Cultish

The Language of Fanaticism

De: Amanda Montell

Narrado por: Ann Marie Gideon

The author of the widely praised Wordslut analyzes the social science of cult influence: how cultish groups from Jonestown and Scientology to SoulCycle and social media gurus use language as the ultimate form of power.

What makes “cults” so intriguing and frightening? What makes them powerful? The reason why so many of us binge Manson documentaries by the dozen and fall down rabbit holes researching suburban moms gone QAnon is because we’re looking for a satisfying explanation for what causes people to join - and more importantly, stay in - extreme groups. We secretly want to know: could it happen to me? Amanda Montell’s argument is that, on some level, it already has....

Our culture tends to provide pretty flimsy answers to questions of cult influence, mostly having to do with vague talk of “brainwashing”. But the true answer has nothing to do with freaky mind-control wizardry or Kool-Aid. In Cultish, Montell argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community, and us/them attitudes all comes down to language. In both positive ways and shadowy ones, cultish language is something we hear - and are influenced by - every single day.

Through juicy storytelling and cutting original research, Montell exposes the verbal elements that make a wide spectrum of communities “cultish”, revealing how they affect followers of groups as notorious as Heaven’s Gate, but also how they pervade our modern start-ups, Peloton leaderboards, and Instagram feeds. Incisive and darkly funny, this enrapturing take on the curious social science of power and belief will make you hear the fanatical language of “cultish” everywhere.

©2021 Amanda Montell (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Well-told

I'm fascinated by cults and have read a number of books about their manipulation tactics. If you have too, then you won't find any new material here. Even though the author focuses on the role of language in cults, I don't think that really falls within her expertise in linguistics; it's more rhetoric or psychology, I think, so she has to pull in the expertise of others for most of her content. Which is fine and she does a good job presenting the material, while adding in her own anecdotes.

While I liked the book and would recommend it to others, I won't be buying a physical copy to add to my bookshelves like I would if it had given me a new perspective.

ok info but nothing new

felt like an entertainment piece with a hard left spin rather than true informative writing on the topic of cults/how they sucker people in

Was really enjoying until….

Her insane political opinions came in. It’s really incredible how writers today just can’t help themselves. Its so childish and cheapens every book to hear the rantings of those that suffer TDS. And I’m not a fan either.

Eye-Opening Perspective!

I have a new, more open-minded viewpoint on all things cult-ish just like the author!

Wonderful!

I thoroughly enjoyed this unique perspective on the language of cultism. I absolutely recommend it.

Really wake you up!

Cultish wakes you up to the manipulative language being pedaled all around. Montell demonstrates how corporations and religious groups derive their power by utilizing customizable in-group speech. Her research is very thorough and she lays out her information very clearly.

"optional" review headline

I'll forever think of MLMs as the "cockroaches of capitalism that just keep reincarnating" now 🤣! Fantastic book and an easy quick read!

This book saved my life!

It was a 3 star listen. I was inspired by the authors KIDNAPPING experience at the hands of Scientologists when titling my review. Truly the YouTube video naming convention of nonfiction chapter titles. Almost irresponsible decision, especially considering the degree of actual despicable behavior Scientologists exhibit.

The way language betrays us

this was a very Intresting read and does a decent job of keeping the book about the topic and not cultural ideas.

really enjoyed it

A little too Pop Culture for my taste.

Like so many of us, I have been amazed by the vulnerability of millions to the seductive charms of the Cults described in this book. From the relatively harmless attractions of Amway, Avon, and Mary Kay to the deadly madness of Jonestown and QAnon, our people have been dragged happily down all kinds of rabbit holes in total defiance of logic or common sense. I’d like to understand why!

Montell adequately covers the waterfront of Cultish operations, telling some funny, horrifying, interesting and often instructive stories along the way, but her tone and attitude belied the terrible truths at the root of their attraction. I was hoping for a little more depth of research. This was Cultish Behavior 101 with a happy-go-lucky epilogue encouraging us all to find a mix of cults that will meet our needs.

No thanks. I’ll try to muddle through this Vale of Tears armed with as much Knowledge, Common Sense and Grasp of Reality as I can utilize. Three Stars for her stories and the new word she taught me: Conspirituality! ***