Reviews tagging 'Cultural appropriation'

Cultos by Amanda Montell

52 reviews

amsswim's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. Would recommend to all who like white collar crime, cults, and pyramid schemes. I picked this up because I also listen to Amanda's podcast "Sounds Like a Cult" which does smaller episodic takes of some of what she covered, more focused on everyday "cults". This did a great deep dive into separate topics, that all use the same tactics in reeling people in. Highly recommend!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Suicide, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Violence

snd1101's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

Reads like a memoir; would like more credible evidence and analysis; if you’re conversant in linguistics, you’re not the target audience. A good splashy introduction with broad coverage of several USian cults and cultlike practices (which i liked having the coverage of!), but go elsewhere if you’re looking for substance.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, and Suicide

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, and Misogyny

siebensommer's review against another edition

dark informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

the conditioning to automatically trust the voices of middle-aged white men. Over the centuries, we've been primed to believe that the sound of a Jim Jones-type voice communicates an innate power and capability — that it sounds like the voice of God.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Body horror, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, and Sexism

tamara_joy's review against another edition

challenging informative

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Racism, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Confinement, and Suicide

linkamarisa's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, and Suicide

montybonty's review against another edition

funny informative reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

Pretty interesting read! I found that the pace dragged in the middle and end and overall, the information felt pretty surface level, especially if you are already familiar with the groups the author discusses, but I was never disinterested. Nothing felt particularly groundbreaking but it was enjoyable nonetheless!

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Racism, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Classism, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, Suicide, and Drug use

parkerluck's review against another edition

funny informative fast-paced

3.75

I enjoyed the first half of this book, which discussed literal cults (Jonestown, Heavens Gate) and the use of indoctrinating language the most. These sections were well researched, empathetic, and had a bigger focus on the actual linguistics at work (which is what I signed up for). I appreciated the grounded way these groups and members were discussed, since I always find the sensationalized gossipy way we tend to talk about cults/true crime exploitative and patronizing. 

The shift to modern groups lost me a little, especially since the author seemed to fall back on just... giving examples of language (ie: here's a fitness slogan!) without much analysis. I read another review that pointed out how skewed these sections were towards women-dominated spheres (or at that the author equated with women) like yoga, wellness influencers, etc. which I also noticed. There was almost a condescending tone to these portions, and we spent a lot of time talking about things/women the author finds cringy (we get it, you live in LA! Lots of yoga studios! Lululemon!) vs. dangerous groups that are a lot more cult-adjacent (QAnon, Incel culture etc). The conspiracy theory stuff in particular felt extremely surface level and tacked on after spending so long on the fitness and wellness sphere. 

I did find the comparisons between cult language/beliefs and early Protestantism, (and how those are baked into American culture) quite interesting! The section connecting the dots between that belief system, MLMs, and American politics was also a very informative ride for me personally.  

Overall, the book is at its best when actually focusing on real cults, language and what makes people susceptible to indoctrination. The more "formal" aspects are much more engaging, and I wish we had gotten a bit more of an in depth linguistic examination. I understand the temptation to write for a more general, pop culture obsessed audience, but it ended up losing focus and spinning out on that effort. 

Would still recommend, especially to people looking for a quick and accessible intro to these topics. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Classism, Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Suicide, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Racism

graceesford's review against another edition

dark funny informative fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cultural appropriation, Death, Child abuse, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Homophobia, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Misogyny

brianna_moye's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

lisadakeii's review against another edition

funny informative medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship