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.

● A timely and provocative exploration of cult dynamics across American life—from religion, politics, and military culture to fandoms, corporations, wellness culture, and beyond
● Speaks to readers of pop culture, sociology, memoir, and investigative nonfiction
● Timely and relevant in an age of conspiracy theories, extremism, and eroding trust in institutions
● Lead author is popular social media influencer “Knitting Cult Lady” and author of critically acclaimed memoir Uncultured (St. Martin’s, 2022)
● Offers a “cultiness spectrum” as a new framework for understanding coercion, belonging, and control
● For fans of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
● Includes a reader discussion guide—ideal for book clubs, college courses, and conversations around identity, power, and belief
● Publishing in tandem with accompanying workbook: Unculture Yourself: A Workbook for Reclaiming Your Mind