Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

164 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

rideauriverreads's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

kendal_reads's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

2.75

is this me not liking it was we go on or am i being influenced by negative reviews ? the world will never know

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, and Murder

Minor: Body shaming, Racism, and Cultural appropriation

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

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

kajasversion's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

4.0

A fascinating insight into the use of language in cults and how it can influence people to such extents. It was interesting listening to the authors personal writting style as well as learning about new case studies i hadn’t heard of before. 
Though I will say i found that a lot of the information was already known to me and I would dare to say to the general public to, so I don’t necessarily think this is a groundbreaking reserch, more so a collective overview. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting

Minor: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Vomit

smashbooks's review against another edition

dark informative fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment