Scan barcode
gzapolnik's review against another edition
3.0
The book was... Eh. I don't feel like it didn't added too much to the conversation around cultish language. I love a good cult deep dive, but this felt all over the place at some points. I wish it would have gone deeper into what it's like leaving a cult and "speaking a different language" so to speak
jamkinn's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent Audible experience, could not stop listening out of fascination.
arkeith85's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable listen but I would have preferred if the author narrated the audio version. This was structured a bit like a PhD dissertation, which made it seem more academic than what I’d expected. I wondered if maybe language had been subbed for the word rhetoric. Overall, enjoyable read. Would recommend the podcast.
aguattery's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
4.0
Really enjoyed coming back to this. It's both super informative and super accessible. A little too poignant to have picked up just before the 2024 election. I think also as a sign of the times there were certain parts that were cringey where I think the author was trying to be too relatable. Overall though I like what this book is able to achieve.
krikabee's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting read on how language can serve to create the community we crave, and how those narratives play out in powerful, sometimes harmful, ways. Occasionally the author’s quippy humor can come off a little judge-y. Which is worth noting, in my opinion, because in a book like this it can encourage bias/opinion disguised as fact. But there are some key points of this book that definitely illuminated things I didn't previously know much about/have words to explain!
irrlichtwinter's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
2.5
Too surface level for my taste. I wish it went into analyzing nuances between different levels of 'cultishness' instead of relaying a bunch of rather sutface level cult descriptions and anecdotes, and then end on the recommendation to, and I paraphrase here: "Don't join one cult, join a couple cults at once!"
akemiwald's review against another edition
5.0
I never really thought about the connection between cults and language but it makes sense in general how language is a reflection of culture and can be used to build relationships in general. I enjoyed thinking more about the reasons why people seek out connections in what might be cults or at least be cultish. I appreciate the author’s self recognition of developing more empathy than flat out judgment while at the same time a growing recognition to be mindful of questioning whether or not belonging is truly healthy and safe for oneself.