The Penguin Book of CultsA chilling history of the most notorious cults of the past two thousand years The word 'cult' conjures images of people in thrall to a charismatic leader who extracts obedience through lies and threats, and of apocalyptic prophecies, sexual perversion, and mass suicide. From the Celtic druids, whose ritual sacrifices inspired the folk horror film The Wicker Man, all the way up to the Peoples Temple and Heaven's Gate, The Penguin Book of Cults charts

It is 1982 and in the Kingdom Hall we are Jehovah's Witnesses

Or that the humble paperclip helped lead an anti-war movement

Through candid

at the same time a war cog ship bound for Calais is destroyed: is there a connection

with over 100 simple and wonderfully inviting recipes

engaging introduction to the world of autism

reflects: 'The war must be more than half over'

where they shopped and how they amused themselves

Placed in a castle in the Scottish Highlands

Lotoro pieces together the human stories of survivors whose only salvation was their love of music

politicians and commentators talk about benefits as a lifestyle choice

he receives thousands of letters - from students to prisoners