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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
“That’s because language doesn’t work to manipulate people into believing things they don’t want to believe; instead, it gives them license to believe ideas they’re already open”
Montell breaks down how cultish language shows up not just in tragedies like Jonestown but also in everyday settings like workout groups and Alcoholics Anonymous. What stuck with me most was how she portrayed cult members as smart, hopeful, and often just searching for community rather than as brainwashed or broken. It’s a perspective that made me see them, and the forces around them, in a more human way.
This should be required reading for all high school students in the US. Seriously, the culture in the USA could be a cult. Cultish is a good introduction on how people end up joining a cult. I love that Montell uses a wide lens for what could be considered a cult which also stems from Pop culture's usage of the word. I agree with the conclusion that there's a clear need for people to connect and how they do it should be healthy.
informative
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced
(via audiobook)
i rarely read nonfiction, but i have been on a cult kick lately both professionally (psychologist resident at a state operated psychiatric hospital) and personally (annual resurgence of my obsession of the vow/seduced/nxivm). i was drawn to this book both because of others' praise and to start reading scientific works without only consuming scientific journal articles.
this book takes a perspective on the importance of language (dubbed "cultish") while also looking at "cult"-adjacent groups and movements across the recent history. the book is sculpted around themes including suicide/death cults, MLM/pyramid schemes, fitness/wellness cults, and lastly the newer dangerous social media "conspirituality" (a combo of conspiracy and spirituality) groups. i liked each fresh take, especially as the author takes a broad lens while sticking true to legitimate scientific topics (i gasped when material relevant to my licensure exam were referenced).
the problem is that, much like the author laments, the idea of what constitutes a "cult" is broad and exists dimensionally, which makes the book seem a little unfocused and not in-depth enough (despite being very detailed). i found myself wishing to have more specific in-depth looks at well-known groups, but then i realized that is NOT the purpose of this book. this is a general overview of many ideologies and approaches to indoctrination.
i rarely read nonfiction, but i have been on a cult kick lately both professionally (psychologist resident at a state operated psychiatric hospital) and personally (annual resurgence of my obsession of the vow/seduced/nxivm). i was drawn to this book both because of others' praise and to start reading scientific works without only consuming scientific journal articles.
this book takes a perspective on the importance of language (dubbed "cultish") while also looking at "cult"-adjacent groups and movements across the recent history. the book is sculpted around themes including suicide/death cults, MLM/pyramid schemes, fitness/wellness cults, and lastly the newer dangerous social media "conspirituality" (a combo of conspiracy and spirituality) groups. i liked each fresh take, especially as the author takes a broad lens while sticking true to legitimate scientific topics (i gasped when material relevant to my licensure exam were referenced).
the problem is that, much like the author laments, the idea of what constitutes a "cult" is broad and exists dimensionally, which makes the book seem a little unfocused and not in-depth enough (despite being very detailed). i found myself wishing to have more specific in-depth looks at well-known groups, but then i realized that is NOT the purpose of this book. this is a general overview of many ideologies and approaches to indoctrination.
informative
medium-paced
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced