such an interesting and nuanced look at psychopaths, the ‘madness industry’ and the nature of psychiatry. it really made me think a lot about how restsuch an interesting and nuanced look at psychopaths, the ‘madness industry’ and the nature of psychiatry. it really made me think a lot about how restrictive labels can be, along with the implications of diagnosis. even though diagnoses are obviously important and life-saving for people, the expansion of the industry has also led to over-diagnosis which can have detrimental impacts. it’s a great pop-psych book, and i also think fans of true crime would enjoy this as it steers in that direction with some of the case studies....more
as someone whose guilty pleasure is reading gossip about celebrities and socialites (especially in new york), this book was right up my street. th3.75
as someone whose guilty pleasure is reading gossip about celebrities and socialites (especially in new york), this book was right up my street. though i had heard of anna delvey before, i didn’t know the details of the case/what she’d done, so this was definitely an interesting read. i will admit the book got quite repetitive during the middle, but other than that i thought it was a fun, gossipy read. it honestly reads like fiction, so i think it’d be a great one to start with if you’re just getting into non-fiction. i’ve also heard netflix are creating a show all about this case, so i need that to come out asap. ...more
in her second book ‘cultish’, linguist amanda montell seeks to find the answers to many of the burning questions that we have about cults: why are culin her second book ‘cultish’, linguist amanda montell seeks to find the answers to many of the burning questions that we have about cults: why are cults so fascinating and frightening? what makes them so powerful? how exactly do charismatic leaders entice people into their web of (in extreme cases) exploitation and abuse? the answer, according to montell, is quite simple: it all comes down to the power of language. more specifically, ‘cultish language’, which is something that we all hear and experience every day.
this book offers an analysis of the social science of cult influence, and how cultish groups use language as the ultimate form of power, wielding it as a tool to reel people in. montell discusses more ‘traditional’ cults, such as jonestown, heaven’s gate, and the church of scientology, explaining how in our increasingly secular society, these groups fill a spiritual gap where religion used to be, exploiting people’s need for community and their desire to be part of something bigger than themselves. montell also examines how cultish language has pervaded more modern and seemingly ‘normal’ groups, such as multi-level marketing schemes, fitness classes, and even instagram influencers. just like with her previous book wordslut, i found this one to be highly engaging, well-researched, witty, and really informative. i also have a weird thing for cults, so i was probably going to enjoy it either way.
my only criticism is that i was promised a look at ‘stan culture cults’ quite early on in the book which i was excited about, but sadly it wasn’t really mentioned again (although i think the author has a podcast episode about this, so i’ll definitely be listening to that). but overall i really enjoyed reading this and i’m looking forward to whatever pop culture/linguistics hybrid book this author writes next! ...more
a difficult but very interesting read, especially if you’ve watched the netflix show ‘unbelievable’ and want to learn more about the true stories and a difficult but very interesting read, especially if you’ve watched the netflix show ‘unbelievable’ and want to learn more about the true stories and victims behind it! ...more
a riveting memoir detailing one of the most polarising criminal cases in recent years. i’ve been interested in amanda knox and her story ever since i a riveting memoir detailing one of the most polarising criminal cases in recent years. i’ve been interested in amanda knox and her story ever since i first heard about the kercher case a few years ago, and amanda’s account of events definitely didn’t disappoint, i was hooked from start to finish. ...more
possibly one of the most powerful and beautifully-written memoirs i’ve ever read. chanel details her story of sexual assault and healing with unflinchpossibly one of the most powerful and beautifully-written memoirs i’ve ever read. chanel details her story of sexual assault and healing with unflinching honesty, guiding the reader through her days/months after the assault with powerful and beautiful metaphors. she describes her frustration at how awfully sexual assault survivors are treated by the legal system, the media, and society in general, explaining the common struggle of victims having to constantly relive their trauma and be revictimized all over again.
i think i was around 14 when i first heard about the brock turner/stanford sexual assault case and i’ve been following it ever since, outraged by the pathetically lenient sentence he was given, but at the same time touched by chanel’s words in her victim impact statement which i remember first reading when it was published in buzzfeed. i remember admiring her bravery then, and that admiration has only multiplied as i’ve grown older and come to understand more of what she’s talking about.
this memoir is incredibly sad and haunting, while simultaneously stunning and hopeful. i personally think it should be required reading for everyone, so if you haven’t picked it up yet, please do.
there were many quotes/passages in this book that moved me, but these were 2 of my favourite:
“my pain was never more valuable than his potential.”
“you took away, my worth, my privacy, my energy, my time, my safety, my intimacy, my confidence, my own voice. until today.”...more
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