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komiification's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
vixenreader's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Rape, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Cultural appropriation
Be aware that this book addresses extreme cults, “brainwashing,” mental abuse, mass suicide, financial abuse, and gaslighting through language.thecandiegirl's review against another edition
4.25
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Suicide, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
fkshg8465's review against another edition
5.0
It was good to get a broad spectrum of cults versus just the ones deemed deviations of mainstream Christianity. By including fitness cults, social cults, New Age cults, and pyramid schemes, it makes it really obvious that we are all much more susceptible than in previous times. I would be really interested in reading an extra chapter devoted just to the MAGA cult at some point, if the writer were ever to update the book with one.
I give it a five because I’ll want to read this again later, rather than because it’s as good as a five might be.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
erinkellyreads's review against another edition
5.0
"Cultish" was read by a different audiobook narrator, and I actually enjoyed that. I know Amanda's vocal/writing style from consuming her other content, so it was interesting to get another interpretation of it on top of what she wrote. The book is set up in various section with a different focus on each. Part One focuses on Amanda's thesis of the evolution from the cults of the 1900's (I cringed suuuuuuuper hard writing that, as a millennial) to the culty language of modern day fanaticism. Part Two focuses on background information on some major cults of the past such as Heaven's Gate, Jonestown, the Branch-Davidians of Waco, and even the cult that her father escaped as a young man. Part Three breaks down some more modern religious sects that could be considered culty and why - mostly through the use of language (from the in-speak of a group through even speaking in tongues). Part Four gets really interesting as it moves away from spirituality and into a somewhat new religious experience of the 2000's-2010's - fitness! From the various gurus and "gurus" of different yoga traditions to SoulCycle, Peloton, and Crossfit, Amanda digs deep into the similarities with these "lifestyle cults" to actual cult techniques. If you are a fitness buff, don't worry, she also looks at the good things that people get from their favorite fitness groups. Part Five digs into how social media has shifted and continued the use of culty language and groups with a deep dive into the Instagram Witch trend from 2018-2022 (that's the timeline I think fits best there, in my opinion). From there, we bring it all home in the conclusion.
I've always been interested in cults, how they work, and why someone would want to join one. Over the years I think I've answered those questions for myself, but I really appreciated Amanda's focus on language as uniter in these instances. Beyond that, it is very easy to see how we all use language that can sound cultish with the things we are fans of (I'm a bookstagram using Swiftie who eats a lot of Trader Joe's - I totally see it). Amanda did a fantastic job researching this book with statistics and interviews from everyone from survivors, academics, and current fanatics. I enjoyed "Wordslut" fine enough, but "Cultish" is really Amanda's best work so far. I say so far because her new book "Magic Overthinking" just came out a couple of weeks ago! That is my next read, and I'm excited to see where this goes next. 5 stars, recommended read!
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting, and Classism
katie0528's review against another edition
4.5
I did listen to the audiobook and wish it was read by the author. The narrator was fine, but Amanda Montell hosts a podcast called Sounds Like a Cult, and she is so much more engaging when discussing these topics.
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Gaslighting
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking
Minor: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Abortion, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
thursdd4y's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Grief, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
jennykre's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Classism
stardustdreamer's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Suicide
booksandbesitos's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Cultural appropriation, and Classism