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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
eh. it was an interesting concept. but you can read the first three chapters and learn everything you're going to gain from this book. instead of new examples of "cultish" groups using language to build upon earlier ones Montell recycles concepts with new examples in different cult contexts.
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so good. I couldn’t put it down! It has everything- Scientology, soul cycle, CrossFit, evangelical Christianity… I especially enjoyed the analysis of these groups from a linguist’s perspective.
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Montell’s “Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism” explores the ways in which cults and cult-like groups use language to influence the thought patterns of their members.
Whether it through be thought-terminating cliches which prevent questioning the central ideology, the use of in-group jargon to create group solidarity, or creation of a us-vs-them paradigm fostering social isolation, cult leaders manipulate language to take control over member’s minds. Through love bombing and loaded language, they hook members in and use group identification to make it harder to leave.
On the whole though, the book seems to discuss cults more generally than really do deep analysis on linguistic usage. It perhaps is in the nature of the work that Montell is trying to achieve with a wide survey of example from suicide cults to cultish fitness groups. As Montell says, the language of cults is everywhere. I learner quite a bit about cults, who they prey on, and how and I would recommend it for anyone interested in the phenomenon.
Whether it through be thought-terminating cliches which prevent questioning the central ideology, the use of in-group jargon to create group solidarity, or creation of a us-vs-them paradigm fostering social isolation, cult leaders manipulate language to take control over member’s minds. Through love bombing and loaded language, they hook members in and use group identification to make it harder to leave.
On the whole though, the book seems to discuss cults more generally than really do deep analysis on linguistic usage. It perhaps is in the nature of the work that Montell is trying to achieve with a wide survey of example from suicide cults to cultish fitness groups. As Montell says, the language of cults is everywhere. I learner quite a bit about cults, who they prey on, and how and I would recommend it for anyone interested in the phenomenon.
informative
medium-paced
challenging
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Super interesting take on how language is the driving factor in cultish culture. Backed by Neuroscience and lots of personal experiences. Enjoyable read and pretty fascinating, although I do think there should have been a little more clarification and discussion on the severity differences between MLMs and the larger murder-suicide cults. I feel like Montell could make a case that nearly any company/trend uses cultish language or tendencies, so I think it would’ve been interesting to hear of some examples of companies or trends that are completely free of such language and processes.