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)

Glimpse inside a frightening world

Tracing Scientology from its beginning to the present, this book answers many of the questions I've had about this strange belief system, beginning with a look at its founder, L. Ron Hubbard.. Also fascinating: the trial of the Florida woman whose death is, apparently, directly attributable to Scientology -- and the celebrity campaign. The book makes it clear that this is a business, not a religion - and one that employes the most brutal and cutthroat tactics to ensure its profitablilty.

Interesting

I was born in Clearwater and raised in the general area so it was interesting to read more about all the people I used to see walking around in the same suits all the time growing up. I really have nothing against Scientology, it's a free country (well used to be anyways) so do whatever you want.

With that said it's pretty amazing anyone would take this "religion" seriously. Most religions are pretty silly however or just flat out dangerous, for example Muhammad's parents were rock farmers (look it up) and he married a 6 year old and consummated the marriage at 9 -- he's a pretty awful person and the story of that religion is truly disturbing. However since it's old enough people believe in it --Scientology is newer so it gets mocked more. However if I had to live in Clearwater or Mecca, well I think everyone knows which I'd choose.

Anyways the book is quite entertaining and provides a good background on Scientology, there is so much covered and I don't want to give anything away so I'll just leave it at that.

The reader does a great job hitting in setting the proper tone for the book.

I had no real interest in Scientology itself, just about it's background and this book did a great job of fulfilling those requirements.

IN DEPTH

Would you listen to Inside Scientology again? Why?

Probably not. Not because I didn't enjoy it. Since it is an informative, non fiction book I would be unlikely to retread it. I might refer to sections though.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

How throughly it was researched.

What about Stephen Hoye’s performance did you like?

It was all over well done.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Learned for this

Would you listen to Inside Scientology again? Why?

I enjoyed the book and education behind the "religion"

Did Stephen Hoye do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

yes but I expected a female narrator because the book was written by a female

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Astounding, informative, and terrifying

I really appreciate the author making every effort to write an objective book about a controversial subject. Reading this book makes you realize that even without nuance, the facts in this story are absolutely chilling. Anyone who has any interest in the Church of Scientology should absolutely read this book.

I was in the wrong mood.

This booked bored me in parts.

I don’t really care about the details of L Ron Hubbard's life, but I suppose if you’re going to tell the story of Scientology, you have to start from the start - I should have expected that.

I was also uninterested by the Sea Organization and reading about life on the boat was tedious, but once the story moved onto the death of Lisa McPherson, attracting celebrities, and “The Seduction of Tom Cruise” etc my interest perked up.

I guess I was looking for something more gossipy than educational.

Well balanced.

Comprehensive and well-balanced. Good history from many different perspectives. Also read "Going Clear" - both are similar and good. Done.

Scientology Exposed.

Where does Inside Scientology rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

[unsert sarcastic response] - what a silly question

What was one of the most memorable moments of Inside Scientology?

The Lisa McPherson story of course, but actually the story of the young woman raised in Scientology who is preparing to enter law school. Its a small bit and really not detailed much until the epilogue. But I would like to hear more about her.

Which scene was your favorite?

Loved the CEO forcing his staff to play musical chairs to see who would lose their jobs.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Someone else thinks psychiatry and big pharma are dangerous.

Any additional comments?

What I did not get from the book was the essence of what attracts a cohort of generally intelligent group of people into such an insane and dysfunctional world. I liked this book because it confirmed my suspicions that LRHubbard was brilliant but schizophrenic. It also demonstrated the degree to which people will tolerate intolerable conditions to meet some undefined inner need. I want to know more about the actual religious doctirne. Who is Chthluthu? Can we channel Xenu at our next dinner party?I want ot know what hooks them, though. What keeps people there once they've walked through the door the first time. I want to know more about the educational theories that LRH was espousing. MAny of the children educated under the system seem well educated, though indoctrinated. I'd go visit an org but I doubt that I'd be welcome. I'm a psychiatrist.

Will open your eyes about a very secret cult.

Would you consider the audio edition of Inside Scientology to be better than the print version?

I can't say.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Inside Scientology?

When you see how they treated one of their own, causing her death. Also the cover up after.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, I thought the narration was very good.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The book makes you want to listen to find out what else these people would do.

Any additional comments?

this covers a subject that is mostly hidden, but we have all heard. I had no idea that this cult was this bad. The things that they do and have done should be stopped and they should be in prison. This book really brings home the threat that this group presents to us all.

A Different Twist on Scientology

I have read Jenna Miscavage Hill's book and Leah Remini's book, yet Janet Reitman's account of Scientology had me come away with a less emotional, more factual viewpoint. I have realized that it's not the concept of Scientology that I object to, but the monster of a for-profit 'religion' that RLH perpetuated and DM magnified to the point where profit and obedience to their master exceeded loyalty to a principle or goal. It's the concept of a corporation thinly veiled as a religion that bothers me, not to mention the cruelty to Sea Org members that is beyond disgusting.

This book is a factual accounting of the rise of this business, the people at the top, the celebrities that it courts, and the poor people that get sucked in at such a young age that they are molded to believe there is nowhere else in the world for them to belong. Listening to how they literally have to escape from Gold Base as if it were a federal penitentiary is truly beyond belief.

It is time for the Church of Scientology to be held accountable for the deplorable conditions the Sea Org members are forced to live in, the work camp attitude that they are brainwashed to believe is for the greater good, the deaths (ie. Lisa McPherson) that they have been responsible for, goodness... I could go on and on.

This book is definitely worth the read! I almost wish I had read it before the other two to give me a better background from which to appreciate on a grander scale what these women have been through.

On that note, it is worth mentioning that the narration of this book is horribly slow. It actually kept putting me to sleep, but then I stepped up the speed, which made the narrative choppy, but at least tolerable.