Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

76 reviews

hey_al's review

funny informative medium-paced

3.5

Loved it! If you've listened to her podcast, a lot of this might sound familiar. If not, check it out. I like that she doesn't use a judgemental tone or write off all culty behavior - it's very nuanced and we are all susceptible to it. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Racism

saucy_bookdragon's review

challenging dark informative fast-paced

3.5

The first half of Cultish was really informative and interesting, dealing specifically with well known religious cults such as Jonestown and Scientology, with a specific focus on the kind of language they use. It made me realize I did not know enough about famous cults. For example, the fact Jim Jones was losing control and becoming desperate by the time he called for mass suicide or the fact Scientology has a paramilitary. The author was extremely compassionate towards victims, emphasizing the fact brainwashing does not exist and that people who join cults are not idiots.

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Gun violence and Rape

beccasova's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide

Discusses the influence of speech and language in cults, and how it has been used in modern marketing today.

aysha_blake's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Rape, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Racism, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Police brutality

courto875's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

mengzhenreads's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.5

highly entertaining about how cults get people to join and stay in them, nothing TOO deep but it's a good read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

wright_rendon_reads's review

challenging funny informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I'm not a true crime girly, but I AM a cult girly. So when I heard about this book my interest was peaked. 

This book combines two of my special interests: language and cults. This book is split into sections covering cults and cult(ish) groups: religious groups, self-help groups, MLMs, fitness groups, and online influencers/political groups. The book doesn't claim all of these are cults but that they do use language that cult groups tend to use like thought terminating cliches and love bombing. 

This book was interesting, thought provoking, funny, and informative. I found myself turning it on even for a short drive to pick up food. (I listened to it on audiobook). I greatly enjoyed this as my last summer read before school started. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, and Racism

These content tags are based more on frequency of mentioning rather than going into detail.

lazers28's review

informative medium-paced

4.5

As a person who has been involved in 4 groups named in this book I found this to be an accurate, thoughtful and thought provoking book. I appreciate the balanced look at what "cultish means all along it's spectrum and the focus on the HOW these groups work. Knowing the techniques can help you notice red flags and make an informed choice on how and where you participate in groups. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Suicide

bashsbooks's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

This is an extremely cool linguistic exploration on how language impacts how people decided to join and stay in manipulative groups (broadly termed 'cultish'). From murder-suicides like Jonestown and Heaven's Gate to MLMs to fitness groups like Soul Cycle, the spectrum is wide, but Montell convincing demonstrates on how all these groups employ similar rhetorical strats to recruit people.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Murder, Religious bigotry, Racism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Addiction

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

aliciaofalaska's review against another edition

informative mysterious medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Torture