The Burn Zone

After seven years of faithfully following her spiritual teacher, Renee Linnell finally realized she was in a cult and had been severely brainwashed. But how did that happen to someone like her? She had graduated magna cum laude with a double degree. She had traveled to nearly fifty countries alone before she turned thirty-five. She was a surf model and a professional Argentine tango dancer. She had started five different companies and had an MBA from NYU. How could someone like her end up brainwashed and in a cult?


The Burn Zone is an exploration of how we give up our power―how what started out as a need to heal from the loss of her parents and to understand the big questions in life could leave a young woman fighting for her sanity and her sense of self. In the years following her departure from the cult, Linnell struggled to reclaim herself, to stand in her truth, and to rebuild her life. And eventually, after battling depression and isolation, she found a way to come out the other side stronger than ever. Part inspirational story, part cautionary tale, this is a memoir for spiritual seekers and those who feel lost in a world that makes them feel less than perfect.

My Review

I have read several books now from people who found themselves in cults and escaping from this lifestyle. This type of lifestyle still puzzles but intrigues me as well. I have to say that this book is probably in my top three on cult life. It felt like Renee did not hold anything back. Like the other books it seems that the people who find themselves "sucked" into the cult life are at a vulnerable time in their life. This is when the leader and follows latch onto new people like "leeches". When Renee did break away from this life, she did have a nice outlook . Plus, I did notice a change in her personality. It was like when she was in the cult she was not given a voice and she had lost her zest for life. However, when she broke free, she had found her voice as well as a clear voice. I loved Renee's response to when people ask her what her belief is. She replies "When you are walking toward fear and hate and judgment and condemnation and isolation, you are walking in the wrong direction. When you walk toward faith and love and community and acceptance and kindness and compassion, you are on the right path." I have read several books now from people who found themselves in cults and escaping from this lifestyle. This type of lifestyle still puzzles but intrigues me as well. I have to say that this book is probably in my top three on cult life. It felt like Renee did not hold anything back. Like the other books it seems that the people who find themselves "sucked" into the cult life are at a vulnerable time in their life. This is when the leader and follows latch onto new people like "leeches". When Renee did break away from this life, she did have a nice outlook . Plus, I did notice a change in her personality. It was like when she was in the cult she was not given a voice and she had lost her zest for life. However, when she broke free, she had found her voice as well as a clear voice. I loved Renee's response to when people ask her what her belief is. She replies "When you are walking toward fear and hate and judgment and condemnation and isolation, you are walking in the wrong direction. When you walk toward faith and love and community and acceptance and kindness and compassion, you are on the right path."

I have read several books now from people who found themselves in cults and escaping from this lifestyle. This type of lifestyle still puzzles but intrigues me as well. I have to say that this book is probably in my top three on cult life. It felt like Renee did not hold anything back. Like the other books it seems that the people who find themselves "sucked" into the cult life are at a vulnerable time in their life. This is when the leader and follows latch onto new people like "leeches". When Renee did break away from this life, she did have a nice outlook . Plus, I did notice a change in her personality. It was like when she was in the cult she was not given a voice and she had lost her zest for life. However, when she broke free, she had found her voice as well as a clear voice. I loved Renee's response to when people ask her what her belief is. She replies "When you are walking toward fear and hate and judgment and condemnation and isolation, you are walking in the wrong direction. When you walk toward faith and love and community and acceptance and kindness and compassion, you are on the right path."I have read several books now from people who found themselves in cults and escaping from this lifestyle. This type of lifestyle still puzzles but intrigues me as well. I have to say that this book is probably in my top three on cult life. It felt like Renee did not hold anything back. Like the other books it seems that the people who find themselves "sucked" into the cult life are at a vulnerable time in their life. This is when the leader and follows latch onto new people like "leeches". When Renee did break away from this life, she did have a nice outlook . Plus, I did notice a change in her personality. It was like when she was in the cult she was not given a voice and she had lost her zest for life. However, when she broke free, she had found her voice as well as a clear voice.  I loved Renee's response to when people ask her what her belief is. She replies "When you are walking toward fear and hate and judgment and condemnation and isolation, you are walking in the wrong direction. When you walk toward faith and love and community and acceptance and kindness and compassion, you are on the right path."