Join us offsite for this new book group, aimed at people in their 20's & 30's (and the young at heart). We'll grab a table at Trinktisch, order a drink and snack if you're so inclined, and settle in to talk books!

Our December title is Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell. Read on a for a brief description...

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 . . .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 book club for adults will be held at Trinktisch Beer Hall, 87 Leonard Street, Belmont Center. Registration is requested but not required. Copies of the book will be available for pickup at the library. Questions? Contact Allison at asmith@minlib.net.