Cultish

The Language of Fanaticism

By: Amanda Montell

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

“One of those life-changing reads that makes you see—or, in this case, hear—the whole world differently.” —Megan Angelo, author of Followers

“At times chilling, often funny, and always perceptive and cogent, Cultish is a bracing reminder that the scariest thing about cults is that you don't realize you're in one till it's too late.”—Refinery29.com

The New York Times-bestselling author of The Age of Magical Overthinking and Wordslut analyzes the social science of cult influence: how “cultish” groups, from Jonestown and Scientologists 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.

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.

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.

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

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! ***

Eye-Opening Perspective!

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