Rajneeshpuram: Inside the Cult of Bhagwan and Its Failed American Utopia

Holly says: In this nonfiction account, King explores the rise and fall of the Cult of Bhagwan—also known as Osho—and the compound built in Oregon in the mid-1980s. Through interviews, personal accounts, and other historical sources, King takes a close look at Bhagwan (Osho), his second-in-command Sheela, and the devastated community left in their wake. While nonfiction, in places this reads almost as a thriller, detailing an idea gone terribly wrong, high-control relationships, election fraud and financial abuse, and a bioterrorism attack. I first learned of Rajneeshpuram from the 2018 Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country. I appreciated the chance to experience a more detailed exploration of all that happened with the Cult of Bhagwan through this book. Content warnings apply.