The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them

by Daniella Mestyanek Young, Amy Reed

You’re probably in a cult. You just don’t know it yet.

In The Culting of America, cult survivor, military veteran, and bestselling author of Uncultured Daniella Mestyanek Young delivers a gripping investigation into the invisible systems of control shaping our lives. Raised in the notorious sex cult the Children of God, she escaped to America as a teenager—only to find herself inside another rigid institution: the U.S. Army. Years later, as a Harvard-trained expert in organizational psychology, she began asking a dangerous question:

What if we’re all in cults—and America is built to keep us there?

Blending personal narrative, cultural critique, and deep research, Young—together with award-winning author Amy Reed—introduces the cultiness spectrum: a ten-part framework that reveals how coercive group dynamics show up in spaces we trust, from religious groups and wellness brands to corporate offices, fandoms, political movements, and beyond.

You’ll never look at group loyalty the same way again.

From the glamorized world of Playboy to the mission-driven violence of the military, from influencer culture to partisan politics, The Culting of America reveals how cultish behavior isn’t just thriving in modern life—it’s hiding in plain sight, woven deep into the fabric of American identity.

With sharp insight, dark humor, and unflinching honesty, The Culting of America is both a wake-up call and a survival guide. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt uneasy in a group they believed in, who’s begun to question the cost of belonging, or who’s ready to take back their autonomy—without losing their place in the world.

Whether you’re part of a church, company, fandom, or political movement, the question isn’t if you’re in a cult. It’s how much of yourself you’ve already lost.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cults, Psychology, History, Audiobook, Politics, Religion

352 pages, Hardcover

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Daniella Mestyanek Young is a cult survivor, U.S. Army veteran, Harvard-trained organizational psychologist, and the author of two books about high-control groups— Uncultured , her critically-acclaimed memoir, and The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them .

She now lives in Maryland with her 10-year-old teenager (it’s a vibe), a retired special operations helicopter pilot, and a Republican dog. She spends most of her time trying to build groups that don’t destroy people—and helping others figure out how to leave the ones that do.

Find her on Instagram @daniellamyoung_ and YouTube @KnittingCultLady

Reviews

[Shilo Urban · Rating 1 out of 5]

If everything is a cult, then nothing is a cult.

Also, the narration for the audiobook is incredibly bad.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is the book on cults we didn’t know we needed. As someone who also grew up in The Children of God cult and gone through my own deprogramming process, I’ve often been met with skepticism when trying to explain to others why a group may be moving into cultic behavior.

Well, thanks to Daniella, I can now just refer people to this book instead.

So many of the book’s chapters stood out to me as a cult survivor but also things I know others can relate to, such as losing your identity for the greater good, putting what’s better for the group ahead of yourself and the learned “honor” of self sacrifice.

The nuances of social media were also addressed, as we can get into an echo chamber of information suppression based on our algorithms. Daniella summed it up perfectly when she said, “Social media’s echo chambers are like escape rooms for the digital age, and the algorithms running our feeds are the ones locking the doors.” Indeed we all are victims of this, whether we wish to be or not.

Another important factor was when she touched on the dangers of not just disagreeing with someone but actively disliking them and considering them dangerous just because they’re on “the other side”. This has never been so true as in these days, where people will actively vilify a person simply for a different point of view (and then refuse to have an actual conversation).

Addressing child labor and free labor In chapter 8 was especially important. Many see free labor as a badge of honor when really they are unaware that they are being taken advantage of. As Daniella puts it, “History has shown us that cults always start off with a shared mission, a feeling of righteousness and us versus them worldview.” From there, people can be convinced that the only way to push that message is to provide your free labor, and unfortunately, many times your child’s free labor as well.

And lastly, the most important part (and something I mention to people all the time), is that many people think they are immune to extremism. To this day people often say “I can’t imagine joining a cult!” And then I have the uncomfortable conversation with them to take a look at their friend groups, Political affiliations, and yes, even their workout groups.

I think Daniella put it best when she said, “Extremism actually begins with something much quieter: a longing to belong, a desire for clarity, a need to feel safe in an overwhelming world. The same psychological forces that bind people to cults—fear, isolation, identity, us-versus-them—exist in the mainstream.” And this is what people need to learn to be aware of.

These days cults are rarely communities of 200 people hiding in the mountains like they were when I was a kid in the The Children of God cult in the 80s and 90s. It’s the groups that take advantage of people when they are in a vulnerable spot. When they encourage extremism and declare that their mission and us vs them worldview is the only way forward in this life.

For those of us who’ve lived through cults and for those who think they never could, this book is a mirror and a map. A mirror that shows how we’re all vulnerable, and a map that shows how we can choose differently. Daniella’s work (and impeccable research) is a gift to anyone who wants to understand, heal, and stay free.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Otterpine for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't find much new to me in this book, but I do think it's a really great intro to cults, and the author does have some interesting thoughts on some groups that have culty tendencies that I hadn't really thought about (like the Girl Scouts!).

I did find each chapter a bit repetitive throughout, and I wish the intro had talked about the different chapters in order. I found a couple of contradictions throughout (for instance, charisma is important, but it's not charisma that draws people in, it's the mission).
I found the author's mention (and downplay) of Aaron Bushnell really distasteful.

