Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
The title alone, Cultish, had me hooked. As someone fascinated by language, psychology, and the thin line between self-help and manipulation, I was eager to dive into Amanda Montell’s exploration of how words can be used to recruit, convert, and control. I expected a sociolinguistic deep-dive with a pop-culture twist, and that’s exactly what I got.

✅ What I Liked:
Montell’s voice is both intelligent and accessible, a hard balance to strike in nonfiction. She doesn’t just talk about Jonestown or Heaven’s Gate (though they’re here); she draws compelling parallels between those infamous cults and everyday institutions like SoulCycle, MLMs, and Instagram wellness influencers. Her thesis, that cultish language isn’t confined to fringe groups, is as thought-provoking as it is unsettling.

The best part? Her focus on language. From “thought-terminating clichés” to jargon that builds in-group loyalty, Montell gives readers the tools to recognise when they’re being linguistically manipulated. You’ll never hear phrases like “live your truth” or “manifest your destiny” the same way again.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
While the book is sharp and well-researched, the structure occasionally felt a little scattered. Some chapters leaned more heavily into anecdote than analysis, and I occasionally wished for a deeper dive into the more cult-adjacent mainstream phenomena (like political rhetoric or fandoms). Also, while Montell is very good at exposing the tools of persuasion, she doesn’t always give clear answers on how to resist them, though maybe that ambiguity is part of the point.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
If you’ve ever listened to a wellness podcast, watched a documentary on cults, or been weirded out by how intense a spin class instructor can be, this is for you. It’s an eye-opener for anyone interested in language, psychology, true crime, or the strange grey areas between community and control.

💭 Final Thoughts:
Cultish is insightful, funny, and deeply unnerving in the best way. Amanda Montell doesn’t just dissect the language of cults, she forces us to question how that same language seeps into everyday life. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to highlight, annotate, and talk about at dinner parties (but not in a culty way, promise).

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE

Final Rating ★★★★ – Mind control never sounded so fascinating