Description: An author and culture journalist argues that doomsday beliefs, deeply rooted in American history, have shaped the nation's culture, from its fascination with heroism and consumerism to its susceptibility to cult-like thinking and strongman leaders.
Brief description: Jane Borden is an author and culture journalist. She is the author of Cults Like Us and I Totally Meant to Do That. Her work has been featured in Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, and other publications. She lives in Los Angeles. Find out more at JaneBorden.com.
Review Quotes: "In this entertaining history, journalist Jane Borden asserts that cultlike belief systems are ingrained in US culture, beginning with the doomsday thinking of the Puritans who arrived in North America decades ago."
--BookBub, Best Nonfiction of 2025