# The Program (novel) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Program_(novel) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Program_(novel).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Program_(novel) > Source revision: 1354715172 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For other uses, see [The Program (disambiguation)](/source/The_Program_(disambiguation)). ***The Program: A Novel*** is a [novel](/source/Novel) by Gregg Hurwitz, first published in 2004. It has since been released as an Audio CD, an Audio Cassette, and was reprinted in paperback format, in 2005.[1][2][3] *The Program* picks up where *The Kill Clause* left off, following a series of books by the author involving fictional [Deputy U.S. Marshal](/source/United_States_Marshals_Service), Tim Rackley.[4][5][6] ## Plot The work is part of a series following the character Tim Rackley, a member of the [United States Marshals Service](/source/United_States_Marshals_Service), and opens with a [suicide](/source/Suicide) in the [La Brea Tar Pits](/source/La_Brea_Tar_Pits). Rackley must rescue the daughter of a Hollywood producer from a dangerous [mind control](/source/Brainwashing) [cult](/source/Cult), by infiltrating the group.[7][8] [Charismatic leader](/source/Charismatic_authority) TD Betters had created his own society based on [self-help](/source/Self-help) tenets, and Rackley must navigate through it without getting pulled in himself.[9] The novel describes a fictional large group awareness training called "The Program",[7] and characters also use the term [Large Group Awareness Training](/source/Large_Group_Awareness_Training) and "LGAT" to refer to the course.[10] In the novel, the seminar leader had "married two cult models", which one of the protagonists describes as a blend of the "psychotherapeutic cult", and the "self-improvement cult".[10] The character then tells his friend that "The Program", is similar to a combination of the Sullivanians and [Lifespring](/source/Lifespring).[10] [Werner Erhard](/source/Werner_Erhard) is quoted, prior to the opening of the prologue.[10] ## Reception *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)* characterized the work as engaging, and grounded in character and detail.[9] Lukowsky of *[Booklist](/source/Booklist)* described the work as a "gripping read."[11] *[The Oakland Press](/source/The_Oakland_Press)* described the work as a thriller and a good character study.[12] *Oakland Press* writer Mark Terry went on to state that the author had done his homework researching for the book, and that it was a fascinating and disturbing look at cults.[12] The *[Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times)* also gave a favorable review, noting that this was the author's fifth work at the age of 31.[7] The book also received favorable reviews in *The Capital Times*,[13] *Cleveland Plain Dealer*,[14] and the *[San Jose Mercury News](/source/San_Jose_Mercury_News)*.[15] In the Audio version, *[AudioFile](/source/AudioFile_(magazine))* cited narrator Dylan Baker's "strong performance", stating that he differentiated between the multitude of characters in the book well, making them easy to distinguish.[16] *AudioFile* went on to state that Baker's narration helped the listener comprehend how cults could manipulate those ignorant of their tactics.[16] ## Adaptations On October 12, 2003, film producer [Lorenzo di Bonaventura](/source/Lorenzo_di_Bonaventura) was set to develop a feature film franchise based on Hurwitz’ Tim Rackley series at [Paramount Pictures](/source/Paramount_Pictures) with Hurwitz writing the screenplay.[17][14] On March 12, 2012, [TNT](/source/TNT_(American_TV_network)) was set to develop a television series adaptation of Hurwitz’ Tim Rackley series with Hurwitz set to executive produce with [Shawn Ryan](/source/Shawn_Ryan) executive producing and showrunning the series adaptation through [Sony Pictures Television](/source/Sony_Pictures_Television).[18] ## See also - [Cults and new religious movements in literature and popular culture](/source/Cults_and_new_religious_movements_in_literature_and_popular_culture) - [est and The Forum in popular culture](/source/Est_and_The_Forum_in_popular_culture) - [Large Group Awareness Training](/source/Large_Group_Awareness_Training) - [Lifespring](/source/Lifespring) ## References 1. Hurwitz, *The Program*, Audio CD, Baker Dylan (Narrator), HarperAudio, August 31, 2004., ISBN 0-06-075776-0 , ISBN 978-0-06-075776-2 1. Hurwitz, *The Program*, Audio Cassette, Erik Steele (Narrator), BBC Audiobooks America, November 2005, ISBN 0-7927-3845-4 , ISBN 978-0-7927-3845-9 . 1. Hurwitz, *The Program*, HarperTorch, August 30, 2005, ISBN 0-06-053041-3 , ISBN 978-0-06-053041-9 1. Lukowsky, Wes (June 1, 2004). "Hurwitz, Gregg. The Program.". *[Booklist](/source/Booklist)*. **100** (19–20): Page 1708. [American Library Association](/source/American_Library_Association) 1. Staff (July 15, 2004). "Hurwitz, Gregg: The Program". *[Kirkus Reviews](/source/Kirkus_Reviews)*. **72** (14): Page 649. VNU Business Media. 1. Staff (July 12, 2004). "The Program". *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)*. **251** (28): Page 44. [Reed Business Information](/source/Reed_Business_Information) 1. Montgomery, David (September 12, 2004). "Up against a monomaniacal 'Teacher'". *[Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times)*. Sun-Times News Group. p. 12. 1. Adams, Jane (2004). ["Editorial Review, The Program"](https://www.amazon.com/Program-Novel-Hurwitz-Gregg/dp/0060530405). *[Amazon.com](/source/Amazon.com)*. Retrieved 2007-10-28. 1. *Publishers Weekly* (2004) 1. Hurwitz, Gregg Andrew (2004). [*The Program*](https://archive.org/details/program00hurw/page/368). William Morrow. pp. [368](https://archive.org/details/program00hurw/page/368). ISBN 0-06-053040-5. 1. Lukowsky, *Booklist* (2004) 1. Terry, Mark (November 7, 2004). ["Cult 'Program' rich with detail, thrills"](http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/110704/oak_20041107012.shtml). *[The Oakland Press](/source/The_Oakland_Press)*. 2007 The Oakland Press. 1. Thomas, Rob (September 10, 2004). "Program's' Cult Tale Pulls You In". *The Capital Times*. Capital Newspapers. 1. Gail, Nancy (January 16, 2005). ["Interview with Gregg Hurwitz"](http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/print.ssf?/mtlogs/cleve_bookreviews/archives/print046870.html). *Cleveland Plain Dealer*. cleveland.com. Retrieved 2007-10-28. 1. Weimers, Leigh (September 29, 2004). "Mighty Voices Could Make a Mighty Read". *[San Jose Mercury News](/source/San_Jose_Mercury_News)*. pp. 2B. 1. Staff (2005). "Review, The Program (Audio version)". *[AudioFile](/source/AudioFile_(magazine))*. AudioFile 2005, [Portland, Maine](/source/Portland,_Maine) 1. Fleming Jr., Michael (October 12, 2003). ["Par invokes 'Kill Clause'"](https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/par-invokes-kill-clause-1117893845/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. Retrieved April 20, 2025. 1. Andreeva, Nellie (March 12, 2012). ["TNT Developing 'Tim Rackley' Drama From Novelist Gregg Hurwitz And Shawn Ryan"](https://deadline.com/2012/03/tnt-developing-tim-rackley-drama-from-novelist-gregg-hurwitz-and-shawn-ryan-242935/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved April 20, 2025. ## External links - [Gregg Hurwitz](http://www.gregghurwitz.net/program.htm), author's page on the book --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Program (novel)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Program_(novel)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Program_(novel)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.