The Wrong Way Home (Beacon Press, 1990) by Arthur J. Diekman, M.D. is a must-read. Dr. Diekman covers not only the obvious spiritual cults, but political cults form, media cults, corporate cults, and, of course, religions. It's a fascinating read, and especially appropriate for our time.

He goes into detail about the cult mentality of the Reagan administration, about the Bilderbergers, Tavistok, and other groups that control our socio-economic realm, and why. Diekman demonstrates the psycho-dynamics of cults, i.e, the need for "big parent" which promises to aleve the anxiety of individual responsibility.

http://www.creativespirit.net/learners/bookdigests/cultdiek.w50.htm