Scan barcode
rideauriverreads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
fkshg8465's review against another edition
5.0
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.
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
duod3cima's review against another edition
5.0
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt
ekg's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
readwithev's review against another edition
4.25
⚠️Trigger warning ⚠️ Montell does discuss violent dangerous cults that participate(ed) in emotional, physical and/or psychological abuse.
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
edrickashay's review against another edition
4.5
I would recommend to every single American… everyone needs to read this.
I picked up this book to deepen one of my fiction stories that I realized includes a cult, and was pleasantly overwhelmed by the information and the storytelling in this book.
I’ve heard people call Mormon’s a cult. I’ve heard of Scientology and the Moonies. I have a family member part of an MLM, and I myself identify *loosely* as a new age spiritualist.
I personally skipped the section on fitness cults, as I am personally not a work-out girlie and don’t know anyone who is, and I found the chapter on MLM’s less engaging than the rest, but overall this book remained engaging, informative, and is filled with highlights.
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Emotional abuse
lemonsforyu's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Pandemic/Epidemic
kimib79's review against another edition
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
aysha_blake's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
balfies's review against another edition
3.0
The first few chapters hewed a bit too close to true crime for me (I am very squeamish and the Jonestown murders are deeply distressing), but it picked up a bit in the chapters in MLMs and SoulCycle.
I'd greatly enjoyed Montell's first book Wordslut, about linguistics from a feminist lens, and was really keen to read this. It has its moments, but overall this is the weaker book, I think.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Cultural appropriation