Scott's Reviews > Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism

"What techniques do charismatic leaders use to exploit people's fundamental needs for community and meaning? How do they cultivate that kind of power? The answer, as it turns out, is not some freaky mind-binding wizardry that happens on a remote commune where everyone dons flower crowns and dances in the sun . . . The real answer is it all comes down to words." -- page 12

Writer / linguist Montell presents an interesting look at the use and power of words and phrases that provide the inclusive or controlling language in certain groups, especially (*but this can depend on personal opinion or point of view) the 'cultish' organizations that originated and proliferated in North America since the latter part of the 20th century. Unsurprisingly, notorious factions like Jim Jones' Peoples Temple, the Church of Scientology, and Heaven's Gate are given a fair amount of print time here to detail their odd and/or even deadly situations, along with some lesser-known or thought-of groups like online pyramid schemes, fitness classes, or even otherwise benign political affiliations. (She also provides my favorite new social science idea of this year - the 'thought-terminating cliche'; coined by psychiatrist Robert Lifton sixty years ago, it is defined as a common phrase or catchphrase wielded in polite conversation that is aimed to shut down the discourse or dissent.) Using a deft mixture of detailed research plus some first- and second-hand experiences, Cultish was quite the intriguing and contemporary read with its blend of humor and concern.