Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Cultos by Amanda Montell

35 reviews

rfl_in_stl's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Suicide

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

yogomagpie's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

4.0

I couldn’t put this one down. Some other reviewers wrote that some parts became repetitive, and I agree, but it was overall a very interesting and informative read on cultish language and how it translates in various spaces.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

daniellekat's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

2.25

As a fan of the author’s previous book, Wordslut, I was convinced that I would love this. The writing, wit, and humour were in style with Montell’s previous book, but this was just way too repetitive. The repetition was nearly unbearable and there were many times I considered DNFing. By the end of each section I was basically just skimming looking for new anecdotes. A personal pet peeve that really irritated me with this book was the constant call to upcoming content  (ex. “More to come on this in part 4, we’ll revisit this in the next chapter, we’ll see so and so again in part 2, etc.). It was so obnoxious and it caught my attention and took me out of the narrative every time. 
Although I’m complaining, the content was really quite interesting. I just think this book could have done with a more thorough edit. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment

casually_booking's review against another edition

challenging funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

If you listen to the Sounds like a Cult podcast, you will like this book. Amanda’s tone is the same- caked in sarcasm and random quips about all things culty. I enjoyed the brief chapters because they provided some nice shape and guidance throughout the book. I also enjoyed how she wove in her personal experiences with cults and culty things along with interviewee’s stories and of course historical facts and academic sources. We are all a part of certain societal “cults”  but some “cults” come with deadly consequences and financial ruin. By sharing her own experiences with cults, she adds a layer of relatability. Definitely recommend for a digestible read about some difficult topics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Body shaming, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cursing, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism

ramhog's review against another edition

dark funny informative fast-paced

4.5

This put into words so many conversations and thoughts I've had with my partner and friends! I don't feel like I particularly learned anything groundbreaking or new but having this exploration of the language of cults laid out so neatly and in an engaging way makes it a must-read imo. Bought at Firestorm Books.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Bullying, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Murder, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Suicide, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Since this is all about various cults and their abuses I'm sure I missed some warnings. From my memory none of the descriptions longer, but it does deal head on with dark themes.

questingnotcoasting's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.0

I love books about language and I find cults fascinating so this was a real hit for me. I enjoyed Montell's previous book so I knew I liked her type of pop science. The information was quite basic, but since I didn't know that much about the cults and organisations covered I found that quite helpful. I did occasionally lose track of the structure but that might just be because I listened to the audiobook. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence

dracovulpini's review against another edition

challenging informative lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Violence, Bullying, Self harm, Death, and Emotional abuse

clawsandjaws's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Cults have been an interest of mine. I've listened to podcasts that are geared towards true crime that have done research about the events. Very few that I've heard focused on the mentality and the loaded language and the thought terminating cliches that Amanda Montell sheds light on. 

With cited sources and plenty of references that allow insight to the thoughts that celebrities, scientists, politicians, etc. subscribe to. 

This book ultimately is more of a reminder that language is a powerful tool and it's within the best interest of everyone to pay closer attention to the way language is used today. Especially today. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Bullying

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Suicide, Classism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Racism

dfbballinger's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, and Child abuse