HOWEVER, the checklist chapter at the end was really helpful, and I think this book will open readers eyes to how culty some organizations are: the US military, the Salvation Army, the Girl Scouts, Elon and his takeover of Twitter, Trump, etc.
I also LOVED the discussion of labor culture and work as cults, as well as the discussion of MLMs.

[Rosie Gearhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very important topic. Unfortunately, the author did not seem to see the necessity of sharing stories of cultish tendencies from the left and almost exclusively focused on problematic stories on the right. A balanced telling would have made this book so much more useful in allowing everyone to see where they may be leaning into the trap. Instead, I think most people will just come away angry at the "other side" - either angry at the author for leaning left or angry about all the negative things she quotes about the right. I am not saying that she is wrong. I am saying she should have written a more objective book.

So, if you are on the right, read this and listen to understand. If you are on the left, realize that these things are happening in your camp, too, and maybe even in you. We are all naturally vulnerable. As the author notes, we all have the capability of falling unthinkingly into high-control groups that seem to give us the community, the purpose, the answers, the worth, the sense of superiority, etc. that we are looking for.

(It was difficult to listen to this audio book. The author reads robotically. I had to stop sometimes just to give my ears a break. A professional narrator would have been a better choice.)



Notes:

Four Types of Seekers:
1. The Revenge Seeker - diffusely frustrated and angry and wants to discharge that frustration or anger towards some person, group, or entity seen as being at fault
2. The Status Seeker - wants recognition and esteem from others
3. The Identity Seeker - is compelled by a need to belong and be part of something meaningful, wants to define a sense of self through group affiliation
4. The Thrill Seeker - is attracted to the group because of the prospect for excitement, adventure, and glory

Looking for the Same Intensity Elsewhere:
When a person leaves one cult they often find themselves seeking that same intensity and sense of mission, purpose, and community elsewhere, only to land in another group that demands the same level of conformity. And when your identity is being defined for you, that's when you're most vulnerable to being radicalized.

Adolescent Vulnerability:
The main and most important developmental tasks for adolescents are to solve the identity vs role confusion crisis, construct their own unique sense of identity, and find the social environment where they can belong and create meaningful relationships with other people. Extremist ideologies are particularly good at offering that sense of identity and community, which is why they're so effective at recruiting young people.

Sacrifice:
Sacrificing for a group isn't all bad, of course. It fosters solidarity, cooperation, and shared purpose which enables efficiency and mutual support. But when exploited, group loyalty harms mental health and human development.

8 Symptoms of Group Think:
1. Perceived invulnerability
2. Rationalization and denial
3. Moral justification
4. Stereotyped views of others and/or enemies
5. Silencing dissent
6. Internal suppression
7. False consensus
8. Self-designated "mind guards"

The Existential Cost of Leaving:
Perhaps the largest psychological cost of leaving a high control environment is figuring out who you are without the group. When every aspect of your life - what you believe, how you dress, who you love - has been dictated for you, walking away means dismantling the scaffolding of your identity.... Prolonged exposure to such coercive environments can lead to complex psychological distress known as religious trauma syndrome. Symptoms include confusion, anxiety, depression, and difficulty with decision making, all of which make it even harder for individuals to distance themselves from the group and recover their autonomy.

Losing Certainty and Meaning:
Leaving a religion means giving up beliefs, but moreover you're losing certainty. The framework that once gave your life meaning and direction is unraveling. Without it you're in free fall. You feel guilt, shame, and the slow sting of exile from a community that once embraced you. And then there's the grief, because, even if you know that leaving is necessary, you are still mourning a version of yourself that once found comfort in faith, in ritual, in belonging. The hardest part often isn't always the walking away; it's figuring out who you are on the other side. The psychological toll of this deconstruction can mirror the symptoms of PTSD because, when your worldview and community vanish overnight, your nervous system doesn't know the difference between emotional exile and physical danger.

We Are All at Risk:
We are seeing cult-like movements reemerge across American life much like they did during the political and cultural turmoil of the 1960s. Modern spaces, from gyms to coaching seminars, capitalize on the need for belonging and clarity in a confusing world. Wherever there's uncertainty, there's someone promising clarity. Wherever there's disconnection, someone is selling belonging. Methods of coercion are startlingly adaptable because the human needs they exploit are universal. Because that's the thing about extremism. Binary thinking feels good. It's clean. It's simple. It tells you who you are, what you believe, and who your people are. It tells you who to trust and who to hate. But nuance is harder. Questioning is harder. Yet that discomfort is where truth lives.

Looking Inward:
They don't just manipulate people. They meet them where they're most vulnerable. So the real question is not, "How could they believe that?" It's, "Where does that same logic live in me?" Extremism works because it's comforting. It makes complexity disappear. It gives you certainty.

Finding the Way Out:
The real victory isn't just in walking away. It's learning to live in the whole beautiful, confusing spectrum between binaries. It's in rebuilding a life where questioning is safe, where doubt is allowed, and where complexity is welcomed instead of feared. That's where healing begins. Extremism shows us what happens when we cling to certainty and belonging at the cost of truth, but it also illuminates what's possible when people begin to wake up. There's no single answer, no perfect system, no utopia. But there is this: the ability to think for ourselves, to choose complexity over simplicity, and to keep walking together toward something more human. And that, maybe, is the real story - not how people get trapped, but how they find their way out.

Affinity Groups vs. Cults:
Affinity groups based on shared identities support individual expression and empower their members. They allow disagreement and evolution. Cults, by contrast, demand conformity, suppress dissent, and often punish departure with social, emotional, and financial consequences.

10 Ways to Tell if Your Group is Trending Culty:
1. Leadership and Authority - The group is built around a singular founder, guru, or leader who is treated as extraordinary or divinely inspired. The leader's words are taken as truth, even when they contradict themselves. Dissenters are discredited, dismissed, or exiled. You find yourself defending a leader's actions you once would have questioned. The danger of charismatic leadership is that people will follow without question, not just because they agree, but because they want to believe.
2. Sacred Assumptions - Your group has a belief you must accept without question in order to belong. Alternative perspective are dismissed as dangerous, ignorant, or unenlightened. Mantras, quotes, or origin myths are repeated until they become unchallengeable truths. The sacred assumption, the one thing you must believe to be a member in good standing, becomes a lens through which members see everything.
3. Transcendent Mission - The mission is so urgent or righteous that it justifies extreme sacrifice. Members are encouraged to suppress doubts for the sake of the cause. The mission feels like the only thing that gives your life meaning. When everything is about saving lives or changing the world, there's no room left for your own needs or doubts.
4. Self-Sacrifice - You are expected, or you feel pressured, even subtly, to change significant aspects of your appearance, personality, or other parts of your identity in order to fit in. Exhaustion, burnout, or overwork are celebrated as proof of devotion. You feel guilty when you put your interests, hobbies, family, or other things that feed your soul before the group. Exhaustion becomes proof. Sacrifice becomes moral currency. And what begins as devotion becomes identity.
5. Isolation - Your world has shrunk since you joined the group. You feel misunderstood by those outside or avoid people who "don't get it". Outside perspectives are dismissed as negative or unsafe. It doesn't take walls or gates to isolate people. All it takes is a shared narrative that the outside world is dangerous, wrong, or not worth your time.
6. Language- and Thought-Control - The group uses special jargon that outsiders wouldn't understand. Dissenting opinions are reframed as negativity weakness or sin. You find it hard to describe your experience without using the group's words. Language becomes the border wall of belief. Once you're speaking their words, you're thinking their thoughts.
7. Us vs. Them Mentality - Members are told they are more enlightened, chosen, or awakened than outsiders. People who leave the group are described as broken, bitter, or lost. Disagreement is treated as blasphemy. What starts as a tight-knit community can quickly consume your identity by demanding loyalty and framing outsiders as a threat.
8. Exploitation of Labor - You are expected to give more than you receive - your time, body, or energy. Unpaid labor, volunteering, or constant work are reframed as spiritual practice or community service. Rest and boundaries are treated as selfishness. Cults are organized crime syndicates that run on free labor. They recruit, they indoctrinate, and they extract.
9. High Entrance and Exit Costs - You have sacrificed money, relationships, or identity to join or stay. Walking away feels like betraying something sacred or like starting over from scratch. Your doubts are minimized by reminders of everything you'd lose if you left. The second rule of cults is that the cult will forgive any sin except the sin of leaving.
10. Ends Justify the Means - Harm is tolerated or justified in pursuit of the groups goals. Lies are reframed as strategy. Dissent is reframed as heresy. The group measures success in devotion, not ethics. This is how lying becomes holy, deception becomes virtue, and the first compromises of integrity are cloaked in righteousness.

[Maddie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 10% in

I’m so sad to not finish this book because I think it had so much potential.

First, I’m listening to the audiobook and I’m sorry but the author’s voice is not very pleasant to listen to😅 even if I had really loved this book, I still would’ve complained about that.

Next, I find the authors experience both fascinating and confusing. To grow up in The Children of God (seriously how horrific) to escape and become part of the U.S. Army (arguably another cult) only to escape and be enlightened about cults is eye-opening. She herself said that if you were in a cult at one point, it’s very easy to find yourself later on in another.

Essentially, the author has laid out in the very first part of this book that just about everything can be a cult. If everything is a cult, then couldn’t it be argued that nothing is?

She talks about the U.S. Army being a cult since they isolate from the general population, essentially brainwash you into patriotism, and “break you down to build you up”. All common cult like behaviors. But then almost in the same breath, she refers to a psychologist that she used to look up to as belonging to the “Cult of Transphobia” and being in league with J. K. Rowling. She’s clearly very upset about this.

Based on the authors reasoning, it seems what makes a cult is based on your own morals. There are of course groups that we would all (hopefully) would deem as horrible like The Children of God, but then we have the “Cult of Taylor Swift” that the author addresses in a very blasé and almost joking way - even though it definitely is a cult based on her own reasoning. Taylor Swift can do no wrong in their eyes and are quick to jump to her defense if anyone has anything negative to say about her. They pay thousands to see her and are the first to jump on releases of her music. Vote for her political endorsements. Beefs with those she beefs with. It was fascinating to look at this group of people through a cult eye. So ultimately the difference between The Cult of TS and The Cult of JK Rowling being “bad VS good” is what? Personal opinion? Whether you align politically with them or not?

