Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West
Westport, CT 06881
(800) 225-5800
$55.00 (c)

In 17 short chapters, the authors attempt to persuade the reader that cult memories are valid. James Noblitt is a clinical psychiatrist who treats patients for multiple personality disorder, and Pamela Perskin is the director of the Society for the Investigation, Treatment, and Prevention of Ritual and Cult Abuse at Richardson, Texas. The stated purpose of the book is to review published and unpublished material concerning ritual and satanic ritual abuse, which they do only on a very selective basis. Some of the material comes from patients who were referred to the authors for therapy, and the issue of clinical versus empirical evidence is not addressed. In their historical review of cults, the authors only cite material that supports their point of view, and one chapter concludes with a conspiracy theory concerning professionals and insurance companies. The book concludes with a list of references, many which were ignored in the text, and a short index. This book is not recommended.

Reviewed by LeRoy G. Schultz, Professor Emeritus of Social Work, West Virginia University.