Reviews tagging 'Death'

Cultos by Amanda Montell

139 reviews

crabbytaco's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Death

syd_s_r's review against another edition

4.0

This is just how I like my nonfiction books. It's conversational tone makes it very approachable. The mix of storytelling and information kept me engaged. The author clearly has a political bias, and it occasionally felt forced instead of adding to her argument. Given the subject, I thought this book might be anti-religion, but the author actually approaches the intersection of cults and religion very tactfully.

Also, the cover is cool.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Cursing

angreadseverything's review against another edition

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

I think it could have been organized better overall

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Suicide

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, and Sexual assault

elsa__reads's review against another edition

dark funny informative tense fast-paced

5.0

Easy to read, it's written fairly accessible. A very interesting read as well without getting tiring. Some chapters are hard to read because the events written about led to people losing their lives, so major trigger warning for that. I really enjoyed her writing style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

siriface's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative relaxing sad medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Torture

cady_sass's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but don’t join that MLM. 

In all seriousness this is EXPERTLY done and I’m blown away. I’ve always been drawn to cult history and I really, really appreciate the work the author did here to include “cultish” behavior (hence, the title) of non cult entities- MLMs, fitness & CrossFit culture, MAGA, etc.- along with the obvious identifiable cults like Jonestown, Heavens Gate, and Nxivm, among others. 

Super important to give language to the behaviors and vernacular that are big red flags 🚩 so people can engage carefully and make informed decisions. Highly, highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kshertz's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Fascinating. It’s all a cult, just choose yours wisely. The psychology behind cults and the different cults we have gone through waves of as Americans were so interesting. I was interested in the MLMs the most. It’s depressing how entrenched in our government they are. It was very interesting! I recommend for anyone who has an interest in this area. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting

jes312's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.0

Definitely interesting. I wish it had been organized differently; sometimes the description of a cult or cult-like organization came a couple chapters after it was referenced. Each chapter could have been its own book. In some sections, the linguistics elements felt like more of an afterthought because so much page was spent on background.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, and Gaslighting

mandkips's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, and Murder

nadia's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

If you're curious in cults at all — how they come to be, how to spot them, how anyone ever gets sucked into them ("They must not be smart, could never be me...")... — then this is a must-read!

I really liked how Cultish was packed with research but also featured a lot of personal anecdotes, both from the author and people she interviewed. I also loved how we spanned many different types of "cult", including instances that several of us experience day-to-day, and the focus on language was fascinating.

I've got lots to go away and think about, and look out for (👀), now! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death