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A review by dianapiskor
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I read this on a recommendation from a fellow teacher and holy crap everyone, it was SOOOOO GOOD. Because I teach an advanced English class that focuses on the manipulation of language for a purpose, I thought this would be right up my alley. And it was.
This whole book is centered on the idea of “cultish” language. She talks about actual cults like Jonestown to cults we don’t think about like Peloton and how language functions to get people to buy into these “cultish” groups. She also debunks certain myths like brainwashing and who is more likely to join these types of groups with no judgement. The picture the author paints is a mix of the power of language and how language works with the psychology of individuals.
All of it was truly fascinating and I was hooked. The only issue for me was it was a BIT too long. But, overall, if you’re interested in psychology, language, and a hint of true crime, read this book.
This whole book is centered on the idea of “cultish” language. She talks about actual cults like Jonestown to cults we don’t think about like Peloton and how language functions to get people to buy into these “cultish” groups. She also debunks certain myths like brainwashing and who is more likely to join these types of groups with no judgement. The picture the author paints is a mix of the power of language and how language works with the psychology of individuals.
All of it was truly fascinating and I was hooked. The only issue for me was it was a BIT too long. But, overall, if you’re interested in psychology, language, and a hint of true crime, read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts