The Program (novel)

Infobox Book |
name = The Program
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Gregg Hurwitz
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = USA
language = English
series = Tim Rackley Novels
genre = Novel
publisher = William Morrow
release_date = August 31, 2004
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback) & AudioBook
pages = 368 pp
isbn = ISBN 978-0060530402
preceded_by = The Kill Clause
followed_by = Troubleshooter

"The Program: A Novel" is a novel by Gregg Hurwitz, first published in 2004. It has since been released as an Audio CD, an Audio Cassette, and was reprinted in paperback format, in 2005. [Hurwitz, "The Program", Audio CD, Baker Dylan (Narrator), HarperAudio, August 31, 2004., ISBN 0060757760 , ISBN 978-0060757762] [Hurwitz, "The Program", Audio Cassette, Erik Steele (Narrator), BBC Audiobooks America, November 2005, ISBN 0792738454 , ISBN 978-0792738459 .] [Hurwitz, "The Program", HarperTorch, August 30, 2005, ISBN 0060530413 , ISBN 978-0060530419 ] Hurwitz's prior book, "The Kill Clause", will soon be made into a motion-picture.cite news | last = Gail | first = Nancy | coauthors = | title = Interview with Gregg Hurwitz | work = Cleveland Plain Dealer | pages = | language = | publisher = 2007 cleveland.com | date = January 16, 2005 | url = http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/print.ssf?/mtlogs/cleve_bookreviews/archives/print046870.html
accessdate = 2007-10-28] "The Program" picks up where "The Kill Clause" left off, following a series of books by the author involving fictional Deputy U.S. Marshal, Tim Rackley.

Plot

The work is part of a series following the character Tim Rackley, a member of the United States Marshals Service, and opens with a suicide in the La Brea Tar Pits. Rackley must rescue the daughter of a Hollywood producer from a dangerous mind control cult, by infiltrating the group. [cite news | last = Adams | first = Jane | coauthors = | title = Editorial Review, The Program | work = Amazon.com | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = 2004 | url = http://www.amazon.com/Program-Novel-Hurwitz-Gregg/dp/0060530405 | accessdate = 2007-10-28 ] Charismatic leader TD Betters had created his own society based on self-help tenets, and Rackley must navigate through it without getting pulled in himself."Publishers Weekly" (2004)]

The novel describes a fictional large group awareness training called "The Program", and characters also use the term Large Group Awareness Training and "LGAT" to refer to the course.cite book | last = Hurwitz | first = Gregg Andrew | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Program | publisher = William Morrow | date = 2004 | location = | pages = 368 | url = | doi = | id = ISBN 0060530405] In the novel, the seminar leader had "married two cult models", which one of the protagonists describes as a blend of the "psychotherapeutic cult", and the "self-improvement cult". The character then tells his friend that "The Program", is similar to a combination of the Sullivanians and Lifespring. Werner Erhard is quoted, prior to the opening of the prologue.

Reception

"Publishers Weekly" characterized the work as engaging, and grounded in character and detail. ["Publishers Weekly" (2004)] Lukowsky of "Booklist" described the work as a "gripping read." [Lukowsky, "Booklist" (2004)] "The Oakland Press" described the work as a thriller and a good character study.cite news | last = Terry | first = Mark | coauthors = | title = Cult 'Program' rich with detail, thrills | work = The Oakland Press | pages = | language = | publisher = 2007 The Oakland Press | date = November 7, 2004 | url = http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/110704/oak_20041107012.shtml | accessdate = ] "Oakland Press" writer Mark Terry went on to state that the author had done his homework researching for the book, and that it was a fascinating and disturbing look at cults. The "Chicago Sun-Times" also gave a favorable review, noting that this was the author's fifth work at the age of 31.cite news | last = Montgomery | first = David | coauthors = | title = Up against a monomaniacal 'Teacher' | work = Chicago Sun-Times | pages = 12 | language = | publisher = Sun-Times News Group | date = September 12, 2004 | url = | accessdate = ] The book also received favorable reviews in "The Capital Times", [cite news | last = Thomas | first = Rob | coauthors = | title = Program's' Cult Tale Pulls You In | work = The Capital Times | pages = | language = | publisher = Capital Newspapers | date = September 10, 2004 | url = | accessdate = ] "Cleveland Plain Dealer", and the "San Jose Mercury News". [cite news | last = Weimers | first = Leigh | coauthors = | title = Mighty Voices Could Make a Mighty Read | work = San Jose Mercury News | pages = 2B | language = | publisher = | date = September 29, 2004 | url = | accessdate = ]

In the Audio version, "AudioFile" cited narrator Dylan Baker's "strong performance", stating that he differentiated between the multitude of characters in the book well, making them easy to distinguish.cite news | last = Staff | first = | coauthors = | title = Review, The Program (Audio version) | work = AudioFile | pages = | language = | publisher = AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine | date = 2005 | url = | accessdate = ] "AudioFile" went on to state that Baker's narration helped the listener comprehend how cults could manipulate those ignorant of their tactics.

See also

*Cults and new religious movements in literature and popular culture
*est and The Forum in popular culture
*Large Group Awareness Training
*Lifespring

Notes

References

*cite journal | last =Lukowsky | first =Wes | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Hurwitz, Gregg. The Program. | journal =Booklist | volume =100 | issue =19-20 | pages =Page 1708 | publisher =American Library Association | location = | date =June 1, 2004 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate =
*cite journal | last =Staff| first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Hurwitz, Gregg: The Program | journal =Kirkus Reviews | volume =72 | issue =14 | pages =Page 649 | publisher =VNU Business Media | location = | date =July 15, 2004 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate =
*cite journal | last = Staff | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Program | journal =Publishers Weekly | volume =251 | issue =28 | pages =Page 44 | publisher =Reed Business Information | location = | date =July 12, 2004 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate =

External links

* [http://www.gregghurwitz.net/program.htm Gregg Hurwitz] , author's page on the book