Scan barcode
A review by crybabybea
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
informative
lighthearted
reflective
4.0
I really liked this perspective on cults and other cultish groups, language is extremely important and this is filled with good information about how linguistics play into the role of cults across the entire spectrum.
Amanda Montell's use of the word "cultish" in an attempt to create distance from the word "cult" that comes with all kinds of negative connotations and promises of death and danger was interesting. She had some profound things to say about how language dehumanizes members of cult groups. I thought it was very clever for the author to point out the way the words "cult" and "brainwash" have become thought-terminating clichés, considering her focus on how cult groups use thought-terminating clichés to foster control over their members.
I just really appreciated the attempt to re-humanize cult members and survivors. On top of dispelling the myth of "brainwashing", the author constantly talks about how human beings are wired to desire community, connection, and purpose in life. It's not just "stupid, lazy people" that get trapped in cults, but it can happen to anyone and everyone, especially those who are vulnerable culturally or spiritually, and especially especially when the groups are ran by somebody who knows how to weaponize language to their advantage. I found it to be super compassionate and a perspective that doesn't get talked about enough when talking about cults and their members and survivors.
It was also interesting to see the ties between modern-day cultish messaging to the Protestant Reformation, which has such deep ties to the founding of America that it's intricately woven into almost every part of our daily lives. The author pointed out a lot of words that have connection to religious teachings and sayings, that have become so normalized I didn't even realize they were connected to religion at all.
The analysis of language is definitely a useful tool for anyone that wants to practice critical thinking and make informed decisions about the activities and groups they become part of. It definitely made me think about some groups I myself am a part of and wouldn't have considered "cultish" but see the parallels clearly now.
The only reason I don't want to give this 5 stars is because I felt like it was a bit short and didn't go as in-depth as I would have liked. If you've already read books (or even watched YouTube videos or listened to podcasts) about MLMs, cults, and diet culture, then a lot of the information here isn't really new.
Amanda Montell's use of the word "cultish" in an attempt to create distance from the word "cult" that comes with all kinds of negative connotations and promises of death and danger was interesting. She had some profound things to say about how language dehumanizes members of cult groups. I thought it was very clever for the author to point out the way the words "cult" and "brainwash" have become thought-terminating clichés, considering her focus on how cult groups use thought-terminating clichés to foster control over their members.
I just really appreciated the attempt to re-humanize cult members and survivors. On top of dispelling the myth of "brainwashing", the author constantly talks about how human beings are wired to desire community, connection, and purpose in life. It's not just "stupid, lazy people" that get trapped in cults, but it can happen to anyone and everyone, especially those who are vulnerable culturally or spiritually, and especially especially when the groups are ran by somebody who knows how to weaponize language to their advantage. I found it to be super compassionate and a perspective that doesn't get talked about enough when talking about cults and their members and survivors.
It was also interesting to see the ties between modern-day cultish messaging to the Protestant Reformation, which has such deep ties to the founding of America that it's intricately woven into almost every part of our daily lives. The author pointed out a lot of words that have connection to religious teachings and sayings, that have become so normalized I didn't even realize they were connected to religion at all.
The analysis of language is definitely a useful tool for anyone that wants to practice critical thinking and make informed decisions about the activities and groups they become part of. It definitely made me think about some groups I myself am a part of and wouldn't have considered "cultish" but see the parallels clearly now.
The only reason I don't want to give this 5 stars is because I felt like it was a bit short and didn't go as in-depth as I would have liked. If you've already read books (or even watched YouTube videos or listened to podcasts) about MLMs, cults, and diet culture, then a lot of the information here isn't really new.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Religious bigotry