Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

60 reviews

lazers28's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

5.0

As a person who has been involved in 4 groups named in this book I found this to be an accurate, thoughtful and thought provoking book. I appreciate the balanced look at what "cultish means all along it's spectrum and the focus on the HOW these groups work. Knowing the techniques can help you notice red flags and make an informed choice on how and where you participate in groups. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Suicide

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

nykolereads's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Drug abuse, and Death

hannah_and_her_stories's review against another edition

funny informative medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Gun violence

Minor: Cancer, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Racism

zpitts's review

challenging hopeful informative mysterious medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Sexual violence

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

tabookish's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Violence and Suicide

remimicha's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Gaslighting, Murder, Mental illness, Homophobia, Violence, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Racism, Suicide, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Fatphobia

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

jes312's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.0

Definitely interesting. I wish it had been organized differently; sometimes the description of a cult or cult-like organization came a couple chapters after it was referenced. Each chapter could have been its own book. In some sections, the linguistics elements felt like more of an afterthought because so much page was spent on background.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Suicide, Death, Violence, and Bullying