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mandkips's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, and Murder
yogomagpie's review
informative
fast-paced
4.0
I couldn’t put this one down. Some other reviewers wrote that some parts became repetitive, and I agree, but it was overall a very interesting and informative read on cultish language and how it translates in various spaces.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
rayowag's review against another edition
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
nadia's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
If you're curious in cults at all — how they come to be, how to spot them, how anyone ever gets sucked into them ("They must not be smart, could never be me...")... — then this is a must-read!
I really liked how Cultish was packed with research but also featured a lot of personal anecdotes, both from the author and people she interviewed. I also loved how we spanned many different types of "cult", including instances that several of us experience day-to-day, and the focus on language was fascinating.
I've got lots to go away and think about, and look out for (👀), now!
I really liked how Cultish was packed with research but also featured a lot of personal anecdotes, both from the author and people she interviewed. I also loved how we spanned many different types of "cult", including instances that several of us experience day-to-day, and the focus on language was fascinating.
I've got lots to go away and think about, and look out for (👀), now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Sexism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death
scherbs's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Suicide
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, and Death
snd1101's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Reads like a memoir; would like more credible evidence and analysis; if you’re conversant in linguistics, you’re not the target audience. A good splashy introduction with broad coverage of several USian cults and cultlike practices (which i liked having the coverage of!), but go elsewhere if you’re looking for substance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, and Suicide
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, and Misogyny
thebookpaiges's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Suicide, and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Vomit
candeegirl's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
(audiobook)
I found this book to be very interesting, I anticipated learning about the language of cults (which Montell did very well) and some of the history of past and present cults, but Montell also revealed a more empathetic lens towards cult followers. Montell also did a really good job of describing what is a "good" vs "bad" cult. I really enjoyed this book, I just wish it was a bit longer and some topics were expanded on.
I found this book to be very interesting, I anticipated learning about the language of cults (which Montell did very well) and some of the history of past and present cults, but Montell also revealed a more empathetic lens towards cult followers. Montell also did a really good job of describing what is a "good" vs "bad" cult. I really enjoyed this book, I just wish it was a bit longer and some topics were expanded on.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Suicide, and Sexual assault
ashwaar's review
dark
informative
fast-paced
4.25
I don’t know much about cults, or more specifically, the role of language in manipulating people, and I think Cultish was a great starting point to be able to learn more about it. The whole book was fascinating, and like many people, I find reading about cults incredibly interesting. How one figurehead can unite and influence upwards of hundreds of people to follow them and listen to them unconditionally is just crazy.
I thought this was a really entertaining non-fiction book. It was well-balanced between factual information and anecdotes of the author’s own experiences. I thought the writing was original and sharp whilst also addressing some pretty dark topics. I also like that Montell isn’t afraid to share her opinions on cults and cult-like organisations. I enjoyed that she wasn’t impartial, and she shared how her own experiences and research impacted her thoughts.
I also thought that the focus on language was a key part of what made this book unique. I didn’t want another blow-by-blow Netflix documentary-style book about these crazy cults without exploring the origins and motivations behind them. The research that Montell and others have put into this is clear, and I mean, of course, language is a huge factor in how cults gain a following. Language is a huge factor in everything in society, and the author links this to everything from the anti-ageing industry to fitness classes. If you look for it, cultish language is all around us.
It’s a weird juxtaposition to the topic, but this was one of the most entertaining non-fiction books I’ve read recently. I learnt a lot about why some people become drawn to cults or cult-like groups and how leaders keep people in these positions through language. I also find it interesting that I’ve never seen any appeal in a cult, MLM or pyramid scheme, and this is because I’m privileged enough that I don’t need to rely on one. The characteristics of what makes people more susceptible to cult-like language were really great to learn and gain greater awareness of.
Rating: 4.25/5
Recommendations: Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language by Amanda Montell, The Quiet Zone: Unraveling the Mystery of a Town Suspended in Silence by Stephen Kurczy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
lovest's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault