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

by Daniella Mestyanek Young (Author), Amy Reed (Author)

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 hidden structures of power and control that shape our lives. Raised in the notorious sex cult the Children of God, Daniella escaped to America as a teenager--only to find herself drawn into another high-control institution: the U.S. Army. Years later, as a Harvard-trained expert in organizational psychology, she began asking a radical question:

What if we're all in cults?

Blending personal narrative, cultural critique, and deep research, Young--together with award-winning author Amy Reed--introduces the cultiness spectrum: a ten-part framework for identifying how coercive group behavior shows up in spaces we trust, from extremist sects to corporate offices, political movements, social media communities, 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 wellness culture to partisan politics, The Culting of America reveals how cultish dynamics aren't just surviving in modern life--they're thriving. And they're often hiding in plain sight.

With sharp analysis, wit, and unflinching honesty, The Culting of America is both a warning and a guide. It's for anyone who's ever felt trapped in a group they believed in, who's started to question the cost of belonging, or who's ready to reclaim their autonomy without giving up connection.

Because the question isn't "Am I in a cult?"

It's "What cults am I already in--and what will it cost to leave?"

Back Jacket

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

Most of us think we'd never fall for a cult. We picture robes, chanting, and remote compounds. But toxic groups don't just exist on the fringe. They thrive in boardrooms, group chats, fitness classes, political rallies, religious groups, and corporate retreats--anywhere we seek identity, purpose, and belonging. 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.

In The Culting of America, cult survivor, scholar, and former Army intelligence officer Daniella Mestyanek Young--author of the bestselling memoir Uncultured--teams up with award-winning writer Amy Reed to dismantle the illusion that cults are rare or easy to spot. Blending gripping personal narrative, cultural critique, and deep research, they introduce the cultiness spectrum: a ten-part framework that reveals how coercive group behavior shows up across all kinds of groups--from extremist movements to our most trusted institutions--exploring the fine line between community and control, devotion and exploitation, and leadership and manipulation.

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.

Author Biography

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.

She now lives in Maryland with her 10-year-old teenager (it's a vibe), a retired special operations helicopter pilot turned plant scientist, 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.

Amy Reed is an editor and author best known for her award-winning young adult novels, including The Nowhere Girls and Beautiful. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where she talks to trees, edits nonfiction books, and is at work on her first novel for adults.