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danimacuk's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Suicide, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Trafficking, Confinement, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, and Racism
alishamadison's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Emotional abuse and Body shaming
jennykre's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Suicide, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Classism, and Gaslighting
aglimpseinto's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Xenophobia, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
Minor: Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, Death, and Misogyny
effortlesslybookishbre_'s review against another edition
This book presents ideas about cults as if they are new ideas, such as how many of their "charismatic" leaders are white males, and usually get away with their behavior on that merit alone. I felt as if the cults themselves and their fanaticism were overlooked to discuss and seemingly punch down on its followers. More focus was put on the followers of different cult-like movements (not even cults themselves in reality) Yes the followers of these movements are a key to these movements' success, but more focus was on the money they spent on brand-name clothing or how outlandish their mantras were, versus the abusive, misogynistic, and borderline racist environments the leaders and creators of these 'cults' fostered.
I felt as if the cults themselves were mentioned but never actually talked about, especially cults that are still in existence such as The Church of Scientology. While the book's main focus is on the language these cults use, I feel as though you too need to understand what these cults are, how they operated, rose to prominence, and sometimes sustained prominence. Different cults were discussed in the text but were never given a clear or in-depth backstory, especially Scientology which is still popular among many celebrities, despite the church being accused of abusing its members, the children with the church, and covering up abuse in the church. Its new leader David Miscavige is barely even mentioned when he is at the forefront of the church's new leadership.
This is a great read if you are new to researching cults or just want to gain a surface-level understanding of cults, cult-like followings, and the language of cult followings. However, if you already have an understanding of cults or have done research into them, this book will not tell you anything you probably don't already know.
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
unluckycat13's review against another edition
4.0
I'm unsure what people want in regards to intersectionality. You could probably go into depth in a lot of topics, but the author does talk about a lot of things that affect minorities of all sorts even when she's not directly shouting that group out. She does directly shout out minority groups often though.
Moderate: Sexual violence, Racism, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Suicide, Rape, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Self harm, and Body shaming
apoppyinthewind's review against another edition
3.5
Also, the audiobook highlights the "More on that later" pattern that other reviewers have pointed out which became irritating.
Aside from those issues though, it was a fascinating look into the word cult, what we generally know/think about cults, and how language evolves around cults. There were a few personal anecdotes which I found interesting though I could see them being off-putting if you were looking for a more academic-style text.
One element I especially appreciated was the way Montell tried to destigmatize the way folks are drawn into cults, and any scorn in the book was aimed at the manipulative cult leaders, not the ones who were drawn into cultish groups.
Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Body shaming
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
mi7sma's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Genocide
Moderate: Confinement, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Gaslighting, and Racism
courto875's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Cultural appropriation, Death, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
zoinkie's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicide and Death
Minor: Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Body shaming, and Bullying