Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
34th out of 100 books
—
2 voters
The Cult at the End of the World: The Terrifying Story of the Aum Doomsday Cult, from the Subways of Tokyo to the Nuclear Arsenals of Russia
The brave new age of postmillennium terror is awakening and its harbinger is Aum Supreme Truth: a Japan-based global web of wired, technically expert New Age zealots armed with biologial weapons, driven by an apocalyptic vision of unprecedented destruction. With compelling immediacy, this book tells the terrifying story the cult reponsible for the Tokyo subway nerve gas at...more
Hardcover, 310 pages
Published
May 21st 1996
by Crown
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
99)
Sep 21, 2011
Amar Pai
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction-pageturners
The story of Aum Shinrikyo (click to prounounce) is literally incredible. After reading this book I had to fact check a lot of it via Google, cos I couldn't believe this really happened.
If you don't remember these guys-- they're the ones who did a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in the late 90's. But the story is much, much crazier than that. To cite one random fact-- at one point these guys were responsible for 50% of the world's LSD supply. They murdered a slew of people, infiltrated the...more
If you don't remember these guys-- they're the ones who did a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in the late 90's. But the story is much, much crazier than that. To cite one random fact-- at one point these guys were responsible for 50% of the world's LSD supply. They murdered a slew of people, infiltrated the...more
view all 4 comments
If you have any interest at all in the history of Aum or cults in particular, this books is probably worth reading. Considering the behaviors and practices of Aum grew ever more brutal over time, be prepared for some graphic and disturbing content. While at times I found the catalog of information regarding finances and acquisitions overwhelming, these lists demonstrate just how rapidly Aum's sphere of influence grew both within Japan and internationally. I also found the critique of the Japanes...more
Not a cheering read, but a fascinating exploration of the demented cult responsible for the Tokyo subway poison gas attacks, why nothing was done to stop them - and some courageous people who stood up to the madness and paid with their lives.
A reminder of what it really takes to carry out a terrorist attack and the resources required.
Good read, with lots of background on the cult and its leaders.
Good, but...are the authors going to try & understand why the unfolding insanity isn't seen by the leader and/or followers? Asahara, Jim Jones, David Koresh....why didn't people feel how crazy these guys were, until it was too late?
Apr 28, 2013
Guy
marked it as to-read
Apr 16, 2013
Ekkavit T
marked it as to-read
Apr 01, 2013
Sreevidhya
marked it as to-read
Mar 23, 2013
Krystle
marked it as to-read
Mar 09, 2013
Sarah
marked it as to-read
Mar 03, 2013
Bob
marked it as to-read
Feb 10, 2013
Kymlicka
marked it as to-read
Jan 02, 2013
Kirsten Mcallister
marked it as to-read
Nov 30, 2012
Viktor
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
