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The Program (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Program: A Novel is a novel
by Gregg Hurwitz, first published in 2004. It has since been released as an Audio CD, an Audio Cassette, and was reprinted in paperback format, in 2005. Hurwitz's prior book, The Kill Clause, will soon be made into a motion-picture. The Program picks up where The Kill Clause left off, following a series of books by the author involving fictional Deputy U.S. Marshal
, Tim Rackley.
, and opens with a suicide
in the La Brea Tar Pits
. Rackley must rescue the daughter of a Hollywood producer from a dangerous mind control
cult
, by infiltrating the group. Charismatic leader
TD Betters had created his own society based on self-help
tenets, and Rackley must navigate through it without getting pulled in himself.
The novel describes a fictional large group awareness training called "The Program", and characters also use the term Large Group Awareness Training
and "LGAT" to refer to the course. In the novel, the seminar leader had "married two cult models", which one of the protagonists describes as a blend of the "psychotherapeutic cult", and the "self-improvement cult". The character then tells his friend that "The Program", is similar to a combination of the Sullivanians and Lifespring
. Werner Erhard
is quoted, prior to the opening of the prologue.
Publishers Weekly
characterized the work as engaging, and grounded in character and detail. Lukowsky of Booklist
described the work as a "gripping read." The Oakland Press
described the work as a thriller and a good character study. Oakland Press writer Mark Terry went on to state that the author had done his homework researching for the book, and that it was a fascinating and disturbing look at cults. The Chicago Sun-Times
also gave a favorable review, noting that this was the author's fifth work at the age of 31. The book also received favorable reviews in The Capital Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the San Jose Mercury News
.
In the Audio version, AudioFile
cited narrator Dylan Baker's "strong performance", stating that he differentiated between the multitude of characters in the book well, making them easy to distinguish. AudioFile went on to state that Baker's narration helped the listener comprehend how cults could manipulate those ignorant of their tactics.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by Gregg Hurwitz, first published in 2004. It has since been released as an Audio CD, an Audio Cassette, and was reprinted in paperback format, in 2005. Hurwitz's prior book, The Kill Clause, will soon be made into a motion-picture. The Program picks up where The Kill Clause left off, following a series of books by the author involving fictional Deputy U.S. Marshal
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
, Tim Rackley.
Plot
The work is part of a series following the character Tim Rackley, a member of the United States Marshals ServiceUnited States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
, and opens with a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in the La Brea Tar Pits
La Brea Tar Pits
The La Brea Tar Pits are a cluster of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed, in the urban heart of Los Angeles. Asphaltum or tar has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with water...
. Rackley must rescue the daughter of a Hollywood producer from a dangerous mind control
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
, by infiltrating the group. Charismatic leader
Charismatic authority
The sociologist Max Weber defined charismatic authority as "resting on devotion to the exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person, and of the normative patterns or order revealed or ordained by him." Charismatic authority is one of three forms of authority laid out...
TD Betters had created his own society based on self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
tenets, and Rackley must navigate through it without getting pulled in himself.
The novel describes a fictional large group awareness training called "The Program", and characters also use the term Large Group Awareness Training
Large Group Awareness Training
Large-group awareness training refers to activities usually offered by groups linked with the human potential movement which claim to increase self-awareness and bring about desirable transformations in individuals' personal lives...
and "LGAT" to refer to the course. In the novel, the seminar leader had "married two cult models", which one of the protagonists describes as a blend of the "psychotherapeutic cult", and the "self-improvement cult". The character then tells his friend that "The Program", is similar to a combination of the Sullivanians and Lifespring
Lifespring
Lifespring was a for-profit private company, founded in 1974. The company promoted itself through books and word of mouth advertising. By 1989, officials stated that over 300,000 people had enrolled in the company's seminars...
. Werner Erhard
Werner Erhard
Werner Hans Erhard is an author of transformational models and applications for individuals, groups, and organizations...
is quoted, prior to the opening of the prologue.
Reception
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
characterized the work as engaging, and grounded in character and detail. Lukowsky of Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
described the work as a "gripping read." The Oakland Press
The Oakland Press
The Oakland Press is a daily newspaper published in Oakland County, Michigan. Owned by Journal Register Company, The Oakland Press was originally named The Pontiac Press until 1972.-External links:* *...
described the work as a thriller and a good character study. Oakland Press writer Mark Terry went on to state that the author had done his homework researching for the book, and that it was a fascinating and disturbing look at cults. The Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
also gave a favorable review, noting that this was the author's fifth work at the age of 31. The book also received favorable reviews in The Capital Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News
The San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
.
In the Audio version, AudioFile
AudioFile (magazine)
-Launch:The publication was launched in 1992 as a twelve-page black & white newsletter with about 50 critical reviews of audiobooks, focused on new releases. In 1997, it switched to a 36-page colour magazine format with about 60 reviews per issue and interviews with authors, readers, and...
cited narrator Dylan Baker's "strong performance", stating that he differentiated between the multitude of characters in the book well, making them easy to distinguish. AudioFile went on to state that Baker's narration helped the listener comprehend how cults could manipulate those ignorant of their tactics.
See also
- Cults and new religious movements in literature and popular cultureCults and new religious movements in literature and popular cultureNew religious movements and cults can appear as themes or subjects in literature and popular culture, while notable representatives of such groups have produced, for their own part, a large body of literary works.- Terminology :...
- est and The Forum in popular cultureEst and The Forum in popular cultureWerner Erhard and his self-improvement courses have been referenced in popular culture in various forms of fictional media including literature, film, television and theatre. These courses, known as est, were delivered by the company Erhard Seminars Training. Under the name The Forum, they were...
- Large Group Awareness TrainingLarge Group Awareness TrainingLarge-group awareness training refers to activities usually offered by groups linked with the human potential movement which claim to increase self-awareness and bring about desirable transformations in individuals' personal lives...
- LifespringLifespringLifespring was a for-profit private company, founded in 1974. The company promoted itself through books and word of mouth advertising. By 1989, officials stated that over 300,000 people had enrolled in the company's seminars...
External links
- Gregg Hurwitz, author's page on the book