So which is it? These groups of people ALL have very intense moral codes, fully believe that they are in the right, and feel completely justified in their reasoning. So if these are cults and one is bad and one is justifiable, it’s all based on your own personal moral compass? Couldn’t you argue that the “Cult of Transphobia” and the “Cult of Trans Rights” are equally made up of zealots? That both have extremely high exit costs? That both stick to their own beliefs and don’t look elsewhere to expand their frame of mind? Clearly one is right and one is wrong based on your own morals and political ideologies. Which sorry! I think that’s extremely lame reasoning considering that I was expecting this to be an unbiased look at cults when clearly it wasn’t.

The author is arguably left leaning and I literally could care less about her political beliefs. My problem is that she’s so blind to see that her reasoning for everything she talked about can be turned and used against her. Clearly she feels very strongly about certain topics but that isn’t the problem. The problem is not opening your mind. Not surrounding yourself with people of different beliefs. Just like she said we should do. It seems she’s found herself in yet another cult while trying to prove otherwise.

I just find it fascinating that she can vilify one and justify others with using the same rhetoric. Anyone could take her exact arguments and apply it positively to the U.S. Army?? Negatively to Trans Rights?? So essentially this whole book is null and void because everything is a cult. And what makes it OK is fully based on your own moral compass, which is different for everybody.

This was extremely frustrating.

[Frankie Ness]

What I learned: Anything and everything is a cult.

I was hoping the authors would go heavy on the "Why we love them". I'd like to think our society now is more cognizant of cults based on the endless documentaries, articles, and books that came out about cults in general, and specific ones. Outside of language, conditioning, and other tactics employed by cult leaders, why are we still falling for it? <<< this is my burning question when I started this and wasn't finding a satisfying answer for myself.

[O. B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but repetitive

Every other sentence in this book followed a “it’s not just this, but that” format - which made me question how this was edited before it made it to print. (See what I did there?)

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

According to this “author,” nearly every organization is a cult. A good percentage of the book is the “same ole, same ole” word speak of being offended/finding prejudice everywhere/casting groups of people as forever victims/etc, etc. She particularly notes her own great privilege she operates from and works so hard to get beyond. A privilege she doesn’t mention: the freedom to yap for paragraphs about the disdain she holds for one of the very organizations that tirelessly protects it.

[Meilin · Rating 2 out of 5]

my biggest issue was the formatting, weak argument, and writing. i was annoyed that this felt like a substuck than collective argument that had many examples to piece together why cult and barely anthing for why america loves them.

i was annoyed at the repetitiveness of referencing amanda montell as the author of cultish and margaret singer every other chapter (like we know who these people are after the first 4 references), then the skipping to other chapters to further explain an idea the author was building (which was probs an edit to another substuck link further eplaining this idea). i know cults are like my special interest, but i didn't learn anything new and sometimes felt like the author's observances were valid or 'it reminded me of my cult experience' but somethings felt like 'culture' with her argument for college, swifties, and corporate workspaces as having red flags for 'CULT.' i just don't think she explained why we love cults too ..... there are some hints of capitalism or racism or lack of third places, but i don't think we ever got there and was really annoyed by the ending.

then, i was just thinking this format is v similar to john green's anthropocene and amanda montell's age of magical overthinking where it started from an online format, then compiled and edited for a book ..... and the copyright proved my annoying suspicion..... bc the writing def felt more for someone who is online and heard of more pop culture references of jonestown, theranos, twitter, and writing style was more personality/write-like-i-speak. feel like her memoir probably hit with the personality she has with her writing, but this was like a diet shock value meal for getting into cults

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half or so of this book is really interesting and thought-provoking. I particularly liked the comparison of various groups that operate on volunteer hours to more obvious cults. The discussion of Swifties is interesting as well. Not sure if I agree with all of it, but it's worth thinking about. The middle to end of the book gets rather repetitive, though, and I don't know if it came to a good conclusion. The first half is worth the read, definitely, though at a certain point I probably could have set it aside and not finished.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the content of this book but the audiobook narration is horrendous.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good information, but very repetitive. Honestly, the appendices gave me the information I wanted more than the body of the book. I'd start by reading there, and then read the body of the book if you need further descriptions.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure I’m fully onboard with her central thesis. The list of 10 identifiers of a cult were great. The corresponding chapters felt like they needed a balance of nuance and context. I had 10 chapters of so may aspects of American culture are cult or cult-adjacent for chapter 11 to come around and put those into perspective. Boils down to me wanting more balance.

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A fascinating insight into cults from someone who is intimately familiar with their makings, a deep dive on how they ensnare and entrap, loved it. I have previously read Cultish (referenced multiple times within) and found this to well and truly enhance rather than repeat. It’s already been recommended to multiple friends and they’re eager for their chance to read come publishing date. Thank you to NetGalley, Daniella Mestyanek Young & Amy Reed for the opportunity & ARC.

