Works
Books
Worms, Dirt
Four Way Books, 2026
Written in the wake of the media storm surrounding the revelation of the Sarah Lawrence cult, Worms, Dirt considers the soil beneath the story playing out aboveground. These poems are a unique telling of two kinds of departure: leaving a cult and exiting a relationship.
Slonim Woods 9: A Memoir
Crown, 2021
"Daniel Barban Levin's courageous and honest memoir exposes the evil nature of manipulation and the near impossibility of escape, and his writing reminds us that honesty is the only tool to destroy these monsters." Eric Fair, author of Consequence
"This harrowing memoir not only recounts what happened from the observant, insightful poet who lived through it, but also explores the how and why. It's a moving, lucid testimony, as much about the abuse of power as it is about the power of storytelling." Grace Talusan, author of The Body Papers
"A deeply honest and viscerally lyrical descent into the self, Levin's book shines a fluorescent light of masterful, sharp prose on the twisted depths of trauma." Matt Young, author of Eat the Apple
"With fascinating detail, Slonim Woods 9 takes us on a tour of the lower depths of human vulnerability and manipulation. Levin's vivid storytelling and poetic sense make it a great read." Amy Gerstler, author of Scattered at Sea
"In devastating and unforgettable ways, Levin renders trauma into language. Maybe most shocking of all is the beauty of his account." Rebecca Sacks, author of City of a Thousand Gates
TV & Film
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence
Hulu, 2023 · 3-part documentary series · Executive Producer
Directed by Zachary Heinzerling, this documentary series chronicles how a group of bright Sarah Lawrence College students fell under the influence of a classmate's father, Larry Ray. With unprecedented access to the survivors who lived with Ray, the series follows the cult from its origins through its still-unfolding aftermath, incorporating personal audio tapes and video recordings to tell the story of his decade-long coercive control over a group of young people.
Publications
- Psychology Today, "Under the Influence: Gaslighting in Cults" (with Robin Stern) (2025)
- Bennington Review, "One Year in New Hampshire" (2021)
- Sweet: A Literary Confection, "The Kordylewski Clouds" (2019)
- The Fourth River, "Dear Heather," (2016)
- The Offbeat, "'I am a Man of the Road These Days' and Other Things I Want to Say" (2016)
- The Westchester Review, "A Middle", "Conversation About Perspective", "Jokes" (2015)
- Sarah Lawrence Review, "Trees" (2012)
- Provincetown Arts, "Pursuit" (2011)