Tony Russo

"Dragged into the Light" is an eye-opening journey into the heart of an online cult, exploring its strange beliefs and the lives it affects. The author delves deep into the world of "truthers," reptilian theories, super soldiers, and the grim realities of life within this digital community.

The book begins by introducing us to the author's own experience of being drawn into the online cult and gradually unravels the layers of deception and manipulation that define its existence. Through firsthand accounts and meticulous research, the author sheds light on the inner workings of the cult and the individuals who are both captivated and consumed by its ideology.

What sets this book apart is its accessibility. The author breaks down complex concepts and theories into easily digestible explanations, making it accessible to readers who may not be familiar with the world of online cults or conspiracy theories.

The narrative is both gripping and disturbing, as the author recounts encounters with charismatic leaders, brushes with danger, and the devastating impact of the cult on its members' lives. Yet, amidst the darkness, there are moments of hope and redemption as individuals find the courage to break free from the grip of the cult and reclaim their autonomy.

While some may find the subject matter unsettling, "Dragged into the Light" is ultimately a testament to the power of truth and resilience in the face of deception. It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the dangers of falling prey to extremist ideologies and the importance of critical thinking in the digital age.





… (mere)

This might be one of the scariest books I've ever read, and the reason for that is because it actually happened. Dragged Into the Light follows Sherry Shriner and the cult of conspiracy theorists she created down a rabbit hole of insane propaganda which turns out to be an terrifyingly interesting story.

I had heard of Sherry Shriner and the lizard-people cult in the years before her death, as I'm sure many have without directly knowing or caring to know the woman behind it or how deep of a mess this seemingly simple and ignorable corner of the internet really turned out to be. The story of Shriner's cult involves murders and suicides, but it's also a really fascinating look at human ideology and how easily people can fall into these things. One woman with a webcam has the ability to start a near-global war and maybe that should scare people more than they realize. The idea of anyone following this for-profit false prophet might seem asinine to most people, but it could and should be argued that every religion is just like this one.

I think this is an absolutely fascinating read with so much more depth than I think even the author expected. I thought it was written very professionally, and while it may be tempting to make fun or insult this cult, I didn't feel like there was ever any intention of that. Instead, I felt a high degree of sympathy for the lives that were ruined as a result of something so bizarre and unnecessary. It's definitely pitiable in that regard, but this was so much deeper of a dive into how a cult like this one could gain so much traction, and how easily controlled and manipulated people can become when they find something in their lives they feel they can latch onto.

This is terrifying because it's real, and while I'm sympathetic to the lives that were lost and ruined as a result, the rabbit hole this story falls into is worth a very thorough examination. Their beliefs aside, the human psyche in regards to these kinds of cults deserves a closer look.

Thanks to Tony Russo and Secant Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review, it was very much appreciated.… (mere)

Generally a disappointing read. I was interested in learning about the Shriner cult from the discussion, but I found this book underwhelming. The major problem with the book was that it was clear the author had no empathy or ability to relate to the people involved; he might have felt some degree of sorrow for them, but mostly they were The Outgroup to be pitied at best, and it definitely affected his reading, as well. I didn't feel like he did a good enough job of discussing how people get into something like this (partially because again, these people are just the Outgroup and not deserving of being understood or sympathized with). There was a long section where the author used "I" a lot and framed a lot of what was going based off what he would do; that was jarring because it a) took me out of the story of the people themselves and b) again, I don't think he could sympathize enough with these people to make comparisons between him and them useful or believable. He talks a lot about this group in terms that make me think there are enough of these people that I should be afraid of them, but the dynamics as described make me think it's a group probably in the dozens, with active members probably being less than that.

I echo Fireformed in thinking the audiobook could be helped out a lot by having someone else who doesn't have such strong feelings about the group involved reading it, and applying a level of neutrality to it.… (mere)