Comments (14)

Inside Scientology

the Story of America's Most Secretive Religion
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Oct 27, 2022SCL_WeiLing rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book was my first introduction to the origins, history and practices of Scientology and I thought it was comprehensive and well-researched, supported by an abundance of interviews with ex-Scientology members and authentic materials…
Mar 31, 2018naturalist rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
“100 Must-Read Books About Life in Cults and Oppressive Religious Sects” by Elizabeth Allen. posted January 27, 2017, at Book Riot https://bookriot.com/2017/01/27/100-must-read-books-about-life-in-cults/
May 24, 2016Buff_K rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
For the most an interesting read, but probably a little too detailed and long without enough dirt to keep me interested the whole time. Interesting for those studying the cult or Hubbard himself, but I felt needed more individual…
Apr 22, 2016abcDena rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This book didn't really tell me anything new about Scientology, and the dirt on celebs wasn't dirty enough. I want FILTH! However, it does shed a more human light on old L. Ron, so I'm giving it a generous 2-star rating for that and…
Feb 20, 2016rpavlacic rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A mostly balanced look at America's most controversial religion. Two things that disturbed me - the life and suspicious death of Lisa MacPherson at the Clearwater "retraining" centre, and the fact that both Kelly Preston and Kirstie Alley…
Apr 23, 2015SeattleSaul rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Janet Reitman takes a well-balanced approach to a controversial subject and enigmatic leader. She exposes in great detail--perhaps too detailed for some--all the negatives of this recently invented religion but without vindictiveness. …
Apr 01, 2015
I think I'm almost finished with my fascinating Scientology bender. I just can't get enough of these crazy kids. It makes me highly suspicious of the general public that they fall for such mythologies, hell any mythology. Especially when…
Nov 17, 2014Persnickety77 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Very interesting and bizarre, as Scientology usually is. Her writing style is a little dry, so I wasn't sucked in, but it was enjoyable and easy to read, in any case. It's hard to say how objective the book is; really she has to go on…
May 07, 2014StarGladiator rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Sometimes something is so banal or mundane, it becomes lost in the telling. The origin of scientology was a story outline offered in sympathy to Hubbard, a failed SF writer, by the successful SF author, Robert A. Heinlein. [Hubbard…
Feb 12, 2014Janice21383 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The author tries, lord how she tries, to be evenhanded. But a factual history of Scientology has no option but to show the church (mental health treatment? social movement? self-improvement program? pyramid scheme?) to be both ridiculous…
Mar 19, 2013Peredur111 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A very well written account of one of the world's scariest organizations. Reitman really did her homework in putting this book together, taking the reader deep inside the most secretive "church" on the planet. From L. Ron Hubbard's…
Feb 01, 2013daeb rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Well-written and meticulously researched. Sourced from the usual places, not much new. Covers Lisa McPherson's death pretty well, but by no means exhaustively. Perhaps too even-handed;anyone who's reading this kind of material isn't…
Jun 21, 2012adelaideblair rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Engrossing and informative account of a group that does not want their dirty laundry on the record. Very well written and very interesting
Jul 15, 201122950006357453 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
ALL HAIL LORD XENU!