Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Cultos by Amanda Montell

73 reviews

cloudyworld's review against another edition

dark funny informative fast-paced

4.5

I loved it. It's an easy read, funny, and full of tidbits of stuff I'd been interested in for a long time (death cults, scientology, MLMs) plus ones I didn't have any idea about (CrossFit, soulcycle, culty Instagram influencers) ! The author is young and fresh-sounding, but I think that balances the darkness of the contents well. Also she's from Baltimore so big points there! This was an enjoyable read if you're looking for something non-fiction that isn't scholarly and inaccessible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Violence and Emotional abuse

julianairving's review against another edition

dark hopeful informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.75

I greatly enjoyed the deep dive into how language is used in all sorts of different communities and how many groups (such as fitness clubs and MLMs) have religious roots and how it's used in their messaging. Loved the author's writing style. Both I formative and fun to read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship

roniread's review against another edition

I loved part 1-4 and was reading through it so fast and it was so interesting but after MLM and getting what i wanted most. Part 5 + 6 felt like a chore to finish. So i glazed through them but still found no spark in reading it as indepth i did with 1-4.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Violence

lazers28's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.5

As a person who has been involved in 4 groups named in this book I found this to be an accurate, thoughtful and thought provoking book. I appreciate the balanced look at what "cultish means all along it's spectrum and the focus on the HOW these groups work. Knowing the techniques can help you notice red flags and make an informed choice on how and where you participate in groups. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Suicide

bashsbooks's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

This is an extremely cool linguistic exploration on how language impacts how people decided to join and stay in manipulative groups (broadly termed 'cultish'). From murder-suicides like Jonestown and Heaven's Gate to MLMs to fitness groups like Soul Cycle, the spectrum is wide, but Montell convincing demonstrates on how all these groups employ similar rhetorical strats to recruit people.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Murder, Religious bigotry, Racism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Addiction

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

nykolereads's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Drug abuse, and Death

hannah_and_her_stories's review against another edition

funny informative medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Gun violence

Minor: Cancer, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Racism

zpitts's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative mysterious medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Sexual violence

risemini's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Child death, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, and Violence

tabookish's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Violence and Suicide