The Power of Cults. What Makes a Person a Fanatic and How to Avoid It

What makes cults so attractive and at the same time frightening? What is the secret of their power over us? Which cult organizations are harmless, and which are dangerous and can take away your time, money, energy, and even… life? Could you find yourself in their grip? Linguist Amanda Montell asserts: yes, to some extent, this has already happened to all of us. Some chant mantras in yoga studios, others prefer gadgets or clothing from certain brands, or choose a guru on social media and worship him daily with likes and comments. While volunteering on a suicide prevention hotline for young people, the author learned firsthand that language, if used in a certain way, can help a person survive. Conversely, it can push them toward death... Amanda Montell's revolutionary research discusses how not to fall into the trap of those who want to catch you in their nets of beautiful words, rituals, marketing strategies, and other brainwashing techniques. The book is particularly relevant now, as we are subjected to unprecedented influence through various manipulative tactics on the internet and social media. A meticulous and revolutionary analysis of how certain verbal techniques can convince anyone of anything. The language in which the book is written is as charismatic as the gurus Amanda dissects. — Molly Ringwald, actress and writer