Why our brains turn so easily to TikTok ‘advisors,’ celebrities, and conspiracy theories

Author and linguist Amanda Montell says, ‘It can feel exhausting just to exist as a human in the world right now, but that’s not a personal problem. It’s because, in this ever-restless age, so many of us have become “magical overthinkers.”‘

Amanda Montell is a writer, linguist, and podcast host. She is the author of Wordslut and the bestseller Cultish and host of the podcast, Sounds Like a Cult. Her writing has also appeared in The New York Times, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and more. She holds a degree in linguistics from NYU.