[Brian Shevory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Otterpine and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them by Daniella Mestyanek Young and Amy Reed. I’ve noticed more and more books focusing on cults, examining them from different perspectives. Not just the lurid, true crime or primarily academic type books that seemed to analyze some of the more notorious cults from the past 50 years or so (The Manson Family, The People’s Temple); rather books like Amanda Montel’s Cultish (which Mestyanek Young and Reed frequently reference) and Jane Borden’s Cults Like Us take a more nuanced approach to examining the issues of cults and how many groups and institutions in our lives closely mimic cults. Borden’s book argues that America’s founding was itself based on the cult of the Protestant Ethic, among other religious beliefs that have gradually become part of many American’s identities. Mestyanek and Reed make similar claims while developing their own aspects of group dynamics, drawn from research and scholarship, to investigate and examine the practices of various groups and institutions. As the authors acknowledge, its sometimes hard to determine what a cult is, and with Mestayanek’s own personal experiences growing up in a destructive religious cult and serving in the US Army, she identifies elements of these group dynamics in both. Furthermore, I appreciated their advice to readers to move beyond binaries, looking at whether a group is a cult or not, or thinking about good or bad outcomes, with a call to think about the complexities of belonging and more importantly leaving these groups. What costs might members entail with exiting the group, whether they are social, financial, or professional. Also like Borden’s book, Mestyanek and Reed also reference the more recent political and social events in America to examine how instability, lack of connections and relationships, and mistrust and resentment can fuel the rise of cults as a means of filling a void for these connections and beliefs.
Both Mestyanek and Reed use real world examples from well-known cults, institutions and groups, as well as lesser-known examples, to highlight and identify the ways these groups align with their group dynamics. Furthermore, both authors include their own personal examples of participation with cults, institutions and groups to provide further evidence of the seeming benefits and potential drawbacks of membership within these groups. I also appreciated how the authors make use of both scholarly sources and more popular literature like Montell’s book, as well as other first-hand accounts from cult survivors and escapees. It lends a sense of authority and expertise, while also making the content relevant and accessible to a general audience. Furthermore, despite a rather dark and tragic topic, the authors use humor and sarcasm at appropriate times to lighten the mood. The book is filled with many relevant examples that help to highlight the specific practices of these groups and institutions to attract and sustain members. I think it is interesting to see how fine a line the nature of members is for some of these groups like the military and Alcoholics Anonymous, groups which typically are held in high esteem, but also display elements of cult-type membership and potential high-costs for members leaving. I can also understand the pushback that the authors received, but I think they are raising important points about the nature of the groups and their attempts to sustain members, not necessarily arguing that they are inherently bad. However, in reading these examples, we can see how others may misuse or misconstrue some of the elements of these groups to make false promises or to build on more familiar institutions to attract followers and those who are in need of some kind of change or future goal. In particular, Chapter 6, “Distinguishable Vernacular,” was one of the more fascinating sections since it deals with the language of cults and groups. While this was the focus of Montel’s book, Mestyanek and Reed examine some different examples and show how shared language can alter our sense of identity and belief, creating a unique bond among members. I think this is true of almost any group, whether it is a friend group who shares specific slang or a work group that may use specific acronyms and terms to define and solve problems in the field. I know that whenever I’ve started a new job, acclimating to new language, specifically to acronyms, takes almost as much work as learning software or systems.
Mestyanek and Reed examine how often the beliefs that groups adhere to can often spiral into extremism, and how technology like social media and the internet can accelerate belief to action through disinformation and isolation. Mestyanek provides an example from her ex-husband’s radicalization, along with reminders of Q-Anon and the January 6th Insurrection to further show how seemingly regular people, our neighbors, community members, and friends can all be susceptible to the tricks and deceptive practices of cult leaders. However, this book provides an awareness of these practices, along with some useful checklists and references to “culty things.” I think, though, that one of the most important takeaways in the book is reframing our thinking around cults, shifting from binary, either/or thinking, to examining ideas of membership and belonging in a more complex and holistic manner. In one of the final sections written by guest author Rebecca Slue, also known as The White Woman Whisperer, “The distinction between ‘group’ and ‘community’ is a matter of foundational values and relational truth. Groups are built to be functional, often around a cause, a mission, or a leader.” This last section was also incredibly important in not only reaffirming our sense of belonging to communities and not just groups but also affirming our sense of agency in seeking out these communities and ensuring that they remain communal and democratic. While sharing decision making and responsibilities (and accountability) can be time consuming and tiring, it is essential for the health of the community to involve all. Although frequent references to more notorious groups and cults are found in this book, the authors also frequently reference how more and more work situations can become cult-like, blurring the boundaries between work and belonging. Furthermore, they note how some careers are considered a calling and offer members a strong sense of identity and belonging. While I feel grateful to have a career where I don’t necessarily experience that level of creeping cultiness, I have had jobs where there has been that kind of pressure to work outside of proscribed hours, and I feel like this book offers an important message to many people, not just those interested in cults, psychology, or current events. Rather this book has important insights and ideas about belonging, community, and working, and shares these ideas with research and anecdotes, making the ideas and insights more accessible and understandable. Highly recommended.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a comprehensive look into the various organizations, high-control groups, and of course, cults, that have shaped American history and culture. With an extensive bibliography and index, this is sure to be a prominent reference for those who study these kinds of groups. And for many of us who recognize that we were once part of one, the book helps us to understand the underlying and often insidious ways we were drawn in and controlled.

For those who want to know more about Daniella's personal story, I highly recommend Uncultured: A Memoir.

interesting quotes (page numbers from hardcover edition with ISBN13 97819556711828):

"Sometimes the most defiant thing you can do is simply let yourself feel good again." (p. 238)

[ZindagiForEva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a lot of respect for Mestyanek Young and absolutely loved her memoir, but this one felt a bit more rudimentary introduction to cult psychology. Nothing wrong with that if course, just felt I didn't necessarily pick up anything new. I did really enjoy guessing which cults she was writing about in the chapter intros before the reveal!

[Ruth Bourgogne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniella Mestyanek Young's "The Culting of America" offers something rare: a precise diagnostic tool for recognizing how control systems operate, not just in obvious places, but embedded within our most trusted institutions.

Young's Cultiness Spectrum, a ten-criterion framework, cuts through denial. Charismatic leadership, ideological indoctrination, isolation, exploitation, high exit costs. She shows how these appear not just in religious cults, but in the military, corporate structures, wellness culture, and the art world itself.

What struck me most is how the book validates what survivors know: that cultic dynamics aren't fringe phenomena. They're systemic. And institutions protect them.
I came to this book as someone with direct experience in a high-control community (the Otto Muehl/AAO commune in Austria). Reading Young's framework, I found language for what I'd observed for years: how the Austrian art world continues to exhibit and celebrate Muehl's work despite his 1991 conviction for child sexual abuse. Even as survivors and former children of the commune fight for recognition, restitution, and accountability.
The art world's defense "separation of artist and work" is precisely what Young identifies as institutional cult-protection: creating good reasons to do harm.
What makes this book essential is that it doesn't stop at critique. Young shows that change is possible when institutions are willing to examine their own structures. That's not censorship. That's accountability.
Young writes from lived experience, but with scholarly rigor (400+ footnotes). Her analysis spans psychology, organizational behavior, and history. The book is both intellectually serious and deeply human.
For cult survivors, therapists, and anyone who suspects their institution might be protecting abusers: this is required reading. For those who wonder how seemingly intelligent people stay trapped in harmful systems. This answers it.
As a therapist and survivor of the Muehl-Cult, I found this book invaluable.

[Joelle Tamraz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten stars. Simply brilliant.

If UNCULTURED is the author’s personal origin story, THE CULTING OF AMERICA distills and illustrates her cult scholarship and insights--amplified by additional guest essays.

This book is a crucial resource for anyone wanting to understand “the groups or relationships that have hurt us in the past, hurt us now or could hurt us in the future.”

As a survivor of spiritual abuse and coercive control, I gained a clearer understanding of cultic power dynamics and my own experience.

A must-read for anyone reclaiming their freedom and seeking a better way forward.

[Clara Dossett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and well-researched. A childhood survivor of a large child sexual abuse cult and the Army, brings her life experience and education together on the making of a cult. How many are there in America, more than you realize.

A very difficult and at times scary reading, ending with an emphasis on the building of a community over groupthink to build a better future.

I was not surprised by the MLMs. I've seen too many friends go down that rabbit hole.

[Presh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish Young was my best friend. Need more people committed to the truth, educating themselves, and recognizing their own biases in my life. Ended on a more positive note than I thought it would, which gave me a little bit of hope. I hope love will prevail.

[kayt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

American culture has been baked into our society our very laws and ground by which we run the country for centuries. This book dissects the very facets of America and examines the cult like mentality of them.

I learned so much reading this book. I know about cults and often find myself quite fascinated by them. They exist outside the bounds of logical thinking. They require you to suspend the belief of your eyes and ears. Cults are so terrifying to me. Throughout this book I learned so much more about cults. What makes a cult tick, why people join cults. Then through those ideas the book delves into cultural components, religion, politics, and even terrorism. It's eye opening to understand so much of our everyday life is founded with cult tactics (hustle culture, politics, fandoms, corporations). There are even some things that while using cult tendencies overall can create more good than harm (AA).

I have been thinking a lot lately specifically about the MAGA movement and how so many people (especially lately) can so easily deny what their very eyes witness in favor of what they believe to be the fate of America. I have long thought that the MAGA movement appeared very cult like. It was fascinating to see it dissected in this book. It expanded so much more on what I already believed.

As I stated from reading this book I see how many manipulative tactics are baked into American society. How cult like thinking is used to drive society to stay on a certain path. It was very informative and eye opening.

I did however have a few qualms with this book. It is very information heavy. Which I think can be great, but I also think would benefit greatly from breaks. There were many paragraphs where books would be referenced one after the other and it felt less like a cohesive idea and more like I was reading a college essay. I certainly enjoyed some of the references to other ideas and people. I think it would've been great, however, to bake those ideas and individuals more into the book without entirely disrupting from the flow of the novel.

Overall I found this to be very informative and engaging. I just wish it didn't feel at times mentally taxing. I am super interested in the author (I follow her on TikTok). I definitely would like to pick up her memoir in the future and I am very intrigued by her novel on cults and the US Army.


Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Laurie Groshon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so good. Examines cult-y traits in groups from Girl Scouts, AA, MAGA, and academia (this one hit HARD) and how they impact individuals psychologically and society at large. I also really appreciated the section towards the end about groups vs. communities. Highly recommend!

[jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

made me think a lot about all the places ive worked and the way they are failing at their attempts to be cult like lol but very good book i think i learned much

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent analysis of extremist behavior and the psychology of belonging. The author cites my thesis advisor and former colleagues, so I’m clearly fond of the scholarly bona fides.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Cults don’t start with mass suicide or pledges to storm the Capitol. They start with small things: a shared belief, an inspiring leader, a feeling of belonging. They start with language—words like awakening, truth, resistance, patriotism. And before long, that language becomes identity, and identity becomes dogma. The most dangerous ideas aren’t shouted—they’re whispered in living rooms, reinforced in group chats and family dinners, slowly absorbed until they feel like common sense…”

The Culting of America dives into the invisible systems of control that shape the lives of Americans. This is a blend of personal narrative, research, and cultural critique that introduces a ten part framework to identifying cultish behavior.

After reading Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism a few months ago, I was really interested in reading this and seeing what Young adds to cultish dynamics and how to identify them. While this took me a while to get through, it wasn’t because it was boring or a slog, but because I was just taking so many notes on the information presented. Young weaves her experiences growing up in the Children of God cult with research on ten different aspects of cult behavior. Her ten steps were very well presented and made total sense, especially once you got the explanation behind it.

“Americans love to worship, whether it’s a pop music star who makes them feel empowered and understood, a CEO who will lead them to abundance, a religious leader who will teach them how to be righteous and give them a ticket to heaven, or a politician who will help them take their country back.”

Young shows how so many groups in America today that are accepted, but can actually be considered cults or have cult-like tendencies. Things like the military, Alcoholics Anonymous, Corporations, and of course, religions. I really agree with all her assessments of these different groups, especially the military being a cult, and it makes me realize why I have been so leery of most of the organizations/institutions she discussed as having cultish behaviors/ are a cult.

“We are— and always have been, since those first religious extremists, the Pilgrims, set foot on American soil— a nation defined by the distrust of institutions, a persecution complex, and stubborn self-righteousness. In many ways, cults are the most American thing there is.”

Young argues that the reason why cults are so prevalent in America is because if we get to the root of American cult experience we find the cults of white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism that everyone has been indoctrinated by. This makes a lot of sense to me and really opened my eyes to how deep cultish behavior is in America.

Overall, I think this was a well presented and well researched look at cults in America and how our system easily creates them, so I highly recommend this book. I also appreciated that this book ends in helpful guides that basically hit on all the main points discussed in this book and provides checklists so you can review the organizations you are a part of.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Den · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Many times I read the news and wonder why people do such unbelievably dumb things. This book asks: in the right circumstances, would it be YOU doing that same dumb shit? The answer is...well...probably. We as humans always want to belong, and many times we will surrender our autonomy for that sense of belonging. This need to belong is so ingrained in us(it's third in Maslow's hierarchy of needs after food and safety) that combined with other factors mentioned in the book--the search for meaning, a fear of the future, a sense of purpose, and an agreeable personality (among others), some culty group can appear, at least at first, to offer exactly what we've been searching for.

The first third of the book details, step by step, how an ordinary person can easily get entangled in a cult. This was exactly why I came to this book for. No one in a cult was looking to join a cult--it's something that happens slowly, until leaving it starts to feel impossible. The explanation made sense to me, how they come in all smiles and hugs, give you a sense of purpose, strip you of your identity, then replace it with theirs. If you leave, you'll have nothing, not even your own sense of self because it's already so intertwined with the cult's.

The next part gets into characteristics of cults and other groups that have cultlike qualities. The usual suspects are here: MLMs, companies like WeWork and Theranos, the whole right-wing movement, Alcoholics Anonymous, the army where the author herself spent years of her life. Your mileage may vary here. I myself have read a lot about those groups already precisely because their cult-like qualities fascinated me, so a lot of things in this section wasn't new to me and felt repetitive. Again, this really depends on what you know about these groups already.

Then there are a couple of chapters about leaving a cult, why it is hard to leave, how hard it is to rebuild. At the end of the book there are cheeky reference guides to cults and culty things, and even a quiz to see if you might be in one yourself.

There was a lot to chew on--I have so many passages highlighted in this book that I was having a truly a tough time deciding what to put in this review. One thing I need to add here though--that chapter on the Skinny White Woman was truly inspired. It's something I've always seen in cults but never consciously recognized until I read it. Every cult leader does have a SWW beside them, don't they?

This book talks about a lot of groups with cult-like qualities, perhaps even a group you are willingly in yourself. The author definitely WILL ruffle some feathers here. But whether you agree with her or not, I think you'll still walk away more aware of how many seemingly innocuous things around us are actually a little culty.

[Brigid · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting take on cultish aspects of American society and how those traits affect our affinity groups and the individuals within them. Overall, I like the take--especially the idea that culty behaviors are on a spectrum. It's a not a matter of is it a cult or not, it's "is this kinda culty?" The examples of MLMs, workplaces, political/activist organizations, online communities, and religious groups have various levels of cult-like behaviors.

My main issue is that there are some areas where I think the authors need to have a bit more of a distinction between what constitute specialized knowledge and cultish language as well as what is a cult issue vs. a larger culture issue. The authors acknowledge that jargon and terminology can be both a helpful shorthand and a way to exclude outsiders. While that is true, there's also such a thing as accuracy of language, and sometimes people feel excluded for not knowing something but that doesn't make it exclusionary. To take a term from Catholicism, transubstantiation has a specific definition within the faith. It is both insider language and the correct term for that particular belief. In the workplace, there are terms that nonpractitioners of that field aren't going to know and defining around them is only going to take time and likely lead to less accuracy. I don't mean words like "synergy" or "workflow optimization." I simply mean that I don't expect a neurosurgeon to understand exhibition terms and I don't expect to understand the nuances of synaptic connections. I just know that I want everyone in that operating theater to understand the terms and know how to do their job.

As for the the broader cultural issues, yes, it is true that white supremacy and patriarchy are huge parts of a lot of culty institutions. They are also a major part of the larger culture. Trying to leave the patriarchy or white supremacy as a cultural norm requires more than what it takes to leave a cult. While it might not be easy to change your job or leave a community of faith, it can be done with a minimum of paperwork. Leaving the patriarchy entirely requires leaving the country. A more difficult act to pull off than say, deciding that maybe you don't want to attend the church that makes you walk behind your husband because you are a lesser being. Same with trying to leave white supremacy. It's baked into the culture--you can work against these things, you can be aware of how it impacts you and others, but fully leaving it requires either emigrating to another country or setting up a separatist group, that ironically, would be a little culty.

The authors do stipulate that all of these things are on a spectrum or sliding scale, so perhaps I'm getting too tied up on the semantics here... but they would be the first to point out that semantics are a lot of the point.

[Destiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

You want critical thinking and mental defense installment/improvement? Read this author. I discovered her on YouTube and bought her first book from there, and was eagerly awaiting The Culting of America, knowing it would be interesting and revealing as hell.

If you're wanting to learn about propaganda, manipulation, how you can be in a bad situation and not know it, and generally feed your brain and learn/work on your critical thinking/mental defense, I highly recommend this author for her analysis and insights.

Her first book Uncultured is also a read I recommend, although warning that the memoire is extremely upsetting and horrifying, she talks very directly about childhood abuse and her resulting mental state.
(to be clear this is not a criticism of Uncultured, these serious topics should be talked about and not glossed over or invisibilised, my words are more just meant as a note to potential readers who may be more sensitive to these topics, I know that when I started reading The Handmaid's Tale or Brave New World, I stopped a few chapters in and didn't just binge read the books because they're very disturbing reads, and although these conversations are very important, they're also, of course, very upsetting, and it's important to think of one's own mental health and wellbeing, and not overdose on traumatic litterature, literary self regulation I guess, I'm an emotional neurodivergent person, so I'm also talking from a place of being someone who discovered feelings of anger and injustice as a tween reading The Bartimaeus Trilogy and His Dark Materials and was literally ranting and pacing outside from the feelings I got from reading a fictional story no less, literature can really make you feel a lot in your own real life)

Watching her videos as well is a combination of learning/insight/realisation ("omg I hadn't thought of that you're right!") and validation/"I knew it!" where she'll say things that you may have somewhat thought yourself, but not as strongly or clearly, and her confirming them is an explanation for your own thoughts. There are many topics I have opinions on, some are opinions that others might disagree with, and her videos make are very validating and eye-opening, making you realise something's a bigger deal than you thought.

Daniella Mestyanek Young is one of the most incredible and insightful people I've ever read/listened to and I'm so glad I discovered her on YouTube.

[Rick Maloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pre-ordered the book months ago, and it arrived last week. I highly recommend this book!

THE CULTING OF AMERICA offers a compelling and unsettling exploration of cults, examining how they form, why people join them, and the lasting impact they have on individuals and society. Rather than portraying cult members as naïve or irrational, the author approaches the subject with empathy and psychological insight, emphasizing that cults often prey on universal human needs such as belonging, purpose, and certainty.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its focus on the mechanisms of influence used by cult leaders. Through detailed case studies and historical examples, the author illustrates how techniques like isolation, repetition, love-bombing, fear, and charismatic authority are used to gain and maintain control. These sections are particularly effective because they show that cult manipulation is often gradual and subtle, making it difficult for members to recognize what is happening until they are deeply embedded.

The writing style is clear and accessible, balancing academic research with real-life stories. Personal accounts from former cult members add emotional depth and authenticity, allowing readers to understand the psychological toll of cult involvement. These narratives are often disturbing but necessary, highlighting the long-term consequences of emotional, financial, and sometimes physical abuse. The author avoids sensationalism, choosing instead to let facts and testimonies speak for themselves.

Another notable aspect of the book is its relevance to modern society. The author draws parallels between traditional cults and contemporary movements, including extremist groups, certain self-help organizations, and even aspects of social media culture. This broader perspective encourages readers to think critically about influence and manipulation in everyday life, making the book feel timely and important.

Overall, this book is a thoughtful, well-researched, and deeply human examination of cults. It challenges stereotypes, promotes empathy for survivors, and equips readers with tools to recognize manipulation in many forms. Whether read for academic interest or personal curiosity, it is a valuable and eye-opening work that leaves a lasting impression.