The Program: Inside the Mind of Keith Raniere and the Rise and Fall of NXIVM by Toni Natalie
When I did my search for books about NXIVM, the one I was most eager to read was Scarred as I had watched Sarah Edmondson in the A&E series Cults and Extreme Beliefs. The Program seemed like the best book to read next, although I think I may have read it first for a better understanding of NXIVM, which was my only issue with Scarred. The Program is by Toni Natalie, a woman who knew Keith Raniere before NXIVM, and what she has gone through because of him is terrifying.
Before there was NXIVM, there was Consumers Buyline, which was supposed to work like a Costco or Sam's Club. This is where Toni Natalie first met Keith Raniere. She would stand by him when CBI would be declared a pyramid scheme in the mid-90s; she would begin a relationship with him and raise her child with him; and then she would leave him and be subjected to two decades of stalking, threats, mental torment, and numerous legal battles. While she made it out before NXIVM became the sex cult that it was when it was dismantled, the turmoil she went through during these years is just as haunting.
CW: This book contains themes of physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse.
What this book gave me that Scarred did not was the start of Keith Raniere, to an extent. Like other cult leaders I have read about, Raniere did not just develop NXIVM out of nowhere. It started with Amway, and then Consumers Buyline, both multi-level marketing companies. He had an interest in neuro-linguistic programming and Scientology. He was also a master at finding a persons weakness, whether it be money, a bad relationship, a job you hate, and exploit it.
What was rough about the book was it was a bit dense and repetitive. I'm sure Natalie can agree with the repetitive part since Raniere used the same tactics for twenty years to try and shut her up. However, that does not make for the best book. I feel that a fair chunk of the book could have been condensed. The amount of legal jargon in the book is also a bit much, even for a person who reads a lot of true crime and detective thrillers. At one point, when it was heavy in a court case Natalie was battling, I fell asleep.
When the book was discussing other things though, it was quite interesting. Through Scarred, I learned that NXIVM shared a lot of similarities with Scientology; but in The Program, I learned the Raniere was quite similar to Charles Manson. Raniere and/or his lackeys would break into Natalie's house and do the whole Helter Skelter thing; they would break into her house (and other naysayers) and move things around or steal things. There is also Raniere's physical appearance, which could be almost a carbon image of the Family's cult leader.
Other things though are more unique to Raniere and NXIVM. On multiple occasions, people of NXIVM would attempt to lure those against the cult to Mexico, where NXIVM had a stronger working and laws are more lax. Natalie was one who they attempted to lure, another being Rick Ross, a cult specialist and the founder of the Cult Education Institute. I don't know why, but this fact really gives me the creeps.
Without Toni Natalie and numerous others to come forward, who knows what would have come of NXIVM and DOS. But because of these brave people, NXIVM was taken down before Raniere was able to pull something similar to Jonestown. The Program does give a lot of information about the start and end of Keith Raniere; it also gives a lot of information on the women close to Keith in the beginning. But I would not recommend it for people who are looking for information on the workings of NXIVM since Natalie was out by the time it came to power.
Rating: 5/10
Author: Toni Natalie
Genres: Cult, Non-Fiction, True Crime
Dates Read: December 1-3, 2019
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| (Source: Kelsey Darling) |
CW: This book contains themes of physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse.
What this book gave me that Scarred did not was the start of Keith Raniere, to an extent. Like other cult leaders I have read about, Raniere did not just develop NXIVM out of nowhere. It started with Amway, and then Consumers Buyline, both multi-level marketing companies. He had an interest in neuro-linguistic programming and Scientology. He was also a master at finding a persons weakness, whether it be money, a bad relationship, a job you hate, and exploit it.
What was rough about the book was it was a bit dense and repetitive. I'm sure Natalie can agree with the repetitive part since Raniere used the same tactics for twenty years to try and shut her up. However, that does not make for the best book. I feel that a fair chunk of the book could have been condensed. The amount of legal jargon in the book is also a bit much, even for a person who reads a lot of true crime and detective thrillers. At one point, when it was heavy in a court case Natalie was battling, I fell asleep.
When the book was discussing other things though, it was quite interesting. Through Scarred, I learned that NXIVM shared a lot of similarities with Scientology; but in The Program, I learned the Raniere was quite similar to Charles Manson. Raniere and/or his lackeys would break into Natalie's house and do the whole Helter Skelter thing; they would break into her house (and other naysayers) and move things around or steal things. There is also Raniere's physical appearance, which could be almost a carbon image of the Family's cult leader.
 |
| (Manson Photo Source: Martha's Vineyard Time Raniere Photo Source: Fox News) |
Without Toni Natalie and numerous others to come forward, who knows what would have come of NXIVM and DOS. But because of these brave people, NXIVM was taken down before Raniere was able to pull something similar to Jonestown. The Program does give a lot of information about the start and end of Keith Raniere; it also gives a lot of information on the women close to Keith in the beginning. But I would not recommend it for people who are looking for information on the workings of NXIVM since Natalie was out by the time it came to power.
Rating: 5/10
Author: Toni Natalie
Genres: Cult, Non-Fiction, True Crime
Dates Read: December 1-3, 2019
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