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ellenmlittle's review
4.5
Minor: Suicide, Kidnapping, and Sexual assault
zosiablue's review
3.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Classism, Child death, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Suicide
trippyotter's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry
cady_sass's review
5.0
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.
Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Sexism, Classism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt
blueberryelf's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Cursing, Body shaming, Cancer, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Alcoholism
alex1's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
mari_books's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, and Torture
toofondofbooks_'s review
5.0
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.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Bullying, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Suicide, Violence, Mental illness, Murder, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Rape, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Racism
Moderate: War, Cancer, Medical trauma, Car accident, Drug use, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Medical content
Minor: Stalking, Addiction, and Excrement
mateoj's review
4.75
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.
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Death
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Kidnapping, and Pedophilia
toffishay's review
4.25
Minor: Classism, Death, Murder, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicide, and Cultural appropriation