New York Times Bestseller
This New York Times Bestseller reveals how cultish language shapes everything from dangerous extremist groups to your favorite fitness class. Linguist Amanda Montell’s darkly funny investigation will change how you hear the world—and help you recognize the fanatical undertones hiding in everyday speech.
$19.99
What if the most powerful force shaping our beliefs isn’t logic or reason—but language itself? In this New York Times Bestseller, linguist and cultural critic Amanda Montell pulls back the curtain on how “cultish” groups—from Jonestown to SoulCycle, from MLMs to social media influencers—use carefully crafted words to create devoted followings.
This isn’t your typical cult exposé. Montell’s brilliantly researched investigation reveals something far more unsettling: we’re all susceptible to cultish language, and we encounter it every single day. Through her signature blend of sharp wit and rigorous social science, she decodes the linguistic patterns that transform ordinary communities into something more intense, more insular, more us versus them.
The answer isn’t “brainwashing” or mind control—it’s far more subtle and fascinating. Cultish examines how loaded language, thought-terminating clichés, and insider jargon create powerful bonds and belief systems across the spectrum, from dangerous extremist groups to your favorite fitness studio’s motivational mantras.
Darkly funny and deeply perceptive, this is the kind of book that changes how you hear the world around you. Perfect for readers who devoured The Age of Magical Overthinking or anyone who’s ever wondered why they can’t stop watching cult documentaries. You’ll finish this page-turner hearing the fanatical undertones in places you never expected—and understanding why they work so well.
A must-read for anyone interested in linguistics, social psychology, feminism, or simply understanding the invisible forces shaping modern culture.
Montell's writing is both accessible and incisive, making complex linguistic concepts understandable without dumbing them down.
A fascinating look at the power of words and how they can be used to manipulate and control.
Sharp and compelling... Montell brilliantly analyzes the language that cults use to draw people in.
Montell's book is a fascinating and accessible exploration of how language shapes belief systems.
A whip-smart, thought-provoking exploration of the language that binds us together—and sometimes tears us apart.
| Weight | 1.00 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5.31 × 0.72 × 8.00 in |
| Fiction Type | |
| Book Author | |
| Subject | Communication, Communication & Media Studies, Feminist Theory, Linguistics, Politics & Social Sciences, Reference, Social Sciences, Sociology, Women's Studies, Words, Language & Grammar |
| Accolade |
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