Manhattan Cult Story: My Unbelievable True Story of Sex, Crimes, Chaos, and Survival

A secret society called School, led by Sharon Gans, has been operating in Manhattan for decades, preying on educated professionals. Members were recruited in the 80s and endured mental, sexual, and physical abuse, forced labor, arranged marriages, swindled inheritances, and terrorizing. Spencer Schneider was recruited and stayed for 23 years, until he escaped. This is a cautionary tale of how group psychology and radicalization can lead to double lives and how easy it is to be swayed by charismatic leaders.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Right under the noses of neighbors, clients, spouses, children, and friends, a secret society, simply called School—a cult of snared Manhattan professionals—has been led by the charismatic, sociopathic, and dangerous leader Sharon Gans for decades. Spencer Schneider was recruited in the eighties and he stayed for more than twenty-three years as his life disintegrated, his self-esteem eroded, and he lined the pockets of Gans and her cult.

Cult members met twice weekly, though they never acknowledged one another outside of meetings or gatherings. In the name of inner development, they endured the horrors of mental, sexual, and physical abuse, forced labor, arranged marriages, swindled inheritances and savings, and systematic terrorizing. Some of them broke the law. All for Gans.

“During those years,” Schneider writes, “my world was School. That’s what it’s like when you’re in a cult, even one that preys on and caters to New York’s educated elite. This is my story of how I got entangled in School and how I got out.”

At its core, Manhattan Cult Story is a cautionary tale of how hundreds of well-educated, savvy, and prosperous New Yorkers became fervent followers of a brilliant but demented cult leader who posed as a teacher of ancient knowledge. It’s about double-lives, the power of group psychology, and how easy it is to be radicalized—all too r.

The story begins with Schneider’s childhood in a middle-class family in Queens, New York. He was a bright and curious child, but he struggled with social anxiety and low self-esteem. He was also bullied at school and felt like an outsider.

As a teenager, Schneider discovered a book on meditation and mindfulness, which he found to be a lifeline. He practiced meditation regularly and began to feel more at peace with himself. He also started to explore other spiritual and philosophical beliefs, including Buddhism and Taoism.

In his early twenties, Schneider moved to New York City to pursue a career in finance. He worked for a large accounting firm and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a senior manager. He was successful and well-respected, but he felt like something was missing from his life.

One day, Schneider met Sharon Gans, a charismatic and enigmatic woman who claimed to be a teacher of ancient knowledge. Gans was a former yoga instructor who had become disillusioned with the modern world and its materialistic values. She believed that the key to inner development and enlightenment was through meditation and spiritual practice, and she offered to teach Schneider these techniques.

Schneider was initially skeptical of Gans, but he was drawn to her charisma and her promise of inner peace and enlightenment. He began to attend her meditation classes and workshops, and he quickly became a devoted follower of Gans.

As Schneider became more involved in Gans’s cult, he began to notice strange and unusual behavior among its members. He saw them practicing meditation in secret, attending secret meetings, and engaging in strange rituals. He also began to feel like he was being watched and monitored by Gans and her followers.

One day, Schneider decided to investigate Gans and her cult more thoroughly. He started to research their history and their practices, and he quickly became alarmed by what he found. He discovered that Gans had been leading a secret society for decades, and that its members were devoted to her and her teachings.

Schneider also discovered that Gans was a sociopath who had a history of mental and physical abuse. She had been known to manipulate and control her followers, and she had been accused of swindling inheritances and savings from her followers.

Schneider was horrified by what he had discovered, and he knew that he had to get out of Gans’s cult. He tried to leave the cult, but Gans and her followers were determined to keep him in their grip. They threatened him with physical violence, mental torture, and even death if he tried to leave.

Schneider was trapped in Gans’s cult for more than twenty-three years. He endured the horrors of mental, sexual, and physical abuse, forced labor, arranged marriages, swindled inheritances and savings, and systematic terrorizing. He felt like he had lost his identity and his sense of self.

But one day, Schneider decided to take matters into his own hands. He contacted the police and told them about Gans and her cult. He also contacted the media and told them about his story, hoping to bring attention to the cult and to help other people who were trapped in it.

The media responded to Schneider’s story with a lot of interest, and the police began to investigate Gans and her cult. They eventually arrested Gans and her followers and charged them with a variety of crimes, including fraud, conspiracy, and abuse.

Schneider was relieved that Gans and her cult had been brought to justice, but he knew that he had a long road ahead of him. He had to rebuild his life and recover from the trauma that he had experienced. He also had to deal with the fact that he had been betrayed by someone that he had trusted and admired.

But Schneider was determined to move forward and to use his experience to help others. He started to speak out about the dangers of cults and the importance of being aware of the signs of manipulation and control. He also started to work with organizations that help people who have been affected by cults, including the Cult Awareness Network and the National Center for Victims of Crime.

Schneider’s story is a powerful reminder of the dangers of cults and the importance of being aware of the signs of manipulation and control. It also shows the resilience and strength of the human spirit, even in the face of the most difficult circumstances.

