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gabridelia's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
jdanby's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.5
I’ve listened to Montell’s podcast “Sounds Like A Cult” and between the book and the podcast, I like the podcast more.
The book just didn’t really hold my attention. I found myself spacing out quite a bit because I already knew quite a lot the info from the podcast and other documentaries.
I was also surprised that she didn’t narrate the book herself! (Not that Ann Marie Gideon isn’t good. But coming from the podcast, it was unexpected.)
The book just didn’t really hold my attention. I found myself spacing out quite a bit because I already knew quite a lot the info from the podcast and other documentaries.
I was also surprised that she didn’t narrate the book herself! (Not that Ann Marie Gideon isn’t good. But coming from the podcast, it was unexpected.)
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
dkamada's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Violence, Fatphobia, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting
katie0528's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
An exploration of language. The first half discusses how cults and religious groups use language tactics like "us vs. them" language creating their own codes/abbreviations to entice followers and keep them in line. The second half focuses more on "Cultish" language in everyday life, from brands and movies with cult followings, to passionate communities like fitness clubs to social media influencers to QAnon, and how "Cultish" language can be used to build solidarity for good and for ill and ways to recognize and interrogate it.
I did listen to the audiobook and wish it was read by the author. The narrator was fine, but Amanda Montell hosts a podcast called Sounds Like a Cult, and she is so much more engaging when discussing these topics.
I did listen to the audiobook and wish it was read by the author. The narrator was fine, but Amanda Montell hosts a podcast called Sounds Like a Cult, and she is so much more engaging when discussing these topics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Trafficking
Minor: Emotional abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Suicide
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
A really interesting look into the language around cults. Looks at how cult leaders use features like thought terminating cliches, love bombing, gaslighting, acronyms(and their own glossaries both of made up words and redefined words) and us vs them language to build a following. But also how the outside world talks about cults and how they use the same us vs them language to dehumanise and essentially ridicule those who join cults instead of trying to understand their behaviour. Then goes on to talk about how other groups develop a cult like following through similar use of language even if their not a cult, from mlm schemes to fitness influencers. Looks at how people have adapted the same behaviours to be use on a different platform, allowing them to grow a following on social media.
‘Speech is the first thing we’re willing to change about ourselves and also the last thing we let go.’
‘Speech is the first thing we’re willing to change about ourselves and also the last thing we let go.’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicide
erboe501's review
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
As an English lit major myself, I love how Montell argues that one of hallmarks of a cult is the language they use to manipulate, isolate, and control their followers. By emphasizing language with "thought-terminating cliches", cults can short-circuit anyone's doubts or questions. I learned that the type of person susceptible to cults is someone who is optimistic, community-focused, and a social advocate. It was thought-provoking to learn how MLM and pyramid schemes share many traits with more traditional cults as well. This is a book I'd definitely like to return to in the future to refresh the ideas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
emmawiechs's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Gaslighting, and Suicide
Minor: Drug use and Emotional abuse
roznn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
hexedmaiden's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
First off I fuckin love the cover of this book and would buy an art print of it to hang on my wall.
Now on to the content of this book, I think Amanda did an banger job on this and I like this should be a book that everyone and their grandma reads. If you're like me and have been listening/reading/watching anything to do with True Crime you might be familiar with not only the cults in here, but even the language used that Amanda refers to as, "Cultish." I found this book absolutely fascinating and getting to see how powerful language can truly be, for the worse and the better. How that cultish language is used by genuine cults, politicians, multi-level marketing (MLM) corporations, to even workout gyms.
Now on to the content of this book, I think Amanda did an banger job on this and I like this should be a book that everyone and their grandma reads. If you're like me and have been listening/reading/watching anything to do with True Crime you might be familiar with not only the cults in here, but even the language used that Amanda refers to as, "Cultish." I found this book absolutely fascinating and getting to see how powerful language can truly be, for the worse and the better. How that cultish language is used by genuine cults, politicians, multi-level marketing (MLM) corporations, to even workout gyms.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, and Murder