Amanda Montell is a writer and linguist dedicated to exploring how language shapes and reflects our relationships and societal norms. Her work critically examines feminism and deconstructs how spoken language reinforces inequalities, offering readers an insightful look into everyday communication. Montell employs her expertise in linguistics to uncover hidden meanings and power dynamics within our words. Her writing is sharp, accessible, and prompts reflection on the potency of the language we wield.
In the modern information age, our brain’s coping mechanisms have been overloaded, and our irrationality turned up to eleven. Amanda Montell blends cultural criticism and personal narrative to explore our modern cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages and highlights of magical overthinking.
In the modern information age, our brain's coping mechanisms have been overloaded, and our irrationality turned up to eleven. Amanda Montell blends cultural criticism and personal narrative to explore our modern cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages and highlights of magical overthinking. Magical thinking can be broadly defined as the belief that one's internal thoughts can affect unrelated events in the external world. Whether that's manifesting their way out of poverty, staving off cancer with positive vibes, or transforming an unhealthy relationship to a glorious one through loyalty alone. In a series of razor sharp and introspective chapters, Montell delves into cognitive biases that run rampant in our brains, from how the halo effect cultivates worship (and hatred) of larger-than-life celebrities, to how the sunk cost fallacy can keep us in detrimental relationships long after they no longer serve us. Told with her signature brilliance and wit, Montell's prevailing message is one of hope and forgiveness for our anxiety riddled human self. If you have all but lost faith in our ability to reason through the noise of information overload, this book aims to make sense of the senseless. To crack open a window in our minds and let the fresh air in. To help quiet the cacophony for a while, and maybe, even hear a melody in it.
"From SoulCycle to Scientology, we're all obsessed with cults. Linguist Amanda Montell examines the language cults use to draw us in"--Provided by publisher
Even before its usage to mean a female canine, bitch didn't refer to women at all-it originated as a gender-neutral word for genitalia. A perfectly innocuous word devolving into an insult directed at females is the case for tons more terms, including hussy, which simply meant housewife;
Exploring the impact of gendered language, this book offers a bold and engaging feminist perspective on how words influence our perceptions and interactions. It delves into the nuances of language, revealing the often overlooked ways it reflects and reinforces societal norms. Through humor and insightful analysis, the author challenges readers to rethink their understanding of communication and its implications for gender equality.