In conclusion, Manhattan Cult Story is a cautionary tale of how hundreds of well-educated, savvy, and prosperous New Yorkers became fervent followers of a brilliant but demented cult leader who posed as a teacher of ancient knowledge. It’s about double-lives, the power of group psychology, and how easy it is to be radicalized—all too r.

Spencer Schneider was recruited in the eighties and he stayed for more than twenty-three years as his life disintegrated, his self-esteem eroded, and he lined the pockets of Gans and her cult. Cult members met twice weekly, though they never acknowledged one another outside of meetings or gatherings. In the name of inner development, they endured the horrors of mental, sexual, and physical abuse, forced labor, arranged marriages, swindled inheritances and savings, and systematic terrorizing. Some of them broke the law. All for Gans.

“During those years,” Schneider writes, “my world was School. That’s what it’s like when you’re in a cult, even one that preys on and caters to New York’s educated elite. This is my story of how I got entangled in School and how I got out.”

At its core, Manhattan Cult Story is a cautionary tale of how hundreds of well-educated, savvy, and prosperous New Yorkers became fervent followers of a brilliant but demented cult leader who posed as a teacher of ancient knowledge. It’s about double-lives, the power of group psychology, and how easy it is to be radicalized—all too r.

The story begins with Schneider’s childhood in a middle-class family in Queens, New York. He was a bright and curious child, but he struggled with social anxiety and low self-esteem. He was also bullied at school and felt like an outsider.

As a teenager, Schneider discovered a book on meditation and mindfulness, which he found to be a lifeline. He practiced meditation regularly and began to feel more at peace with himself. He also started to explore other spiritual and philosophical beliefs, including Buddhism and Taoism.

In his early twenties, Schneider moved to New York City to pursue a career in finance. He worked for a large accounting firm and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a senior manager. He was successful and well-respected, but he felt like something was missing from his life.

One day, Schneider met Sharon Gans, a charismatic and enigmatic woman who claimed to be a teacher of ancient knowledge. Gans was a former yoga instructor who had become disillusioned with the modern world and its materialistic values. She believed that the key to inner development and enlightenment was through meditation and spiritual practice, and she offered to teach Schneider these techniques.

Schneider was initially skeptical of Gans, but he was drawn to her charisma and her promise of inner peace and enlightenment. He began to attend her meditation classes and workshops, and he quickly became a devoted follower of Gans.

As Schneider became more involved in Gans’s cult, he began to notice strange and unusual behavior among its members. He saw them practicing meditation in secret, attending secret meetings, and engaging in strange rituals. He also began to feel like he was being watched and monitored by Gans and her followers.

One day, Schneider decided to investigate Gans and her cult more thoroughly. He started to research their history and their practices, and he quickly became alarmed by what he found. He discovered that Gans had been leading a secret society for decades, and that its members were devoted to her and her teachings.

Schneider also discovered that Gans was a sociopath who had a history of mental and physical abuse. She had been known to manipulate and control her followers, and she had been accused of swindling inheritances and savings from her followers.

Schneider was horrified by what he had discovered, and he knew that he had to get out of Gans’s cult. He tried to leave the cult, but Gans and her followers were determined to keep him in their grip. They threatened him with physical violence, mental torture, and even death if he tried to leave.

Schneider was trapped in Gans’s cult for more than twenty-three years. He endured the horrors of mental, sexual, and physical abuse, forced labor, arranged marriages, swindled inheritances and savings, and systematic terrorizing. He felt like he had lost his identity and his sense of self.

But one day, Schneider decided to take matters into his own hands. He contacted the police and told them about Gans and her cult. He also contacted the media and told them about his story, hoping to bring attention to the cult and to help other people who were trapped in it.

The media responded to Schneider’s story with a lot of interest, and the police began to investigate Gans and her cult. They eventually arrested Gans and her followers and charged them with a variety of crimes, including fraud, conspiracy, and abuse.

Schneider was relieved that Gans and her cult had been brought to justice, but he knew that he had a long road ahead of him. He had to rebuild his life and recover from the trauma that he had experienced. He also had to deal with the fact that he had been betrayed by someone that he had trusted and admired.

But Schneider was determined to move forward and to use his experience to help others. He started to speak out about the dangers of cults and the importance of being aware of the signs of manipulation and control. He also started to work with organizations that help people who have been affected by cults, including the Cult Awareness Network and the National Center for Victims of Crime.

Schneider’s story is a powerful reminder of the dangers of cults and the importance of being aware of the signs of manipulation and control. It also shows the resilience and strength of the human spirit, even in the face of the most difficult circumstances.

In conclusion, Manhattan Cult Story is a cautionary tale of how hundreds of well-educated, savvy, and prosperous New Yorkers became fervent followers of a brilliant but demented cult leader who posed as a teacher of ancient knowledge. It’s about double-lives, the power of group psychology, and how easy it is to be radicalized—all too r.

Weight: 438g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781950994557