EDITORIAL REVIEWS

“A masterful and unflinching revelation.”

“Bravo, this is a really powerful personal and thoroughly

researched exposé. It’s both illuminating and disturbing in equal

measure.

“Some books inform, some books expose—few manage to do

both with the precision, depth, and courage found in this work. A

personal and masterful account, it takes readers on an unflinching

dive into a dark underworld of João de Deus that had been carefully

and systematically concealed for so many years.

“As powerful as it is disturbing, the book weaves together an

intricate narrative of Brazil, João, and the forces that shaped his

practice. The author does not shy away from the complexities of the

story, instead presenting a brave account that demands to be read

with both an open mind and a critical eye.

“The fact that João was once endorsed by Oprah Winfrey serves

as a stark reminder of the level of deception that can operate in plain

sight. It underscores how easily charisma, power, and influence can

be mistaken for virtue—often at a devastating cost.

“This book is not simply a story about one man from Brazil, but

rather a story for our time, a cautionary tale about the dangers of

blind faith in authority figures and the need for personal discernment.

In an era where we are increasingly encouraged to outsource our

own power, this book serves as a necessary wake-up call.”

— Dr T. Edmunds, Clinical Psychologist, London

“An impassioned, revealing account of the dark side of a

“miracle worker.”

“Bailot explores João’s background, from his birth in 1942 in

a desolate part of Brazil to his possible involvement in clandestine

operations with the military in the 1960s. The early pages of the book

provide a wide swath of information: The text addresses subjects

from the history of Brazil’s capital of Brasilia to a crash course in

Spiritism to the locations of João’s postings while he was in the army.

“The story hits its real stride when the author gets to his personal

account—his narrative of falling into João’s orbit is vividly populated

with people desperate for cures and others more than willing to

exploit them. He pulls no punches in his criticism, noting that one

woman who worked with João “could easily be cast as a Nazi prison

guard.” This is a brutal and honest telling, and altogether unsettling.

CULT OF JOHN

—Kirkus Reviews

“A brilliantly written historical account, this harrowing story

of João de Deus not only exposes the shocking events but also

immerses readers in the rich and complex society and culture of

Brazil. At times difficult to read but even harder to put down, it is a

gripping and deeply detailed exploration of power, deception, and the

forces that shaped a nation.”

—Debra Lynne Katz, PhD, author

“The tragedy of John of God - spirit healer, multi-millionaire,

violent criminal, serial rapist - begs for explanation. How could a man

blessed with such gifts and charisma, who clawed his way out of dire

poverty, with such a capacity to do good for his fellow Brazilians,

have so fully betrayed those who trusted him and, indeed, his lifelong

legacy?

“Weaving together a thorough understanding of Brazil’s

complex colonial, military, and religious history, Michael Bailot paints

a damning portrait of religious power corrupted and unchecked. Bailot

writes from a unique, personal perspective, having had a relationship

with John’s healing Casa, but finding himself dangerously in the

crosshairs of John’s criminal enterprise. He brings comprehensive

context to the enigma of John of God. It’s an important book and well

done.

“I found Cult of John to be powerfully compelling, at turns scary

and enraging. It’s well written and told with a good ear to engage the

audience. I can see this being a true resource for anyone who wants

to have the full picture of João. I’ve already been recommending it to

friends.”

—Dereck Daschke, PhD, Professor of Philosophy & Religion