Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

31 reviews

bashsbooks's review

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

This is an extremely cool linguistic exploration on how language impacts how people decided to join and stay in manipulative groups (broadly termed 'cultish'). From murder-suicides like Jonestown and Heaven's Gate to MLMs to fitness groups like Soul Cycle, the spectrum is wide, but Montell convincing demonstrates on how all these groups employ similar rhetorical strats to recruit people.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Murder, Religious bigotry, Racism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Addiction

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

risemini's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Child death, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, and Violence

angreadseverything's review against another edition

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

I think it could have been organized better overall

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Suicide

Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, and Child death

elsa__reads's review

dark funny informative tense fast-paced

5.0

Easy to read, it's written fairly accessible. A very interesting read as well without getting tiring. Some chapters are hard to read because the events written about led to people losing their lives, so major trigger warning for that. I really enjoyed her writing style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Child death

cady_sass's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but don’t join that MLM. 

In all seriousness this is EXPERTLY done and I’m blown away. I’ve always been drawn to cult history and I really, really appreciate the work the author did here to include “cultish” behavior (hence, the title) of non cult entities- MLMs, fitness & CrossFit culture, MAGA, etc.- along with the obvious identifiable cults like Jonestown, Heavens Gate, and Nxivm, among others. 

Super important to give language to the behaviors and vernacular that are big red flags 🚩 so people can engage carefully and make informed decisions. Highly, highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Sexism, Classism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt

kshertz's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Fascinating. It’s all a cult, just choose yours wisely. The psychology behind cults and the different cults we have gone through waves of as Americans were so interesting. I was interested in the MLMs the most. It’s depressing how entrenched in our government they are. It was very interesting! I recommend for anyone who has an interest in this area. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Bullying, Child death, Alcoholism, Cursing, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Death

louisegraveyard's review

challenging dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Child death, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Cancer, and Chronic illness

amsswim's review

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. Would recommend to all who like white collar crime, cults, and pyramid schemes. I picked this up because I also listen to Amanda's podcast "Sounds Like a Cult" which does smaller episodic takes of some of what she covered, more focused on everyday "cults". This did a great deep dive into separate topics, that all use the same tactics in reeling people in. Highly recommend!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Suicide, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Violence

lizjellig's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Fatphobia, Racism, and Child death

Minor: Sexual violence

constancely's review against another edition

informative reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Suicide, and Murder