Reviews

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

aniek_rianne's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

sriracha824's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

The book was good for an overview of this language and groups that use cultish language. I did find myself wishing she would go more in depth than what she did.

oliv90058's review

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funny informative fast-paced

2.25

roznn's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative medium-paced

2.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ftodman's review

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funny informative medium-paced

3.0

peaseloise's review

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informative medium-paced

3.0

ahomelibrary's review

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2.0

Book Review — Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell (2021 by @harper_wave)

Genres / Categories: #nonfiction #socialscience #cults #linguistics #language #psychology #rhetoric #communications #popularscience

Quick Summary: This book’s central aim is to explore cults’ intriguing utilization of language. What makes people join (and most importantly, remain) in these groups? The author presents examples of groups ranging from the notorious Jonestown to the mostly innocuous workout clubs & Facebook sellers promoting companies like Lululemon. The author sets up the book by pointing out that “cult-ish” is a spectrum, and even though the word has negative connotations, there are similar characteristics through the use (or disuse) of language.

What You Should Know: The writing style is not overly academic. It’s conversational and has many anecdotes. It’s loosely formatted. Quick chapters. Good for a primer in the subject.

Review: I approached this book with high hopes. However, I think the research fell below my expectations for such a celebrated title. The summary says the research is “cutting edge original,” but I would take much issue with this claim. I’d believe this was an undergraduate research project reimagined into a book. Nothing wrong with that really, I just do not tout this as original, unique, or groundbreaking in any way at all.

Another issue I take with this book is the skirting between academics and an op-ed piece about the author’s political beliefs. There was definitely an air of condescension and an underlying haughtiness that just made the lack of academic rigor hard to ignore.

Despite these problems, I found some positives with this book. I think the study of cultish language is utterly fascinating. The idea that this can translate to other “more benign” groups is a great research aim.

As author stated, “cult” (like most social science) is hard to define. I liked the idea, not the execution.

Good for a primer in cults and light discussion thereof. Not groundbreaking nor original IMO, but good enough for a read if you’re remotely interested in the topics.

2 stars from me.

pickelle's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

emilycacho's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

If you’re interested in language and high control groups this is the book for you. While the author strays away from religion the topics she does discuss such as Qanon, and SoulCycle are interesting. I wish she would have talked more about how language traps people in high control religious groups. Having some religious trauma myself, this book is pretty basic on how people are prone to join “cults.” Very well researched and and interesting read. 

abbiemeldrum's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0