Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
I don’t recall how this book landed in my TBR, but regardless of how it got there, I was intrigued by page one of Cultish and remained so through the end.
Montell's writing is engaging, informative, relatable, and practical, and she covers cults and cult-like organizations ranging from the Children of God all the way down to MLMs like MaryKay, connecting each of them through each group’s careful use of language.
Language is what defines a cult, and the most successful cults are the ones that get their participants speaking in coded language. Regular people become entranced by cult ideology through basic human faults, like loss and conflict aversion and the search for purpose, something Montell explores in detail. And that coded language allows a person to feel as though they’re “in,” that they’re a part of some secret, some truth others aren’t privy to.
Once you get done reading this book, you will hear the language of Cultish everywhere—on socials, in the news, in advertisements, and more.
My favorite quote from the book comes from Frank Lyford, who says: "[A] good coach is one who does not guide, but shines a light on a person's deepest desires and blocks."
And Montell adds, "Not a guide, not a prophet, not a guru telling you just what to say. But a candle in the dimly lit library of existence. The only dictionary you need is already open."
Perhaps it's because I'm a book coach that this quote spoke to me so loudly, or, perhaps, it's confirmation bias (another topic Montell touches on in this book), but when seeking one's coaches, mentors, and leaders, understanding what a good coach does can only help folks see the bad coaches out there, the ones who will impress their methods and motives onto their clients, rather than helping the client find their own method.
As Montell says early on in the work (and I’m paraphrasing here), if the group doesn’t let you leave after group time is done, if the group requires you to build your entire life around its ideology, you’re probably in a cult.
Recommended Read? Yes
Recommended For: Non-fiction readers interested in the use and power of language as not only a form of communication but as a tool for social construction and control; Readers of true crime and those who have rubber-necked stories about the occult and other culty groups with incredulity; Readers who prefer books with a strong voice.
Have you read Montell’s Cultish? What did you think of it? Have a favorite quote? Share in the comments.
Which cult are you joining? (Just kidding.)
<3 Fal