Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

39 reviews

darlaslays's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

I definitely enjoyed this book. I love topics that discuss cults, and this book covered the topic in a fresh way for me. I am very familiar with the concept of how the nuances of language are tools used to control and influence people. 

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.

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Content Warnings

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.

komiification's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

Only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars because I LOVED this, was it definitely needed to go through a final edit. Way too much of 'more on this later'. But other than that, I thought it was super insightful all around. One of my favs! 

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Content Warnings

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

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.

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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

smashbooks's review against another edition

dark informative fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

sheriffrockyraccoon's review against another edition

funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

This book was addictive- I read it in less than a day! Amanda Montell’s writing felt like listening to a friend talk about her latest obsession, in a good way.

I loved how this book was divided to include not only actual cults but other groups we might not necessarily consider “cult-ish”. Montell was respectful of both cult victims and those who participate in SoulCycle in a way that was full of compassion and avoided being demeaning. I also found it funny how to “learn” the language of Cultush the book ironically created a language of its own, further emphasizing Montell’s point that it’s pretty impossible to avoid a “cult” as a human being.

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to get into nonfiction that doesn’t want to stress about dense historical backgrounds or difficult vocabulary. Montell takes the time to explain everything to her readers and guide them through her thesis. It’s also great for any nerdy English majors such as myself who love to learn about how language can change our worldview.

I only wish that Montell had the time to write about January 6th, as this book’s manuscript seemed to have finished by the time it happened. I would have loved to hear what she had to say about it!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, 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!

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

katie0528's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

An exploration of language. The first half discusses how cults and religious groups use language tactics like "us vs. them" language creating their own codes/abbreviations to entice  followers and keep them in line. The second half focuses more on "Cultish" language in everyday life, from brands and movies with cult followings, to passionate communities like fitness clubs to social media influencers to QAnon, and how "Cultish" language can be used to build solidarity for good and for ill and ways to recognize and interrogate it.

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.

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Content Warnings

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

itisnatal's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

goldkat's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Murder, and Sexual harassment

claireh6's review against another edition

informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment