Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

32 reviews

ekg's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

readwithev's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

My only (very minor) complaint is that I wish there were more first hand accounts/interview snippets. I appreciated the informative, introspective, and curious approach while maintaining and understanding and empathic tone. The book is informative without sounding repetitive or preachy. I also liked that Montell researches “cult-like” language in non-violent spaces like MLMs and fitness clubs. They explain how ”cultish” language can build strong community and emotional connection in a digestible way. (Honestly I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who thought SoulCycle has a weird ring to it). 

⚠️Trigger warning ⚠️ Montell does discuss violent dangerous cults that participate(ed) in emotional, physical and/or psychological abuse.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Physical abuse, Vomit, Misogyny, Alcohol, Drug use, and Gaslighting

edrickashay's review

adventurous challenging informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.75

 An engaging, playfully written well-researched look at cults from globally famous and nefarious, to everyday and possibly harmless. This book covers everything, and turns who we think of as “vulnerably to joining a cult” on its head – it had me widening my eyes, covering my mouth, gasping out loud, and talking about it with friends, family, and even my boss.
I would recommend to every single American… everyone needs to read this.

I picked up this book to deepen one of my fiction stories that I realized includes a cult, and was pleasantly overwhelmed by the information and the storytelling in this book.

I’ve heard people call Mormon’s a cult. I’ve heard of Scientology and the Moonies. I have a family member part of an MLM, and I myself identify *loosely* as a new age spiritualist.
I personally skipped the section on fitness cults, as I am personally not a work-out girlie and don’t know anyone who is, and I found the chapter on MLM’s less engaging than the rest, but overall this book remained engaging, informative, and is filled with highlights. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Emotional abuse

lemonsforyu's review

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Hate crime, Pandemic/Epidemic, Bullying, Self harm, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Suicide

kimib79's review

This author seems clueless. She has very little life experience, which is extremely problematic since many of her examples appear to be anecdotal. She has far left-leaning beliefs which seem to taint her perception of the information presented. Basically, she doesn't present anything new or useful. The reason this book is even tolerable is that the subject of cults is interesting.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

aysha_blake's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.75

---

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

balfies's review

dark informative medium-paced

3.0

About the language used by cults, and defining what makes something culty.

The first few chapters hewed a bit too close to true crime for me (I am very squeamish and the Jonestown murders are deeply distressing), but it picked up a bit in the chapters in MLMs and SoulCycle.

I'd greatly enjoyed Montell's first book Wordslut, about linguistics from a feminist lens, and was really keen to read this. It has its moments, but overall this is the weaker book, I think. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Cultural appropriation, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Suicide

joiceeg's review against another edition

dark informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Cancer and Classism

cady_sass's review

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.

---

Content Warnings

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

renee_rain's review

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Cultish is a wonderful book about the language used in cults.

The word "cult" does not have a specific definition. Anything can be a cult from Starbucks to Heaven's Gate. Since reading, I have seen cultish language everywhere from Trader Joe's to my workplace.

The downside of this novel? I want so much more! Luckily, the author has a podcast, Sounds like a Cult.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide