Reviews tagging 'Cultural appropriation'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

49 reviews

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.

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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

erinwolf1997's review

informative medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Cultural appropriation

glitterdeww's review

informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

Excellent dive into the power of language and how cultish groups everywhere use it to coerce and condition their members. I never liked MLMs, but I will definitely be looking at them even more sideways after this read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Violence, Cultural appropriation, and Suicide

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.

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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

kidprezident's review against another edition

informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

Sooooo fascinating if you enjoy linguistics/sociology. Spans from Jonestown to Heaven’s Gate to MLMs and exercise cults. Really easy to read and understand but gets across some pretty complex concepts. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cultural appropriation and Suicide

cpsawcd's review against another edition

funny informative medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Cultural appropriation, and Rape

booksandbesitos's review

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Child abuse

mi7sma's review

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

It was a very insightful book. You know those types which you're intrinsically aware of the things being discussed but you don't actively think about when it actually happens irl. Amanda retold a very profound series of accounts from survivors of various cult groups and presented them in a very digestible manner. The premise of the entire book revolves around cult affiliation(group affiliation), human psychology, brainwashing, unjustified prejudice, glossolalia, genocide and language performativity theory. It also tells us how everyday people end up in cults just to find a meaningful connection as we(humans) are programmed to be seekers of the unknown and social communes are a way to satisfy our emotional and religious needs. The book was written in the light of the writer's father's experiences which gave it a personal and professional outlook. Overall it was a good read but it was long overdue due to uni. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Genocide

Moderate: Confinement, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Gaslighting, and Racism

courto875's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Cultural appropriation, Death, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

hmetwade's review

emotional funny hopeful informative fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship