NNO Book Club: Cultish

This is the in-person event. There is also an online version of this event scheduled for 6:30 pm this same date.
Would we really be a “nerd” book club if we didn’t read non-fiction? I think not. There is a lot out there right now about cults, high-influence groups and online/self radicalization, and fights about language (is it “wokeness” or “empathy” and does what we call it matter?). With stories everywhere of Scientology, NXIVM, white nationalism, QAnon and even health-MLMs – what is going on right now? Are cults and thought control just everywhere? How do people get sucked in and – are we all already living in a world that’s pretty darn CULTISH? Let’s join Amanda Montell and find out!
***Book summary from Goodreads***
The author of the widely praised Wordslut analyzes the social science of cult influence: how cultish groups from Jonestown and Scientology to SoulCycle and social media gurus use language as the ultimate form of power.
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.
***This month's restaurant selection***
Returning to a book club favorite – Craft Street Kitchen. Great food and cocktails and, if the weather is nice and there is shade, maybe we can dine outside (it can be a little loud inside). Literally everything here is good. Seriously.
***Not sure about book club or never been to one before? ***
Read the book (or some of the book). Come to the Meetup. Eat yummy food and chat with folks about what you thought about the book. REPEAT!
***Not sure where to get the book? ***
All books we select have a decent number of copies (at least 3-4 across all formats) at both the Hillsborough and Pinellas County Library. And, of course, you can always buy a copy.
***Didn’t finish/hated this book?***
Come to the Meetup anyway! If you didn't finish - just be aware, there will be spoilers. If you hated it, come and rant! In my experience, the books that generate the best conversations and the books we really love are rarely the same books.