Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Cults: Inside the World's Most Notorious Groups and Understanding the People Who Joined Them by Max Cutler

8 reviews

librarymouse's review against another edition

2.5

This whole book has an odd pro-Israel tilt, most directly addressed in the second to last chapter. The author notes the Zionist roots of many of the cults without ever considering or critiquing the role of Zionism in the destructive and deadly nature of the cults. Overall, this reads more like a poorly thought through encyclopedia of cult activity than the human-framed perspective promised by the title. In the chapters about the more violent acts committed by cult leaders or in the name of their beliefs, the author's focus was more on the act than the aftermath, which was unexpected with the title framing this book as focusing on the people who joined and the impact their respective cults had on them.
 I will not be listening to the podcast, and after the overt praise for Israel, I finished this book as a hate read.

The narrators of the audio version of the book pronounce religious terms like "vicar" oddly. There should have been some oversight to make sure a book about cults and religious movements that became cults had their terms pronounced correctly 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility, Antisemitism, and Abandonment

avonleegrace's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious sad slow-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder

growintogardens's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment

doomluz's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

4.0

This was an overview on 10 different cults and their leaders. I had only heard of a few of these so it was interesting and disturbing learning about the history of all these cults and what might've drawn people into them. The only one I didn't really learn anything new about was the Manson one. Fortunately, it was the first chapter, so it sets the tone and style for the rest of the book well.
I'd recommend this to people who are interested in cults, but don't know a lot because it's more like a brief history of each, but doesn't go much deeper.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Murder

hubes's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

3.0

Too much (armchair) diagnoses and not enough nitty-gritty of life in each of the cults

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

library_dreamer's review against another edition

dark informative tense fast-paced

4.0

 I've always been fascinated by cults. What makes a person fall for something that seems so absurd to the rest of the world? What drives them to do horrific things in the name of their group? Where is the line between religion or a fandom and a cult?

Cults by Max Cutler explores some of the most notorious cults in the world and tracks how their leaders rose to power. It is based on the podcast of the same name. I found that it did read much like a podcast.

For the ones I have read about more extensively like David Koresh, Jim Jones, and Charles Manson, this book offered a nice chapter long summary. I was left wanting to know much more about the ones l was less familiar with. I would say that this book offers a nice launch pad if you are wanting to learn more, but isn't definitive in any way.

CW: sexual assault, sexual assault of minors, slavery, gaslighting, violence, murder, suicide

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting

naomisbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark informative tense medium-paced

4.0

Cults are fascinating to me because of the mystery that surrounds them. I loved the deep dive approach with each cult that the author brought forward. I learned what created the mystery and how the leader kept his/her followers invested. 

 

I feel like I knew things because of the culture like “drinking the Koolaid” or “Helter Skelter” but I never knew the context until now. I also appreciated the humanity that was give to the victims, known and unknown. I was invested in the story and how it was told. 

 

My only complaint is a personal preference. I am not a fan of long chapters and each cult was one chapter without division. It didn’t take away from the quality of the material but it did impact my enjoyment. 

 

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence

audreylee's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

2.0

"Inside the World's most notorious groups" is part of the subtitle of this book on Cults and it delivered on this premise by describing the narcissism and cruelty of the leaders and the hierarchies of each group. However, the last part of the subtitle: "Understanding the people who joined them" was less conclusive. There were vague references to self-esteem issues, histories of abuse, and personal losses but there were just as many examples of people who left behind successful families and careers and gave up all of their worldly goods to become members of, what many would consider, deranged groups. Overall, it was fine for what it was but I wish it had focused more on the victims and why they had joined the cults in the first place. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the free digital copy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence