Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

52 reviews

aysha_blake's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Rape, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Racism, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Police brutality

wright_rendon_reads's review against another edition

challenging funny informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I'm not a true crime girly, but I AM a cult girly. So when I heard about this book my interest was peaked. 

This book combines two of my special interests: language and cults. This book is split into sections covering cults and cult(ish) groups: religious groups, self-help groups, MLMs, fitness groups, and online influencers/political groups. The book doesn't claim all of these are cults but that they do use language that cult groups tend to use like thought terminating cliches and love bombing. 

This book was interesting, thought provoking, funny, and informative. I found myself turning it on even for a short drive to pick up food. (I listened to it on audiobook). I greatly enjoyed this as my last summer read before school started. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, and Racism

These content tags are based more on frequency of mentioning rather than going into detail.

bashsbooks's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

This is an extremely cool linguistic exploration on how language impacts how people decided to join and stay in manipulative groups (broadly termed 'cultish'). From murder-suicides like Jonestown and Heaven's Gate to MLMs to fitness groups like Soul Cycle, the spectrum is wide, but Montell convincing demonstrates on how all these groups employ similar rhetorical strats to recruit people.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Murder, Religious bigotry, Racism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Addiction

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

nykolereads's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Drug abuse, and Death

hannah_and_her_stories's review against another edition

funny informative medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Gun violence

Minor: Cancer, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Racism

remimicha's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

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

trippyotter's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.0

This book... I knew about several of the things mentioned, but the few I didn't, yikes...

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry

abbyschafer's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.5

Before reading this my only knowledge of cults was 19 Kids and Counting + general common knowledge facts; Cultish has opened my eyes to an interesting history and current state of Cults in western culture. I especially appreciated the author’s tie of cultish language to MLM and “cult” fitness. Cultish is a great, easy non fiction read for anyone even vaguely interested in cults or the use of language for power/ persuasion.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Rape

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

rionstorm's review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

Really cool exploration into the linguistic techniques used by cults and cultish groups, written in an simple to read, conversational way so it's easy to get through.

I liked that the author explored a wide range of groups, from the types of groups that would traditionally be seen as cults, to new age social media healers, MLMs, and conspiracy theory communities like QAnon, as it was really fascinating to see the same core linguistic and persuasive principals being applied in such different scenarios. 

They look at both the positive and negative aspects of tight knit cultish groups, and consistently invite the reader to remain empathetic about to the factors that lead people to become part of these groups, without excusing any harmful behavior or views. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, Sexual violence, Body shaming, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Pedophilia, Cancer, Racism, and Vomit