American Messiahs

Author Adam Morris aims to present America’s long line of selfproclaimed prophets and demigods as more than kooks, and “in many ways, he succeeds,” said Tom Bissell in NewYorker.com. His examples, including the founder of the Shakers and 20thcentury cult leader Jim Jones, all rejected capitalism, and many promoted race and gender equality. But cult leaders also exploit the vulnerable, and Morris’ attempt to treat such abuses as distractions mars an “otherwise fascinating” book.