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darlaslays's review against another edition
4.25
I was able to look back at my previous experiences with cult-like organizations with a fresh perspective. I recalled the years wherein I was involved with an organization that was cultish (but beneficial overall) and this group discussed ontology quite a lot. As a result, we had very specific definitions for commonly used words that meant something distinct from how it was typically used in American English. It did feel empowering to use language as a tool for reframing the way I looked at the world, in a positive way. However, there was a sense of shame after I stopped participating in this organization because I did things I now wish I didn’t during my time there.
There were portions in the book that I didn’t quite agree with politically speaking— I fall around the centre-right but also have left leaning social ideologies— however, the author took great care to balance her opinions with facts and also cited evidence of both political parties’ involvement in cult-like activities and influence.
Ultimately, she made a very good case for all of her points, and I completely respect that. It didn’t completely alienate me as a reader who in my life was subject to literally all categories of the cultish organizations that the author described (as a result of mine or my family’s involvement in them). Every time I thought she might have lost me, she always found a way to reel it back in by indicating that she has an open mind and empathy for others who may fall into ideological traps.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in cults and language. I wish my friends and family members with a tendency to join cultish organizations would read this, but that’s okay if they don’t. At least I personally am now equipped with the knowledge I gained from this book.
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual harassment
It’s terrifying how deeply people can get involved in dangerous ideologies. This book touches on well-known cases of cult fanaticism that resulted in group suicide (with non-consenting parties also getting killed). There are also portions that discuss cult leaders using their influence to sexually assault women and children. As someone whose family was quite involved in multiple situations that would fall under the Cultish umbrella, hearing certain accounts of interviewees brought back flashbacks of times where I felt genuinely afraid.moon_peach's review against another edition
5.0
She also holds a lot of empathy for people who fall victim to them.
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide
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
ashlynregan's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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
lemonsforyu's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Pandemic/Epidemic
unluckycat13's review against another edition
4.0
I'm unsure what people want in regards to intersectionality. You could probably go into depth in a lot of topics, but the author does talk about a lot of things that affect minorities of all sorts even when she's not directly shouting that group out. She does directly shout out minority groups often though.
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
kimib79's review against another edition
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
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: 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
seanml's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Classism