Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
By Amanda Montell
Harper Wave, 2021. 309 pages. Nonfiction

What makes "cults" so intriguing and frightening? What makes them powerful? The reason why so many of us binge Manson documentaries 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...

Cultish is engaging, bringing together riveting narratives, personal anecdotes, and social science. The author argues that cultish language is already in our everyday world, anything from social media influencers to religion to fitness programs. This book will make you think, and keep on thinking.

If you liked Cultish, you might also like:

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Portfolio/Penguin, 2020. 336 pages. Nonfiction

Too many leaders fall in love with the sound of their own voice, and wind up dictating plans and digging in their heels when problems begin to emerge. Even when you want to be a more collaborative leader, you can undermine your own efforts by defaulting to command-and-control language we've inherited from the industrial era. It's time to ditch the industrial age playbook of leadership. In Leadership is Language, you'll learn how choosing your words can dramatically improve decision-making and execution on your team. 

By Mike Rothschild
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A journalist who specializes in conspiracy theories draws on interviews with QAnon converts and victims, as well as psychologists, sociologists, and academics to explain the origin and growth of the movement, its embrace by right-wing media and politicians, and why it is important to understand it rather than mock it.



By Amanda Montell
Harper Wave, 2019. 291 pages. Nonfiction

Amanda Montell, reporter and feminist linguist, deconstructs language--from insults, cursing, gossip, and catcalling to grammar and pronunciation patterns--to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalized genders from power. Montell effortlessly moves between history, science, and popular culture to explore these questions--and how we can use the answers to affect real social change. 


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