The co-editor of Kink and the author of Cultish discuss what “cults” and kink have in common (and more). As someone who exclusively writes books on topics that tend to make people squirm — sex, feminism, religion, and cults — sometimes I wonder why I can’t be one of those…

A follower entrenched in cultish ideology will not respond well to these phrases — “My brother got caught up with QAnon, and now he won’t speak to me.” “My best friend is obsessed with this sketchy New Age guru, and I don’t know how to talk to her anymore.” “I think my dad is in a cult. How do I convince him to leave?” …

‘Slut’ and ‘hussy’ used to have tame meanings. Then, like so many other feminine nouns, they came to mean ‘prostitute’ — If you want to insult a woman, call her a prostitute. If you want to insult a man, call him a woman. Nearly every word the English language offers to describe a woman has, at some point during its lifespan, been colored some shade of obscene. The main piece of…

I don’t know if there were other kids. So far no one I’ve asked has confirmed. I’ll probably never be sure if on different days or in different cities, other sixth graders were tracing my footsteps at the public library. Nervously shuffling past the popular reads — Harry Potter, A…

It’s been a good year for Benedict Cumberbatch. I’m not talking calendar year; I’m referring to the Hollywood year, the one that starts in October when all the potentially Oscar-nominated films start coming out, and ends in February after the awards are distributed. For the remaining months, all respected figures…

A Linguist Explains Why Female Award Show Hosts are Funnier. I’m making myself a cheese plate for the Golden Globes. Blue cheese, manchego, a truffle flavored varietal. There’s just something about watching an awards show that makes you want to splurge. I’m hoping a handsome man trips, or that Tina and Amy offend someone wearing diamonds. It is their last…