Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

26 reviews

abicaro17's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Montell investigates the way that cult language has integrated into much more of our everyday activities. From MLMs to Crossfit, broad and manipulative language convinces all kinds of people to buy into their brands. Starting off in Guyana with Jonestown, Montell explains that most people have the instinct to trust average middle age white men who seem to listen and care about the things they care about. This is how Jim Jones was able to convince people to literally drink cyanide juice when the government was coming to shut him down. It's also how #BossBabes recuit downlines in MLMs like Rodan+Fields and Luluroe, how Crossfit and Peleton trainers convince people to come to class, and how Instagram gurus sell juices and CBD oil. By using generic language that sounds knowledgeable or relatable, these companies, brands, or gurus can sell their products, their #BossBabe lifestyle, or even $2,000 machines. This book was both interesting and relatable, using interviews with people who fell for "cultish" like some followers of Jonestown, some #BossBabes, and news stories of QAnon followers. I feel like I learned a lot about why people join cults and cult like groups and how the language changes to fit different kinds of cults. I think my only complaint was some of the language was explained once and then never again so if I forgot what it was the book was confusing. Otherwise it was entertaining and enlightening. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad fast-paced

5.0

I accidentally joined a cult in college and managed to extricate myself and my friends from it within a couple of weeks as soon as I realized this wasn’t a regular church. Since then, I’ve been fascinated by what makes people tick, and book’s like this one is very helpful in my journey.

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.

---

Content Warnings

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

alexisdillon725's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

3.75

Audio. It was an interesting and good book, but it was a little underwhelming. That may be because a lot of the things in the book I was already familiar with as a cult/cultish nerd. However, I did learn some new things which were really fascinating! I also don’t think the reviews that imply there isn’t any talk of the language of cults is ridiculous. There was a lot of focus on the language of cultish things or cults themselves but you do have to give background to the topics you’re talking about for the audience who hasn’t ever been exposed to the topic. Would still recommend this book!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

lemonsforyu's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Pandemic/Epidemic

stardustdreamer's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Suicide

mi7sma's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

It was a very insightful book. You know those types which you're intrinsically aware of the things being discussed but you don't actively think about when it actually happens irl. Amanda retold a very profound series of accounts from survivors of various cult groups and presented them in a very digestible manner. The premise of the entire book revolves around cult affiliation(group affiliation), human psychology, brainwashing, unjustified prejudice, glossolalia, genocide and language performativity theory. It also tells us how everyday people end up in cults just to find a meaningful connection as we(humans) are programmed to be seekers of the unknown and social communes are a way to satisfy our emotional and religious needs. The book was written in the light of the writer's father's experiences which gave it a personal and professional outlook. Overall it was a good read but it was long overdue due to uni. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Murder, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Classism

zosiablue's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.0

I think the author's thesis was: Cults (like Heaven's Gate) and cult-feeling orgs (like SoulCycle) are different, but share similar language, and listening for cultish language is our best chance at not getting sucked in. Which is a cool premise but she doesn't land it. There are a lot of contradictions, tons of meandering,  and occasional strong political statements that I enjoyed but were then dampened by weaker language. It was messy but it did get me thinking about how pervasive cult language is. I think this book would be most eye-opening for anyone who feels conflicted about MLMs or Instagram influencers and things like that (this will talk them out of following). 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Classism

remimicha's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

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

brindolyn's review against another edition

challenging funny informative medium-paced

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

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.

---

Content Warnings

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