balfies's review against another edition
3.0
The first few chapters hewed a bit too close to true crime for me (I am very squeamish and the Jonestown murders are deeply distressing), but it picked up a bit in the chapters in MLMs and SoulCycle.
I'd greatly enjoyed Montell's first book Wordslut, about linguistics from a feminist lens, and was really keen to read this. It has its moments, but overall this is the weaker book, I think.
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Cultural appropriation, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Suicide
joiceeg's review
5.0
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer and Classism
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
renee_rain's review against another edition
5.0
The word "cult" does not have a specific definition. Anything can be a cult from Starbucks to Heaven's Gate. Since reading, I have seen cultish language everywhere from Trader Joe's to my workplace.
The downside of this novel? I want so much more! Luckily, the author has a podcast, Sounds like a Cult.
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
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
meggswest's review
4.5
Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt
alex1's review
4.75
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
missrosymaplemoth's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, Death, Mental illness, Drug use, and Suicide attempt
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
lovest's review against another edition
3.75
Minor: Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault