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thursdd4y's review
3.75
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Murder, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug use, Cursing, Terminal illness, Classism, Drug abuse, and Grief
itisnatal's review against another edition
4.5
Minor: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, and Gun violence
saucy_bookdragon's review
3.5
Sections 4-5 were disappointing though, dealing with MLMs (the pyramid schemes kind not the gay kind) and fitness programs. They spent the whole time justifying why these groups are cultish and so mainly applied the information discussed in the first half, which made it redundant and the authors arguments felt like reaches at times, she even admits at the end of chapter five that fitness programs aren't really a concern. This would've been stronger if it focused specifically on religious cults and then made quick comparisons to how the methods apply to non-cult groups, or maybe if it had been one chapter about cultish groups.
The last section is a return to form as it discusses New Age and conspiracy theory internet personalities. These are much closer to traditional cults and its a fascinating discussion on how these groups form with the internet. It made me wish that the non-cult sections had been cut/condensed and the book could've expanded more on actual cults, especially since there were a lot of examples mentioned that could have used expanding on.
Also, it seems odd that since the doors were opened for cult-like groups that there wasn't any discussion of celebrity fandoms. They're mentioned maybe twice but never expanded on or explained. I mean they're groups of people extremely devoted to one person/a group of people who have their own distinct language, in jokes, and culture. Their beliefs are often near religious and the lore they create is often intricate and a mythology around the person. I think especially Swifties, kpop stans, and Beatlemania would be interesting to study.
Cultish is overall an interesting introduction to the role language plays in cults and thought provoking, though it could have used more focus and more examples.
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gun violence and Rape
hannah_and_her_stories's review
4.5
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Cancer, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Racism
redrosemoth's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Gun violence
seanml's review
4.0
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
bootsmom3's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Child death, Murder, Racism, Sexism, Body shaming, Death, Gun violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol
ashleycmms's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Suicide, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Cursing, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Racism, Death, Confinement, Cancer, and Emotional abuse
quills4days's review
3.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, and Gun violence
laynemandros's review
4.5
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Child death, Suicide, and Adult/minor relationship