American Guru is a multifaceted account of life in the contemporary
spiritual community known as EnlightenNext, and the controversial
"teaching methods" of its New York-born founder, self-proclaimed "guru"
Andrew Cohen. With contributions from several of Cohen's former
students, William Yenner recalls the thirteen-year trajectory of his
career as a leader and manager in Cohen's community--his early days as
an idealistic "seeker," his years of service on EnlightenNext's Board of
Directors, his ultimate disillusionment and departure,and his efforts to
make sense of his experiences as a once-devoted follower of a "Teacher
of Evolutionary Enlightenment." With wit and insight, Yenner and his
colleagues have produced a riveting cautionary tale on the dangers of
authoritarian spirituality, and an insider'scase study on the promises
and pitfalls of postmodern discipleship.

"William Yenner's courageous exposé, American Guru, is a powerful
reminder that all of our tendencies toward idealization of dharma
teachers must be carefully examined." -William Morgan, Psy.D., member of
the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy,co-author of Mindfulness
and Psychotherapy

"William Yenner's true, uncensored-and finally ungagged-moving personal
story, in combination with the powerful reflections, recollections and
contributions of other former community members, makes American Guru an
essential source document for the study and understanding of
authoritarian spiritual sects." -Hal Blacker, former editor of
EnlightenNext magazine

"American Guru is not a mean-spirited book. It is, rather, a
refreshingly honest one." -David Christopher Lane, Ph.D., Professor of
Philosophy, Mt. San Antonio College

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