September 2021: Your Mind on Plants
Have you even really lived if you haven’t been part of a quasi cult? This month rocked with several of my favorite nonfiction reads of the year. One book I’m already looking forward to rereading is Amanda Montell’s *Cultish.* Using language as a lens, Montell analyzes the social science of cult influence with an enrapturing take on power and belief. Engaging and intriguing, Montell argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community, and us/them attitudes all comes down simple words and phrases.
“Language change is always reflective of social change, and over the decades, as our sources, of connections and existential purpose has shifted due to the phenomena like social media, increased globalization, and withdrawal from traditional religion we've seen the rise of more alternative subgroups-some dangerous, some not so much. ‘Cult’ has evolved to describe them all.”
— Amanda Montell, *Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism*
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*Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism* by Amanda Montell (NF) // [Psychology; linguistics: Absolutely fantastic. Even better than *Wordslut*—Montell rocks it.]
*This Is Your Mind On Plants* by Michael Pollan (NF) // [Science; ecology: *How to Change Your Mind* was one of my favorite books of 2019—this book is right up there with it. Pollan has a knack for informative jaunts through botanical history and the impact on culture, globalization, and consciousness.]
*Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals* by Oliver Burkeman (NF) // [Productivity; philosophy: Not your typical time management book and a great reminder to seek out wonder and prioritize what you can while embracing your finitude. Less FOMO, more JOMO.]
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*Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers* by Sady Doyle (NF) // [Feminism; horror: A gripping and fascinating mix of women’s history as viewed through pop culture and true crime, it is darkly humorous, and genuinely thought provoking—HIGHLY recommend to all women.]
*White* by Bret Easton Ellis (NF) // [Essays; social commentary: I REALLY enjoyed this. It was fantastic backstory to Bret's work and life in Hollywood. “There was a romance to that analog era, an ardency, an otherness that is missing in the post-Empire digital age where everything has ultimately come to feel disposable.”]
*You Got Anything Stronger?* by Gabrielle Union (NF) // [Memoir: Just as good if not better than *We’re Going to Need More Wine,* Union gets honest, vulnerable, and real.]
*Facebook: The Inside Story* by Steven Levy (NF) // [Business; technology: Interesting, and thorough history even though I’m not a fan of the company or its founder—could have been a tad shorter, and not so awestruck over Zuc. I still think of this one especially in light of recent events.]
*The Plot* by Jean Hanff Korelitz (F) // [Mystery; thriller: A unique and clever book about books and writing, what’s not to love?]
*Lazarus (Joona Linna #7)* by Lars Kepler (F) // [Nordic noir; crime thriller: I’ve read these all out of order, and still have books 3 and 6 to go—written by a husband and wife team, they follow Detective Superintendent Joona as he hunts bad guys in Sweden.]
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*The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds* by Michael Lewis (NF) // [Psychology; biography: Actually pretty interesting ... although mostly just about these two guys (Israeli psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky) who worked together and were really smart about it. Like Nobel Prize smart.]
*No One Is Talking About This* by Patricia Lockwood (F) // [Literary; satire: A strange book that feels like 2 very different books: Part I is heavy on the social media commentary, Part II deals with life, death, and family tragedy.]
*Hostage* by Clare Mackintosh (F) // [Thriller; mystery: Okay, definitely not bad. I probably read it too close to *Falling* by T.J. Newman, which was better in my opinion.]
*All's Well* by Mona Awad (F) // [Dark humor; horror: Bizarre, difficult, uncomfortable—I almost quit as the beginning is just a lot of complaining. It gets weirder and weirder, so I stuck it out.]
*A Woman Is No Man* by Etaf Rum (F) // [Historical Middle Eastern: Was definitely influenced by bookstagram; not my typical read. Rather depressing.]
*In My Dreams I Hold a Knife* by Ashley Winstead (F) // [Thriller; mystery: Went into this with high expectations based mostly on the title; didn’t guess all the twists though.]
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*Needful Things* by Stephen King (F) // [Horror; thriller: Big SK fan, but out of 42 books read, this is in my bottom three along with *Drunken Fireworks* and *Elevation.*]
