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)

Listen with a friend

I’m in awe of the amount of research that went into this book. It is dense, it is long, the narrator is a bit dry, but this book was never a slog because the story is so consistently engaging. The order of events and facts flows naturally and is very well told. My only regret is that I no one else I know has read or listened to this book, because I always wanted to talk about the insane, horrific, and tragic stories told. Well worth the listen.

Informative, slow at first, picks up momentum

Would you recommend Going Clear to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, if you want want a lot of details and a comprehensive history of LRH

Going clear

Fantastic. I had the pleasure of being snowed in and fully charged wireless headphones. I listened for 15 hours straight as I worked in my art studio on 1.5x speed. Holy cow. I loved. Highly recommended.

fascinating

really interesting. it's really two books...a biography of LRH and a description of Scientology.

not as much in the daily lives of 'regular' Scientology members, as i'd like but they are probably prevented from discussing it with anyone.

truth is stranger than fiction.

Page turner; wonderfully researched.

I read this book only a week or so after finishing "Inside Scientology" by Janet Reitman. Obviously I would be comparing one book to the other throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed each book, and was glad to have read Reitman's book beforehand, so I had some background going into this one.

This audiobook contained a very large section on L Ron Hubbard's life (much more than Inside Scientology). The reader will learn more about his pre-scientology life for sure. It is apparent how crazy, mean, devious, and truly awful he was, regardless of his obvious talent and the enormous impact he had on people.

During the first half of the book, I was surprised by how many details there were which were not in the Reitman book. The second half of the book deals with the David Misgavich era; the post-LRH era. During this half of the book I was surprised by how much of the information was exactly the same as in Reitman's book.

This is a very well written, entertaining book. You will be able to listen to it straight through over the course of a few days or weeks without feeling the need to take a break.

As a final note, for those who like to "speed listen," the narrator is ideal.

This is the most disgusting excuse for a religion I have come across since Mormonism.

It made me nauseated to listen to how these people are treated, knowing it is still happening.

Wow! Unbelievable

Very informative and packed full of historical detail about Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard. Eye opening! Narration was really good.

Informative

This was a really interesting read, just couldn't stop listening. I really enjoyed the narrator and the footnotes.

Worth every second

I have listened to this book three or four times and it never loses its grip. Fascinating story,well told, well read. The reader is perfectly matched to the theme. Please publish Paulette Cooper's book.

Amazing

Well written, heavily researched. Loved this book and am just floored by the intensity. I would have never known the details.