rfl_in_stl's review against another edition
4.25
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Suicide
cady_sass's review against another edition
5.0
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.
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
nadia's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked how Cultish was packed with research but also featured a lot of personal anecdotes, both from the author and people she interviewed. I also loved how we spanned many different types of "cult", including instances that several of us experience day-to-day, and the focus on language was fascinating.
I've got lots to go away and think about, and look out for (👀), now!
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Sexism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death
siebensommer's review against another edition
3.75
the conditioning to automatically trust the voices of middle-aged white men. Over the centuries, we've been primed to believe that the sound of a Jim Jones-type voice communicates an innate power and capability — that it sounds like the voice of God.
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Body horror, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, and Sexism
casually_booking's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body shaming, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
sexytinatrainconductress's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Murder and Suicide
Minor: Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexism
graceesford's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cultural appropriation, Death, Child abuse, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Homophobia, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Misogyny
catrickbateman's review
3.5
really enjoyed the first half, the cults such as jonestown, heavens gate, 3ho and more were fascinating and hearing a different take on them through linguistics was refreshing but past that the exercise “cults” and MLM schemes became repetitive and didn’t seem to offer any new information or viewpoints. also struggled with how often the author says “more on this later” and there is actually very rarely more on it further in the book? overall an interesting sociological read/listen, but if you are already clued up on cults and MLM schemes you could give it a miss
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Body shaming
tender_onion's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cultural appropriation, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence
bootsmom3's review
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Child death, Murder, Racism, Sexism, Body shaming, Death, Gun violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol