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Outrageous Betrayal: The Real Story of Werner Erhard from Est to Exile
As the founder of a human-potential movement known as "est," which stood for Erhard Seminars Training, Erhard in the 1970s and 1980s attracted hundreds of thousands of followers who sat through grueling sixty-hour "training" sessions that promised personal transformation and profound insights into human relationships.
But Werner Erhard was eventually plagued by problems and controversy, culminating in horrifying allegations, which he hotly disputed, that he had forced his wife to live apart from her children and sexually abused two of his daughters. Erhard also became the focus of renewed charges that his est movement had taken on some of the trappings of a cult. At the same time, the Internal Revenue Service persisted in claims that Erhard's est-related companies owed millions of dollars in back taxes. A bitter divorce battle between Erhard and his second wife further helped to fuel speculation that est's approach to personal transformation was both cruel and hollow. Finally, in early 1991, Erhard left the United States, preferring the solitude of self-imposed exile to the glare of harsh publicity.
Based on scores of interviews and an exhaustive examination of court records, testimony, and crucial documents, Outrageous Betrayal provides the first comprehensive account of Werner Erhard's meteoric rise and crashing fall.
But Werner Erhard was eventually plagued by problems and controversy, culminating in horrifying allegations, which he hotly disputed, that he had forced his wife to live apart from her children and sexually abused two of his daughters. Erhard also became the focus of renewed charges that his est movement had taken on some of the trappings of a cult. At the same time, the Internal Revenue Service persisted in claims that Erhard's est-related companies owed millions of dollars in back taxes. A bitter divorce battle between Erhard and his second wife further helped to fuel speculation that est's approach to personal transformation was both cruel and hollow. Finally, in early 1991, Erhard left the United States, preferring the solitude of self-imposed exile to the glare of harsh publicity.
Based on scores of interviews and an exhaustive examination of court records, testimony, and crucial documents, Outrageous Betrayal provides the first comprehensive account of Werner Erhard's meteoric rise and crashing fall.
289 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 19, 2021
To be honest, I could not handle finishing this book because of my personal history with someone who was in est/The Forum/Landmark for 20 years. BUT it's an important book about a person who has shaped the country more than most people would think. It is acknowledged that est was the blueprint for NXIVM, and both Erhard and Raniere are incredibly toxic, violent men who seem to have no understanding of women as human. (I am not exaggerating whatsoever, this is my honest opinion.)
Cult leaders of this type, including LRH, influence each other and compound the damage done both to the members of their cult-like organizations and, frankly, every single person who knows those members or former members.
At any rate, my endless gratitude to the author for a detailed, well-researched account of WE.
Cult leaders of this type, including LRH, influence each other and compound the damage done both to the members of their cult-like organizations and, frankly, every single person who knows those members or former members.
At any rate, my endless gratitude to the author for a detailed, well-researched account of WE.
October 21, 2007
My mom did est in the '80s. She made me do the young person's training. Today I know of people who have done the Landmark Forum and found it 100% positive and transformative. Many people felt the same way about est.
As a kid, I resented it. Apparently I still feel that way. This book helped me feel more self-righteous about my resentment. I don't know if that's good or bad, but I found it salaciously enjoyable.
As a kid, I resented it. Apparently I still feel that way. This book helped me feel more self-righteous about my resentment. I don't know if that's good or bad, but I found it salaciously enjoyable.
July 29, 2021
It’s a shame this book doesn’t quite work because you can tell that Pressman’s heart is in the right place. He remains, however, pretty hindered by his journalistic outlook. Pressman bookends his exposé by briefly presenting his theory that Erhard’s buzzword-y mysticism was just the lies he had to tell himself in following his own baser instincts for power and wealth, which, though narrow and unexplanatory, could have benefited from some more time.
Perhaps, with his legal background, Pressman didn’t think he would be able to accurately convey the psychological research this would have required. This perspective could also have helped to elucidate how the EST organization worked on the ground level for its members. My own theory about EST and the other Scientology spinoff cults is that they were extensive psychological experiments in gaming reactions within groups for the purposes of social control and manipulation.
