Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Cultos by Amanda Montell

34 reviews

elspeth_h's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Suicide, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Self harm, Murder, and Emotional abuse

As this book details the harm that cults and cult-adjacent groups have on their members, it covers a lot of sensitive topics. A section is devoted to suicide cults including Jonestown and Heavens Gate. The bullying, abuse, body shaming, etc. comes from quotations of cult leaders and wellness/fitness leaders (e.g. soulcycle).

literary__mary's review against another edition

dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

I really enjoyed this! It talks about well known cults like Jonestown and heaven’s gate, and discusses how they became powerful through specific use of language. It also goes into how companies from fitness clubs to MLMs use similar language. My only complaint is that it got a little repetitive because it applied the same concepts over and over, but it’s very easy to read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Murder

Minor: Racism and Fatphobia

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

5.0

This is a solid nonfiction book that is an examination of different types of cults within our society and how those who lead them use language to manipulate their followers. On the other hand, this book is also about how many of us have already fallen into cultish groups/dynamics. The inside flap reads, "We secretly want to know, 'could it happen to me?' Amanda Montell's argument is that on some level, it already has." From Instagram to Heaven's Gate, Montell describes cults and cult victims with both sensitivity and great intelligence.

I really enjoyed this one. It read easily for a nonfiction. I feel like even if you aren't a nonfiction person, you might like this. Anyone who has spent any time immersed in internet culture, interested in true crime, language, and obviously, cults will find something for them within these pages. I don't really have anything smart to say about it other than I really liked it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Bullying, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Suicide, Violence, Mental illness, Murder, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Rape, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Racism

Moderate: War, Cancer, Medical trauma, Car accident, Drug use, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Medical content

Minor: Stalking, Addiction, and Excrement

ashleycmms's review against another edition

challenging informative fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Suicide, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Cursing, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Racism, Death, Confinement, Cancer, and Emotional abuse

quills4days's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, and Gun violence

dealingwithdragons's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Ableism, Body shaming, Classism, and Cursing

Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Cancer, Confinement, Stalking, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Vomit, Alcohol, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Racism, and Trafficking

Cults and "cultish" organizations do a lot of terrible things.

yeojinqueen's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Murder, Pedophilia, Slavery, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

lindseyrenee's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

I found this to be very interesting. I’ve known cultish language is used for cults and MLMs but this made me think about the language used in seemingly everyday conversations or when being “sold” on something. So many things I never thought about that I am more aware of now.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cursing, Fatphobia, and Racism

atomicbritt's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Fatphobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Self harm

imstephtacular's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Racism

Minor: Suicide