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Cultish : the language of fanaticism Cover Image Book

Cultish : the language of fanaticism

Montell, Amanda (author.).

Summary: 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.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780062993151
  • ISBN: 0062993151
  • ISBN: 9780062993168
  • ISBN: 006299316X
  • Physical Description: print
    309 pages ; 22 cm
  • Edition: First edition
  • Publisher: New York, NY : Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2021]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 287-309).
Formatted Contents Note:
Repeat after me... -- Congratulations-you have been chosen to join the next evolutionary level above human -- Even YOU can learn to speak in tongues -- Do you wanna be a #BossBabe? -- This hour is going to change your life... and make you LOOK AWESOME -- Follow for follow.

Search for related items by subject

Subject:
Cults Language Psychological aspects
Psycholinguistics
Mental suggestion
Group identity

Available copies

  • 36 of 40 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
  • 0 of 1 copy available at Onslow County Public Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 40 total copies.
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Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Sneads Ferry Branch Library 306.44 MON (Text) 36015002730535 Adult Nonfiction Checked out 08/11/2026
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