In hindsight, it is tragic to see how successful Erhard was, not just in terms of his seemingly good reception in academia and continued material comfort in the Caymans but also in the little ways his influence has lingered on in contemporary culture. Being lucky enough to have been born after Erhard’s zenith and have little personal familiarity with stuff of this nature, I had a bit of a hard time getting a clear picture of just how the group and “seminars” operated. In the end, Pressman wound up getting bogged down with the minutiae of inconsequential civil suits against Erhard and missing the broader picture.
Perhaps, with his legal background, Pressman didn’t think he would be able to accurately convey the psychological research this would have required. This perspective could also have helped to elucidate how the EST organization worked on the ground level for its members. My own theory about EST and the other Scientology spinoff cults is that they were extensive psychological experiments in gaming reactions within groups for the purposes of social control and manipulation.
In hindsight, it is tragic to see how successful Erhard was, not just in terms of his seemingly good reception in academia and continued material comfort in the Caymans but also in the little ways his influence has lingered on in contemporary culture. Being lucky enough to have been born after Erhard’s zenith and have little personal familiarity with stuff of this nature, I had a bit of a hard time getting a clear picture of just how the group and “seminars” operated. In the end, Pressman wound up getting bogged down with the minutiae of inconsequential civil suits against Erhard and missing the broader picture.
January 20, 2022
This book tells the story of Werner Erhard, founder of human-potential movement est (Ernhard Seminars Training). According to the book, the movement brought people in for grueling training sessions with few breaks and little or no sleep to force emotional breakthroughs and create mindset changes. Much of it is based on court records and testimony.
Many considered est to be closer to a cult. The book explores the controversy, Ernhard's troubled personal life and personality, and offshoot organizations that survive to this day and retain remnants of est's methods, including constant pressure to recruit others to the cause.
I read Outrageous Betrayal when sorting through ideas for a mystery novel I was writing with a fictional self-help organization at its core. But I found Erhard's story compelling all on its own. He essentially invented himself and created an entire world around his ideas. And, as with many leaders, he appeared to become less and less able to function outside his creation or to relate to people beyond how they could serve his organization. Or, more accurately according to the book, how they could serve him.
For fiction writers, this is a great book to read for in-depth character studies. For non-fiction writers, it's a wonderful example of how to write a fact-based book in narrative form that's as fascinating as any novel.
Many considered est to be closer to a cult. The book explores the controversy, Ernhard's troubled personal life and personality, and offshoot organizations that survive to this day and retain remnants of est's methods, including constant pressure to recruit others to the cause.
I read Outrageous Betrayal when sorting through ideas for a mystery novel I was writing with a fictional self-help organization at its core. But I found Erhard's story compelling all on its own. He essentially invented himself and created an entire world around his ideas. And, as with many leaders, he appeared to become less and less able to function outside his creation or to relate to people beyond how they could serve his organization. Or, more accurately according to the book, how they could serve him.
For fiction writers, this is a great book to read for in-depth character studies. For non-fiction writers, it's a wonderful example of how to write a fact-based book in narrative form that's as fascinating as any novel.
March 2, 2019
A nice book-end to round out the mostly favorable coverage in Luke Rhinehart's The Book of Est. You get the shady, sociopathic side of Erhard which (mostly) doesn't come out in the glowing PR of the est/Landmark organizations.
It's rare to get an inside look at these popular cults, the tools and personalities that draw people in. I admit it, I'm a junkie for this stuff.
It's rare to get an inside look at these popular cults, the tools and personalities that draw people in. I admit it, I'm a junkie for this stuff.
March 24, 2008
This book was poorly written but I learned a lot about the history of EST and Landmark Forum. It was a worthwhile read just for the information it offered. It has ultimately allowed me to understand the parody of Landmark Forum that was done in the TV show, Six Feet Under. If you are looking for a good read, skip this. If you are seeking information on Landmark, this is for you.
October 15, 2012
A very interesting story, not very well told but good information.
June 7, 2018
Well documented
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April 21, 2025Very dryly written, but a solid overview of an underdiscussed, truly sinister cultural movement whose long hangover we’re still in today.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews