Shining a Light
“I am sharing my story in order to bring clarity
out of the fog of complexities involved in
today’s mad, chaotic world.”
The Followers
Today’s world is so complex, so daunting, that it’s tempting to just put our heads down and vanquish our curiosities. We find comfort in echo chambers provided by media and in social viewpoints that reflect to us how we already have been indoctrinated because it’s easier and more comfortable than taking in new information, especially if it conflicts with our preconceived notions. It is my hope that this book will be entertaining, informative, and provocative.

Winner of the 2021 PenCraft Book Award, 1st Place, Non Fiction – Autobiography
Review from Will Allen, Film Director of HOLY HELL: “What can I say? As the director of the film Holy Hell, I am proud to say that Radhia is super talented, insightful, politically savvy and ferocious in her humor… and I would expect nothing less. I really enjoyed her story from beginning to end. Somethings even I did not know!! I highly recommend her audiobook version because you really get to hear the tone in which Radhia delivers for thoughts. It’s…” (Read more here.)

Author – About Radhia’s Work
Radhia Gleis is known for her raw, irreverent and unvarnished ways of sharing her insights with others. She realizes that songs and poetry, art and writing are composed more about pain and triumph over adversity than pleasantry. With a bit of humor and honesty, and guided by her internal north star she takes the reader on a journey to understanding what most people do not ponder and provides a different perspective so that they can make a conscious choice for themselves.
“Everyone goes through challenging times in their lives. Without people’s suffering, I would not have had a greater purpose in my life—as a wellness counselor, an artist, a writer, a justice warrior, or just a friend with a sympathetic ear. It is my hope that this book will be entertaining, informative, and provocative. I’ve lived a distinctive, sometimes painful, but incredible, and atypical life. If I didn’t have that colorful life, I would not have a story; I would not have written “The Followers”, and I would not be able to offer it to you in the hope that you will benefit from sharing it. My goal—my passion is to convey what I find to be important information that may inspire, heal, and transform.”
~ Radhia
Radhia Gleis is known for her raw, irreverent and unvarnished ways of sharing her insights with others. She realizes that songs and poetry, art and writing are composed more about pain and triumph over adversity than pleasantry. With a bit of humor and honesty, and guided by her internal north star she takes the reader on a journey to understanding what most people do not ponder and provides a different perspective so that they can make a conscious choice for themselves.
“Everyone goes through challenging times in their lives. Without people’s suffering, I would not have had a greater purpose in my life—as a wellness counselor, an artist, a writer, a justice warrior, or just a friend with a sympathetic ear. It is my hope that this book will be entertaining, informative, and provocative. I’ve lived a distinctive, sometimes painful, but incredible, and atypical life. If I didn’t have that colorful life, I would not have a story; I would not have written “The Followers”, and I would not be able to offer it to you in the hope that you will benefit from sharing it. My goal—my passion is to convey what I find to be important information that may inspire, heal, and transform.”
~ Radhia
What The Critics Say
A Fascinating Book, Bravo!
Written from the perspective of an insider, this compelling personal story, told with both brutal honesty, and raw humor draws us into the mindset of cult followers. It shines a light on how easily intelligent questing people can find themselves unwittingly following a cult leader. As much a personal story as a probing exploration of the mental and emotional states of cult leaders and followers, this fascinating book is hard to put down.
An illuminating story of a person’s realization.
Cult leaders believe they are special individuals over and above everyone else. They believe they should be listened to, obeyed, and envied; they are almost all pathological narcissists. Radhia Gleis has written a book that deftly weaves poignant personal stories that are astonishingly candid, and at times very familiar. She inter-weaves this intimate and intense life story with the analysis of how a malignant narcissistic cult leader was able to lead a group of people down the Primrose Path, and how this illustrates the way in which Donald Trump became so powerful in American politics. As a former member of a cult, this book really hit home for me. The similarities between the Cult leader, and Donald Trump both emerge as individuals with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder who found a population that needed a leader to take over the responsibilities of life for them and tell them what to do. They become dictatorial and exploitative. This is an illuminating story of a person’s realization of how outside influences guided her path and her eventual escape from all that disillusionment.
Articles by Radhia
Shining a Light of Clarity
Tales from the Public Prattle
Today, a friendly woman came in to check out our store. A California refugee, she’s new in town. I, being a dislocated Californian myself, welcomed her. Now, my first clue should have been that she is from specifically Orange County...
I was in a cult led by a narcissistic sociopath for 25 years. What happened to me can happen to anyone.
I spent 25 years of my adult life in a cult, under the influence of a narcissistic sociopath. It took me years to recognize and escape the psychological prison of cult life.
The Lesson of the Kobayashi Maru: The Dems Only Move When in Check
Over seventy-four million voters still ride on the Trump train. And despite reality, 70% of Republicans believe that Biden’s presidency is illegitimate.