Reviews tagging 'Pandemic/Epidemic'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

13 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. 

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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

thecandiegirl's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Suicide, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Classism, 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.

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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

ashlynregan's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.5

REALLY loved the writing style of this book (it read like a long-form collegiate essay with online colloquialisms interspersed) and cults are always a huge interest of mine. ILY AMANDA MONTELL.

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Content Warnings

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

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

danimacuk's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual assault

Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Pandemic/Epidemic

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

thursdd4y's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Grief, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

lemonsforyu's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

apoppyinthewind's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.5

It was a little tricky to rate this one because while I found the subject matter fascinating and engaging, at times I found the narration & the structure of the audiobook took away from the experience a bit. The book is divided into parts and the parts have numbered sections but on the audiobook I listened to, the number sections aren't listed in the contents or marked as chapter breaks so it can start to blur together. 

Also, the audiobook highlights the "More on that later" pattern that other reviewers have pointed out which became irritating. 

Aside from those issues though, it was a fascinating look into the word cult, what we generally know/think about cults, and how language evolves around cults. There were a few personal anecdotes which I found interesting though I could see them being off-putting if you were looking for a more academic-style text.

One element I especially appreciated was the way Montell tried to destigmatize the way folks are drawn into cults, and any scorn in the book was aimed at the manipulative cult leaders, not the ones who were drawn into cultish groups. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism