#587
Mentioned in 32 episodes

Cultish

The Language of Fanaticism
Book • 2021
In 'Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism,' Amanda Montell argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community, and us/them attitudes in cults and cult-like groups lies in the use of language.

The book delves into the verbal elements that make these communities 'cultish,' including the redefinition of words, euphemisms, and other linguistic tricks.

Montell analyzes various groups such as Jonestown, Scientology, NXIVM, and even modern entities like SoulCycle and social media influencers, highlighting how these groups use language to create a sense of belonging and loyalty.

The book is praised for its engaging narrative, original research, and incisive analysis of the power of language in shaping human behavior.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 32 episodes

Mentioned by
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Robert Evans
as a book he cited on the show and that influenced his work.
70 snips
Part One: Alfred Hugenberg: The Elon Musk of Weimar Germany
Mentioned by
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Kyla Scanlon
as a book about cults of the past and present.
69 snips
Kyla Scanlon on Communicating Economic Ideas through Social Media
Mentioned by
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Amanda Montell
as the book that Sounds Like a Cult was kind of a spinoff of.
30 snips
The Cult of Purity Culture
Mentioned by
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Amanda Montel
, the author of the book, as her book which inspired the podcast.
25 snips
The Cult of Incels
Mentioned by
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Amanda Montel
at the end of the podcast as a book she wrote that inspired the show.
19 snips
The Cult of Strip Clubs
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Amanda Montel
when discussing her book Cultish.
13 snips
The Cult of Ikea
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Amanda Montel
when discussing her book signing.
12 snips
The Cult of Mark Zuckerberg
Mentioned by
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Chelsea Charles
as one of
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Amanda Montell
's books.
11 snips
The Cult of Elon Musk (Part 2)
Mentioned by
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Amanda Montell
as a book that inspired the podcast.
The Cult of Waldorf Schools
Mentioned by
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Amanda Montell
as a book she wrote.
The Cult of America's Next Top Model
Mentioned by Vic Whitley-Berry when describing the podcast’s book club selection as similar to Montell's book.
ICYMI | Not Even Lawsuits Can Stop AI
Recommended by the podcast host
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Amanda Montel
, as a book that inspired the podcast.
The Cult of Kundalini Yoga
Mentioned by
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Amanda Montell
as her own book, inspired by the podcast.
The Cult of BookTok
Mentioned by
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Amanda Montell
as one of her books, showcasing her expertise in language and fanaticism.
The Cult of Cruise Ships
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Amanda Montell
as her book available in paperback.
The Cult of Love Island
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Amanda Montel
when discussing her book signing at a live show.
The Cult of Plant Parents
Mentioned by
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Amanda Montel
as a book that inspired the show "Sounds Like a Cult".
The Cult of Plant Parents
Mentioned by
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Amanda Montell
as one of her other books.
The Cult of Love Island
Mentioned by
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Matt Bernstein
as one of
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Amanda Montell
's books.
The Cult of Stan Culture (with Amanda Montell)

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