Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

13 reviews

ellenmlittle's review

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informative medium-paced

4.5


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zosiablue's review

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informative medium-paced

3.0

I think the author's thesis was: Cults (like Heaven's Gate) and cult-feeling orgs (like SoulCycle) are different, but share similar language, and listening for cultish language is our best chance at not getting sucked in. Which is a cool premise but she doesn't land it. There are a lot of contradictions, tons of meandering,  and occasional strong political statements that I enjoyed but were then dampened by weaker language. It was messy but it did get me thinking about how pervasive cult language is. I think this book would be most eye-opening for anyone who feels conflicted about MLMs or Instagram influencers and things like that (this will talk them out of following). 

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trippyotter's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

4.0

This book... I knew about several of the things mentioned, but the few I didn't, yikes...

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cady_sass's review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but don’t join that MLM. 

In all seriousness this is EXPERTLY done and I’m blown away. I’ve always been drawn to cult history and I really, really appreciate the work the author did here to include “cultish” behavior (hence, the title) of non cult entities- MLMs, fitness & CrossFit culture, MAGA, etc.- along with the obvious identifiable cults like Jonestown, Heavens Gate, and Nxivm, among others. 

Super important to give language to the behaviors and vernacular that are big red flags 🚩 so people can engage carefully and make informed decisions. Highly, highly recommend.

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blueberryelf's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective

4.0


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alex1's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.75


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mari_books's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

This book really surprised me. I didn’t expect to be as engrossed as I ended up being. I thought the authors focus on language, optimism and human curiosity made it easy for the secular reader to bite into what she was explaining. For me, the only negative points were she spent way too long talking about Soulcycle when there are other better examples. I felt that within chapters sometimes her focus was unequal and glossed over important connections to move on to the next topic (ex: QAnon to Instagram quote accounts). The ended for me didn’t do the research of the text justice in my view, but could just be me. But over all, I loved the interviews with cult/ group members. This book raised a lot of important questions and I look forward to reading more from this author. 

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toofondofbooks_'s review

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dark informative slow-paced

5.0

This is a solid nonfiction book that is an examination of different types of cults within our society and how those who lead them use language to manipulate their followers. On the other hand, this book is also about how many of us have already fallen into cultish groups/dynamics. The inside flap reads, "We secretly want to know, 'could it happen to me?' Amanda Montell's argument is that on some level, it already has." From Instagram to Heaven's Gate, Montell describes cults and cult victims with both sensitivity and great intelligence.

I really enjoyed this one. It read easily for a nonfiction. I feel like even if you aren't a nonfiction person, you might like this. Anyone who has spent any time immersed in internet culture, interested in true crime, language, and obviously, cults will find something for them within these pages. I don't really have anything smart to say about it other than I really liked it.

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mateoj's review

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challenging dark informative medium-paced

4.75

at once informative and genuinely funny (but never disrespectful), Cultish is right at the intersection of two things I've pondered studying seriously: sociolinguistics and religious studies. such a fascinating, engrossing book and a rare look at cults of all types with both criticism and empathy. 
also learned that the mom of one of my childhood friends, who is a well-respected professor with a PhD, was involved in an MLM scheme (LuLaRoe), which I think cements Montell's thesis that it isn't only the uneducated who fall prey to "cultish" schemes. 

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toffishay's review

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dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

Really interesting and engaging read! Dives into heavy stuff and still leaves room to embrace the unknown 

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