Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

79 reviews

sexytinatrainconductress's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Suicide

Minor: Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexism

laurenkimoto's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Toxic friendship, Murder, Blood, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Suicide attempt

clawsandjaws's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Cults have been an interest of mine. I've listened to podcasts that are geared towards true crime that have done research about the events. Very few that I've heard focused on the mentality and the loaded language and the thought terminating cliches that Amanda Montell sheds light on. 

With cited sources and plenty of references that allow insight to the thoughts that celebrities, scientists, politicians, etc. subscribe to. 

This book ultimately is more of a reminder that language is a powerful tool and it's within the best interest of everyone to pay closer attention to the way language is used today. Especially today. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Bullying

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Suicide, Classism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Racism

tender_onion's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cultural appropriation, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence

kerttuli's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Mental illness and Bullying

marisa_n's review against another edition

dark informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

3.5

Just okay. I think her podcast, Sounds Like A Cult, is better. The book is interesting, but unorganized. It jumps from one "cult" to another seemingly at random.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

dfbballinger's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, and Child abuse

taelights's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

Cults are a topic that deeply interests me so this one was a fun read despite being very surface-level information but it was interesting and I did learn a few things I didn't know before. Plus the exploration of more "untraditional" cults was cool as well. I don't think I would have gotten through this if I hadn't listened to the audiobook version because this way it was like a long podcast on cults but I think it would drag on too much and be too repetitive if I had tried to read it in any other format. I probably would have dnf it if it wasn't for the audiobook. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Child death, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Racism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Violence, Body shaming, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

leahlovesloslibros's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism discusses not only what we consider to be "cults" (extreme religious groups, MLMs, etc.), but also how everyday things like social media and fitness programs (think SoulCycle or Peloton) can take on a cult-like presence in our lives.

While we tend to associate a negative connotation with the word "cult," it doesn't have to be a bad thing. Amanda Montell believes that it is really more about the language that is used to present the information; meant to draw in potential new members and users. While many people tend to think of it as "brainwashing," it really is just the power of influence through words. The author uses this text to explain how we can be persuaded more easily than we think. After reading this book, you will start to hear these phrases everywhere, changing your outlook on things for good.

This text was a fascinating read (listen), especially for a self-proclaimed word nerd like me. We really don't realize how much of a difference the precise wording of something can influence us, but honestly, it's a huge factor in how we make our decisions. While I already had an air of skepticism surrounding certain groups, Cultish really made me think about how people can be persuaded relatively easily, just through the language being used to discuss certain things. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Sexual assault

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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