Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

44 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

samspur's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

I've had this one on my list for a while, and I devoured it in no time. The concept of cults having their own unique jargon really stuck with me. It’s fascinating—and a bit unsettling—how this specific language can be so powerful. Now, I find myself paying closer attention to these subtle cues. My disdain for MLMs and the people who perpetuate them has only deepened, especially knowing how prevalent they are in religious circles as well. Overall I think this is a great read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction and Religious bigotry

vixenreader's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

Essential reading for everyone, this non-fiction text explores how linguistics, gaslighting, and thought-terminating cliches used in cults can be used to prey on vulnerable individuals, whether it be in traditionally harmful cults, or the mainstream ones online. It is a call to arms about keeping your curious without ignoring your intuition and natural instincts. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Rape, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Cultural appropriation

Be aware that this book addresses extreme cults, “brainwashing,” mental abuse, mass suicide, financial abuse, and gaslighting through language.

dreadspawn's review against another edition

dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry

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

yourstrulyrosie's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death

Minor: Homophobia and Racism

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

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

growintogardens's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

mfrisk's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

This is a great read connecting the author’s experiences with cults and cult language to accounts from various other people and how language can be used. It does get a bit repetitive and drag towards the end but I’d still recommend it widely. 

This line in particular stood out to me as poignant - “It’s in our DNA to want to believe in something, to feel something, alongside other people seeking the same.” 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault