Inside Scientology

The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion

By: Janet Reitman

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 15 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Scientology, created in 1954 by a prolific sci-fi writer named L. Ron Hubbard, claims to be the world's fastest-growing religion, with millions of members around the world and huge financial holdings. Its celebrity believers keep its profile high, and its teams of "volunteer ministers" offer aid at disaster sites such as Haiti and the World Trade Center. But Scientology is also a notably closed faith, harassing journalists and others through litigation and intimidation, even infiltrating the highest levels of government to further its goals. Its attacks on psychiatry and its requirement that believers pay as much as tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars for salvation have drawn scrutiny and skepticism. And ex-members use the Internet to share stories of harassment and abuse.

Now Janet Reitman offers the first full journalistic history of the Church of Scientology, in an even-handed account that at last establishes the astonishing truth about the controversial religion. She traces Scientology's development from the birth of Dianetics to today, following its metamorphosis from a pseudoscientific self-help group to a worldwide spiritual corporation with profound control over its followers and even ex-followers.

Based on five years of research, unprecedented access to church officials, confidential documents, and extensive interviews with current and former Scientologists, this is the defining book about a little-known world.

©2011 Janet Reitman (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A detailed and readable examination of the life of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the church, and his successor, David Miscavige." ( Publishers Weekly)

Clear at a cost

If you are looking for a book covering in detail what Scientology believes and its teachings, I would not recommend this be the first book on the subject you read. However, if you are looking for a historic outline of the organization, starting with its founder L. Ron Hubbard to near present time (2011), this book does an exceptional job telling that story. “Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion” by Janet Reitman, and well narrated by Stephen Hoye, is a high-level view of Scientology told not only from a reporter’s outside perspective, but the author herself was an involved for years within Scientology. The book includes stories not only from the author’s own experiences, but also current and former members of Scientology along with research uncovered along the way are also added.

This organization would not have been able to thrive apart from the many social aspects that were taking happening at the time. As with most other start up religions, it would have faded away into obscurity apart from its timing. Right after World War II, we saw a rise of some of the great science fiction writers who wanted to show us the future post wartime. There was also the rise of modernism and not far afterwards post-modernism. Scientology holds to many of the traditional Eastern religions philosophies of the mind along with one’s ability to modify reality by believing or not believing something. If you are ill, simply believe you are well and it could be so, etc. So, because Scientology was in the right place at the right time, it survived where many others have failed.

I was quite surprised to see how involved and driven Scientology is by what is discussed in the book. Recruitment was key and critical for its survival, even better if they could retain people who bore children in Scientology, it could grow from the inside out. This point of recruitment is driven into the reader’s minds starting on page one all the way to its end. The organization is focused on making money through sales of products, therapy sessions, and tithing. It developed itself like a franchise. The author even discussed how many of their business practices were taken from Mc Donald’s corporation. The desire of its followers was to become “clear”, or removed from the disruption of this life and world, but this came at a cost; both financially and time dedication. It was also interesting to see how Scientology adjusted over the years to market its belief system to people who are more influential of others; this started the move of bringing in the best of the best from Hollywood because they knew the influence such people had on a large portion of the population. Not only would this help to legitimize the “religion”, but it would also bring in large sums of money from the stars themselves and drive others to Scientology along with their money. The book somewhat, without outright saying it, shows Scientology to be a multi-level marketing program like Amway and others where those on the top all benefit from the work done by the lower ranks.

What I found fascinating was the coup that occurred near the end of the founder’s life and how easy it was for a single person to take the reins of this multimillion-dollar organization. A large portion of the book is spent covering this event and future chapters show the impact it had overall. There were also chapters dedicated to specific people who were involved and their tragic outcomes; Natalie and Lisa are two examples.

I wanted to say that although this book is a documentary, there are places where the author uses vulgar language when it is a part of a quote. Often when quoting Tom Cruise and other celebrities nearer the end of the book, yet there are a few other times they are sprinkled in. Just be aware if this book is being used for research purposes by younger readers. There are also some graphic depictions of death and suffering that may be quite intense for younger audiences. Apart from these two things, the writing was top notch and the book’s outline had a well-defined flow.

As others have stated, and I’m not sure why, but I would have like to have had a female narrator for this book. Stephen Hoye did a fantastic job, but the writing style and knowing the author was female I somewhat expected it to be narrated by a female. After the first chapter or so, I got over this feeling and enjoyed the voice of Mr. Hoye. It should also be noted that he is no stranger to narration on Audible, he has nearly 300 titles narrated at the time of this review.

In summary, this book is not a primer on Scientology but more a historical perspective of it. If you go into the book with this perspective, it is well worth the time spent and the knowledge gained. I would have liked to have had a few chapters dedicated to more beliefs and practices, but this was not part of the book’s scope. Although it is a bit dated, I still think the historical information is important for people not a part of Scientology to know and understand.

Extensive history of Scientology

Incredibly extensive history of Scientology, exposes the dark history of the "religion". learned a lot about this group that I had only vague notions of before.

Wow

Let's preface by saying, I am not nor have I ever been nor will I ever be a Scientologist. I am however an open minded and curious person.
I've enjoyed watching Leah Remini and Mike Rinder on their show about the aftermath of Scientology. It was there that I learned who Janet Reitman was and that she wrote a book seeing things from behind the public perception of Scientology.
I was enthralled with this book and listened to it every chance I got. I am amazed that people still in Scientology deny that there are horrible things going on in the upper levels of this organization (I refuse to call it a religion). There are first person accounts of wrong doing and abuse and still people choose to look the other way.
In the epilogue, one person's account said that "if" there has been wrong doing at the top, with DM then it was up to the people at the top, who have left, to make a change in how things were done. Are you kidding me? Just leaving the organization was like breaking out of prison. People are and we're being held against their will, forced to have abortions, get divorces, disconnect from family and friends. Going against DM in anyway could cause you bodily harm, inprisonment, manual and demeaning labor... how, I ask, how does one change things when you are at risk like that as are your loved ones.
This is a comprehensive and we'll written book and it just makes me want to learn more.
The only issued I had was that being that it was written by a woman, I would have rather enjoyed a female narrator... however the narrator did do an amazing job and has a great voice.
Awesome read.

fantastic

I loved this book! I'm not sure if all of it is true or not. Some parts seem quite far fetched, but I couldn't put this book down! It was written very well and streamline from the beginning of LRH's childhood up until the book publication. I like that she didn't attack the beliefs of the faith, but rather the extreme practices of the church. As she said, there were many people who she told their story that are still scientologists, but dislike the way the church is being ran. I definitely recommend this book!

great book

This book was very well put together. Easy to follow. A Must listen. So much information on Scientology.

Very detailed and very long

very detailed account about the "religion" almost too much. The history part on how it started was fascinating but it quickly droned into the same thing minute after minute.

Interesting story yet a bit confusing plot

What did you love best about Inside Scientology?

An amazing story about an amazing man and his organization. Yet another example of home brew religion coming out of the American experiment. Yet this one has tapped into something powerful that lies within all humans. L. Ron Hubbard discovered a weakness that is within all of us and was able to exploit it with frightening consequences.

My only negative would be a confusing storyline. I found myself lost in terms of the development of the "plot"

Great book. Really interesting.

I couldn't put this book down. Really well written - threads of specific characters carry you through the history of Scientology to the present. Scary stuff.

The go to book if you want unbiased opinion about Scientology and late LRH

The go to book if you want unbiased opinion about Scientology and late LRH

Always heard and read about it but never got a grip of what it really is till read this book!!

Not very exciting and sometimes dry but still couldn’t it it down till done!!

Fascinating and Frightening

This is the first time I have bothered to write a review...so bear with me. This topic is fascinating and left me feeling nauseous, frightened and completely amazed by what people will buy into! Everyone should read this book if they are at all interested in looking into how small interest groups with big money can influence the judicial system, local, federal and international governments. I disagree with other reviewers that the subject matter is dull - not at all - it is fascinating (granted I also like to listen to NPR) it is the narrator that is doing this book a HUGE disservice. HE IS BORING. Also - why is it read by a man when it was written by a woman and she occasionally writes in the first person? just wondering. If you don't mind slogging through the boring narration I say give it a go - otherwise read the book - BUT avoid looking up photos of those involved in wrongful death lawsuit on internet - some of them are very macabre.