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dkamada's review
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Violence, Fatphobia, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting
cailynacollins's review against another edition
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This book was a fun and informative read. I didn't give it 5 stars because I felt like it could have been a little bit more engaging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Misogyny, and Fatphobia
effortlesslybookishbre_'s review
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Cults and Cult-like followings are ingrained into almost every part of our society, from mundane Instagram followings to the more extreme and downright dangerous cults such as Jim Jones's Jonestown and Marshall AppleWhites Heaven's Gate among many others. Cultish seeks to uncover the language and how these very prominent cults rise and maintain power over their followers. However, what this book fails to do is introduce its audience to any new ideas or way of thinking about Cults.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
mi7sma's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
It was a very insightful book. You know those types which you're intrinsically aware of the things being discussed but you don't actively think about when it actually happens irl. Amanda retold a very profound series of accounts from survivors of various cult groups and presented them in a very digestible manner. The premise of the entire book revolves around cult affiliation(group affiliation), human psychology, brainwashing, unjustified prejudice, glossolalia, genocide and language performativity theory. It also tells us how everyday people end up in cults just to find a meaningful connection as we(humans) are programmed to be seekers of the unknown and social communes are a way to satisfy our emotional and religious needs. The book was written in the light of the writer's father's experiences which gave it a personal and professional outlook. Overall it was a good read but it was long overdue due to uni.
Content Warnings
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
hmetwade's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
remimicha's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Gaslighting, Murder, Mental illness, Homophobia, Violence, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Racism, Suicide, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Fatphobia
rayowag's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I enjoyed it just as much as her last book. This one had less structure than the last one and it did feel a bit weird in the beginning (I do think she could leave out a couple references to later in the book) but as I was nearing the end of the book I understood why she wrote and structured it this way.
Compared to her last book there was more storytelling in this one. While her last book was heavily leaning on interviews with and research by scholars and feminist history, this one went into stories of people in Cultish environments more and into behavior linked to linguistics. It only makes sense that this made for a more storytelling-centrered book that explains the basic linguistic concepts early on and shows how they work in actuality over and over again.
Compared to her last book there was more storytelling in this one. While her last book was heavily leaning on interviews with and research by scholars and feminist history, this one went into stories of people in Cultish environments more and into behavior linked to linguistics. It only makes sense that this made for a more storytelling-centrered book that explains the basic linguistic concepts early on and shows how they work in actuality over and over again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
lizjellig's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Fatphobia, Racism, and Child death
Minor: Sexual violence
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.
Although I’m complaining, the content was really quite interesting. I just think this book could have done with a more thorough edit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
seanml's review against another edition
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Cultish is a fascinating look into the the social pillars that made up organizations ranging from Heaven's Gate, to multi-level marketing, to QAnon. Filled with interesting anecdotes and stories from former 'cultists,' Montell's voice is unique and inviting enough to keep you engaged (but hopefully not devotedly so). 8/10.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Bullying, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Murder, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Classism, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Cancer, Gun violence, Self harm, and Suicide