Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism

I listened to this as an audiobook, and I'm not sure I would've finished it if I read it as a physical book. Some sections felt better in audio, like my favourite portion which presents an imagined dialogue between two scientologists. The core idea at the heart of this book, that language can form bonds between people for better or worse, was interesting. Many examples in the book helped elucidate this core message and all the examples of binding language that come with it; however, I got the point pretty fast and didn't feel like I needed to read the whole book to get the experience of the book. So, my reading got slower and slower as the book went on. I still finished it, though! It was upbeat, interesting, and enjoyable!

Content Warnings

erinkellyreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

I've been a listener of Amanda Montell's podcast "Sounds Like a Cult" that was sparked from this book for a couple of years now, so I was very excited to get my hands on the book/audiobook itself. I had previously listened to Amanda's other book, "Wordslut", which she read herself and focuses on the power of words and reclaiming words through an easy to read but well researched linguistic interest. I actually recommend reading/listening to "Wordslut" before you read/listen to "Cultish", because you'll get a better insight into the deliberate phrasing both Amanda and the various cults use to craft what they want you to understand.

"Cultish" was read by a different audiobook narrator, and I actually enjoyed that. I know Amanda's vocal/writing style from consuming her other content, so it was interesting to get another interpretation of it on top of what she wrote. The book is set up in various section with a different focus on each. Part One focuses on Amanda's thesis of the evolution from the cults of the 1900's (I cringed suuuuuuuper hard writing that, as a millennial) to the culty language of modern day fanaticism. Part Two focuses on background information on some major cults of the past such as Heaven's Gate, Jonestown, the Branch-Davidians of Waco, and even the cult that her father escaped as a young man. Part Three breaks down some more modern religious sects that could be considered culty and why - mostly through the use of language (from the in-speak of a group through even speaking in tongues). Part Four gets really interesting as it moves away from spirituality and into a somewhat new religious experience of the 2000's-2010's - fitness! From the various gurus and "gurus" of different yoga traditions to SoulCycle, Peloton, and Crossfit, Amanda digs deep into the similarities with these "lifestyle cults" to actual cult techniques. If you are a fitness buff, don't worry, she also looks at the good things that people get from their favorite fitness groups. Part Five digs into how social media has shifted and continued the use of culty language and groups with a deep dive into the Instagram Witch trend from 2018-2022 (that's the timeline I think fits best there, in my opinion). From there, we bring it all home in the conclusion.

I've always been interested in cults, how they work, and why someone would want to join one. Over the years I think I've answered those questions for myself, but I really appreciated Amanda's focus on language as uniter in these instances. Beyond that, it is very easy to see how we all use language that can sound cultish with the things we are fans of (I'm a bookstagram using Swiftie who eats a lot of Trader Joe's - I totally see it). Amanda did a fantastic job researching this book with statistics and interviews from everyone from survivors, academics, and current fanatics. I enjoyed "Wordslut" fine enough, but "Cultish" is really Amanda's best work so far. I say so far because her new book "Magic Overthinking" just came out a couple of weeks ago! That is my next read, and I'm excited to see where this goes next. 5 stars, recommended read!

Content Warnings

katie0528's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

emmawiechs's review

Go to review page

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

Content Warnings

hexedmaiden's review

Go to review page

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

First off I fuckin love the cover of this book and would buy an art print of it to hang on my wall.

Now on to the content of this book, I think Amanda did an banger job on this and I like this should be a book that everyone and their grandma reads. If you're like me and have been listening/reading/watching anything to do with True Crime you might be familiar with not only the cults in here, but even the language used that Amanda refers to as, "Cultish." I found this book absolutely fascinating and getting to see how powerful language can truly be, for the worse and the better. How that cultish language is used by genuine cults, politicians, multi-level marketing (MLM) corporations, to even workout gyms.

Content Warnings

erinwolf1997's review

Go to review page

informative medium-paced

4.0

Content Warnings

More...