Going Clear

Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief

By: Lawrence Wright

Narrated by: Morton Sellers

Length: 17 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

National Book Award Finalist

A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower, the now-classic study of al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attack. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists—both famous and less well known—and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative ability to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology.

At the book’s center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion. And his successor, David Miscavige—tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church after the death of Hubbard.

We learn about Scientology’s complicated cosmology and special language. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are used to advance the church’s goals. And we meet the young idealists who have joined the Sea Org, the church’s clergy, signing up with a billion-year contract.

In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of this constitutional protection. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding, and shaping a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that reveals the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is.

©2013 Lawrence Wright (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Brings a clear-eyed, investigative fearlessness to Scientology . . . a rollicking, if deeply creepy, narrative ride, evidence that truth can be stranger even than science fiction." (The Washington Post)

“A hotly compelling read. It’s a minutiae-packed book full of wild stories.” (The New York Times)

“An utterly necessary story. . . . A feat of reporting.” (The Wall Street Journal)

Wow. Just wow.

My only knowledge about Scientology was driving by their building in Los Angeles and seeing tabloid gossip.

I had NO idea what a crazy group this was.

The book takes you from the beginning of L Ron Hubbard's life to when he wrote science fiction, to when he decided to start a new "religion," to the rise of the "church," to Tom Cruise's marriage with Katie Holmes. (I wonder how the book would have addressed the breakup.) I didn't realize there was a Scientology group who rode the high seas and that there were different "bases" in the United States.

Although their beliefs aren't much different than any other religion, the group is friggin' scary. They hold church members "prisoner" if they do not follow certain standards and they chase down members who leave.

The book gives good examples of how normal people would get caught up in this craziness and crazy became normal.

Highly recommended.

Fascinating but very long

Fascinating but very long. Hard to follow all the characters and story sometimes but enlightening! I recommend others to listen!

Shocking story of man manipulating men

It is amazing how gullible people can be. To be controlled by a man with no moral compass is indeed perplexing and disappointing.

Left me dumb struck.

I always had a mild fascination with Scientology and cults in general (after reading the book, I think you'll agree that "cult" is not too strong of a word). Most of my understanding of the religion was through wikipedia articles and blogs. I found it interesting, but figured my impression was being somewhat skewed to be overly negative.

It is broken into 3 sections, as the title kinda implies. The first section is about the life of L. Ron Hubbard, the church's larger than life founder. I thought this was the most interesting section because every other minute there would be some insane anecdote that literally had me shouting to myself (Hubbard's dabbling in satanic rituals, the time he led a military ship on a hunt for a non-existent submarine, the fiasco of an alleged psychic that he trained being grilled by the media at a press conference). The next section shifts the focus to the church's recruitment of celebrities and an orchestrated coup to take control of the church after L. Ron passes. The last section focuses on members of the church trying to leave it behind. In particular, it focuses on famous director Paul Haggis.

The book is always fascinating. It never feels like a hatchet job either. The author often portrays many church members sympathetically and he does give the arguments others have made that Scientology can have a positive effect on peoples' lives and that it is no less valid than other religions.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks during my long commute and I'm usually reluctant to get one that is kinda long because I figure I'll get bored of it quickly. That wasn't the case with this. I was excited to sit in the car for 2 hours to listen to more.

Great book!!

Really interesting insight into this secretive cult, its creator and current leader! Maybe now IRS will reinvestigate their tax status.

Eye-opening Account

Where does Going Clear rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was one of the best recent books I've "read". The detailed research is unimpeachable.

Who was your favorite character and why?

L. Ron Hubbard has to be my favorite character. His story is about as unbelievable as the pulp he wrote in the 1930s: science-fiction writer turned self-help guru turned messiah. You can't make this stuff up!

What does Morton Sellers bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Sellers brings out and enhances the narrative. His tempo is perfect, allowing the listener to picture everything happening while never feeling like the story is dragging.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me laugh at the absurdity of Scientology, especially given the objective stance Wright gives to the religion. Wright goes to great lengths to place scientology in historical perspective. His epilogue examines Scientology in comparison to other religions, and he does a great job at explaining how questions of faith, from the perspective of someone outside the religion, always appear illogical and silly. This goes for Scientology as for Christianity. (Think of the virgin birth, for instance). And yet even with this disclaimer the belief system is so irrational, so unscientific (some events that the religion chronicles occurred before the beginning of the universe) that one has to chuckle at times when it is systematically described.

Moreover, Hubbard himself, as his biography reveals, is a charlatan of charlatans - in the end, maybe, even fooling himself.

Riveting

Eesh this story is BANANAS. I feel terrible for everyone caught up in this cult.

This Reader is Kakan

A bad reader ruins a great book faster than an SP injects body thetans into a PTS. But when I heard this guy talk I was immediately just like ... pffft. Great tone, speed, articulation, perfect. This man is Kakan.

must read and a real eye opener. <br />Ron L Hubbard<br /><br />

Ron L Hubbard shows true marketing genius, crazy as is it is, by creating a religion and turning into a business for an income and then a legacy.

Amazing and shocking

What did you love best about Going Clear?

This is a page turner - I sped up the reading to 1.25 to get through the book more quickly. There are some real jaw-dropper moments that blew my mind. Many of the anecdotes are appalling. But it is very, very thorough and well-researched. The narrator is excellent. This is one of the best non-fiction books I've read in a very long time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hearing about David Miscavige is like rubber necking on the highway. You want to look away but can't.

What about Morton Sellers’s performance did you like?

Emphatic voice, lovely tone, very listenable

Any additional comments?

I wanted to start a book club and found two other friends to listen to this as well. You do not want to experience this book without having another person to talk to - so much of it is really intense that it helps to share the moment with others.