlighted on shows such as HLN’s Very Scary People with Donnie Wahlberg, Oxygen Network’s Mark of a Killer, and Reelz Channel’s Killer Trophies. The book also inspired the Prime Video three-part documentary Dating Death and contributed to the Netflix movie Woman of the Hour.

His book Doomsday Cults: The Devil's Hostages was featured in Vice’s Dark Side of the ’90s (Episode 7), further solidifying his reputation as a preeminent true crime author.

Warren’s Killer Queens series explores high-profile murders impacting the LGBTQ+ community, with titles such as Leopold & Loeb, Butcher of Hanover: Fritz Haarmann, Grindr Serial Killer Stephen Port, and Bruce McArthur: Toronto Gay Killer.

His latest endeavor, the five-book series Murderous Minds: Encyclopedia of Serial Killers, offers an in-depth examination of serial killers across the globe, covering regions like the Soviet Union, France, Britain, Australia, and Germany.

Alan R. Warren’s ability to bring riveting, fact-based narratives to life has made him a trusted voice in the true crime genre, both in print and on the airwaves.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
19 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

  • B. McKee
    4.0 out of 5 stars DNF
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Casting no blame on Mr. Warren, who is an excellent writer, I did not finish this book. Once I got into it, I discovered that I had no interest in the subject matter.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Celeste
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read on cults
    Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I learned a lot in this book. A friend has a sister in a cult so it intrigues me why she made this choice and continues to stay. I now understand this better. People that rule the cults appear very messed up and do terrible things to their followers.
    If you are looking for deeper understanding of cults, this is a good book for you.
    Helpful
     Report
  • David Cotton
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read and has great information!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I was familiar with about 3 of these cults due to the media at the time but I heard many details I was unaware of all these years.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jessica Rumwell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good overall view
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    It was a good overall taste on the subject. This book led me to a few other books that went into more detail about some of the subjects of this book.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Dana Baker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent description of followers and leaders characteristics
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025
    Format: Paperback
    Well researched, enjoyable book. The author discusses 6-7 dangerous cults in history and presents reasons why people are attracted to cults and the dysfunction and hardship of the leaders. He shares specific information on various cult members, unlike any other resource I've read on the topic of cults.

    He began the book by describing what cults are and the 9 types of people drawn to cults (seeking validation, identity, apt to be followers, highly suggestible, schizotypal thinking, seeking meaning or purpose, blamers, angry people, low self-worth). People want to belong and feel like they are part of a chosen or special group.

    Make sure you pay attention to the end / conclusion. THere's great information throughout the book and I recommend it to anyone studying cults.

    What we all need to heed is this: Doomsday cults might sound extreme, but there are many subtle manipulations occurring today that is effecting thought reform in consumers minds, and they aren't aware of it. I think the best thing people can do is to listen to a variety of commentators and read a plethora of resources, and expose yourself to various activities. When you join a group and exclude almost everything else, you could be entering a dangerous situation. I think of how politics has become so polarized. In the 1990's there was more mature and open-minded exchange of differences of opinion.
    Helpful
     Report
  • casey bates
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cult Killers
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2020
    I love Allen Warren , this is my first book I have read by him and I am waiting to dive into the others soon . The topic on cults peaked my interest and how Mr Warren description of cults and the difference in religion causes one to really think and be mindful . I loved the book .
    Helpful
     Report
  • Shaun
    1.0 out of 5 stars Was Jesus like Charles Manson?
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2020
    The heading of Part 1 of this book is: “Was Jesus the original Charles Manson?” Just asking such a question speaks volumes about this author's religious orientation. This question may provide the astute reader with an insight into one of the agendas of this author.
    In this section he suggests the cult-like nature of early Christianity. The author then informs us that Manson had long hair and preached a gospel of love. It is clear what the author is trying to insinuate. The answer to his provocative question about Jesus is very revealing: The author wrote that it was too long ago to have proof that the motivations of Jesus were not the same as the motivations of the love-preaching, murderous cult leader Charles Manson.
    In this same section the author informs the reader about the negative experiences he had growing up as a nominative Christian. Was the author himself using a cult-mind control technique to plant the seed in the reader’s mind that original Christianity was just a Manson-like cult that grew large enough over time to become too big to be called a cult today?
    It is very easy to gain the interest and sympathy of a reader by describing the details of some of the most horrendous modern-day cults. However, the author does only a partial service because he fails to describe the attributes of authentic religious or spiritual movements. This would have been very helpful because the author himself concludes that one of the motivations of a cult joiner is to find real spiritual or religious fulfillment. The reader is left with the impression that the author may have become an agnostic, if not an actual atheist, because of his personal negative experiences with religious and spiritual movements. One is also left wondering if the purpose of this book is to indirectly attack modern, mainstream religions by exposing blatant modern cults which the author would have us believe are images of what our current religions were like in their earliest days. For example, he claims that all cult leaders do not start out with evil intent. How does the author know what was really in their warped minds?
    It is for the reasons stated above that this book was given only a one star rating.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • James Herington
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cults that thrill and cults that kill
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2020
    This was a fascinating piece of work, well researched, and very stimulating. The author provided an account of how each sect worked, as well as back story on its leaders. Including how each member was affected. Great work and will recommend it to anyone who wants to be better educated in this subject matter
    Helpful
     Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report