A review by tbrnichols
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

tense fast-paced

1.5

I was hoping for this book to be much more focused on the linguistics than on the cults themselves, especially in the case of actual religious cults it felt like the audience was supposed to be entranced by cults pernicious powers or something and I did not find it anywhere near captivating as someone who does not watch Netflix docs about cults or indulge deeply in that sort of fascination, though also the engagement felt a bit surface level to appeal to one of those people as well. The only part I found compelling was the cult fitness section, though even there I wish there had been more discussion of linguistic markers of good cult fitness vs bad cult fitness and it felt like only thought terminating cliches were in that category. I also found the anti-Trumpism parts to be kind of lazy and not feel as connected to the rest of the book as I would have needed them to be to not get Resistance Lib grifter vibes especially as I struggled to find the appeal in its substance.