Cultish

The Language of Fanaticism

By: Amanda Montell

Narrated by: 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

Exactly what you wanted

This book lives up to the expectations. It will surely repeat some cult knowledge you already have with plenty of new anecdotes and insights you’ll learn from.
The performance can be robotic at items but is overall very well done.

A must read to understand our reality!

📚Honest Thoughts 💭📚🎧

LANGUAGE SHAPES OUR REALITY…🗣🧠

This is the second time I’ve walked the path of the language of fanaticism with Amanda Montell. I am so glad I re read Cultish! 🙌🏼

It is a very tough book to read and the first time you approach it, you’re likely to try to quit as a it will most likely give you mixed feelings and will make you feel uncomfortable.
Please, do not stop. You will learn so much from Montell’s research and interviews held along the process of writing this book.

Some chapters approach cults we are aware of yet others will show you and teach you how to run as fast as you can from a cultlike company.

Maybe you’re already in one and you do not even know. Do not be afraid to leave.
There is always a way.

@amandamontell is a must read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#cultish #amandamontell #mustread #bookstamonday

Insightful use of the concept of cults

Worth the read to see how you form your own opinion of fads, cults, and hobbies.

not deep but fun

a little softer than I was hoping for but a fun pop linguistics book to walk and do chores to.

Profoundly Eye-opening

This book will change your understanding of the way we navigate our daily world .With relevant anecdotes and life experiences to back up the more jargon-y sections of the book i found my gripped from the intellectual aspects to the more personal and more story-like sections that connect them. Perfect Non-fiction, informative,interesting, and illuminating.

Great look into cults

The author skillfully tied current events to cult knowledge. There was no bias or political leaning in this book, it was written to provide us with information and that’s what it did. Great information, great read!

10/10 read!

Really made me think, came here after listening to the podcast :) kept me engaged the whole time and made me want more. Love love love it

Great book

This was a very insightful and fresh take on cults in our current culture. Great work Amanda.

Worth a read

An excellent tour of how cultish language and techniques are infused into our society, for good or I’ll.

Wonderful listen!

Love the podcast and enjoyed the in- depth linguistic analysis of our everyday cults!! Made me think about the ones I currently belong to