Present Books As Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief
| Original Title: | Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief |
| ISBN: | 0307700666 (ISBN13: 9780307700667) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | L. Ron Hubbard |
| Literary Awards: | National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for Nonfiction (2013), Andrew Carnegie Medal Nominee for Nonfiction (2014), National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction (2013), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Nonfiction (2013) |
Lawrence Wright
Hardcover | Pages: 430 pages Rating: 4.03 | 36833 Users | 4347 Reviews
Representaion In Favor Of Books Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief
A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the now-classic study of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack, the Looming Tower. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with both current and former Scientologists--both famous and less well known--and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative skills to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology: its origins in the imagination of science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard; its struggles to find acceptance as a legitimate (and legally acknowledged) religion; its vast, secret campaign to infiltrate the U.S. government; and its dramatic efforts to grow and prevail after the death of Hubbard.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 L. Ron Hubbard--whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion tailor-made to prosper in the spiritually troubled post-World War II era. And his successor, David Miscavige--tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church in the face of ongoing scandals and continual legal assaults.
We learn about Scientology's esoteric cosmology; about the auditing process that determines an inductee's state of being; about the Bridge to Total Freedom, through which members gain eternal life. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how young idealists who joined the Sea Org, the church's clergy, whose members often enter as children, signing up with a billion-year contract and working with little pay in poor conditions. We meet men and women "disconnected" from friends and family by the church's policy of shunning critical voices. And we discover, through many firsthand stories, the violence that has long permeated the inner sanctum of the church.
In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of the constitutional protections achieved in its victory over the IRS. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observations, understanding, and synthesis, and his ability to shape a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that goes far beyond an immediate exposé and uncovers the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is.
Mention Out Of Books Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief
| Title | : | Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief |
| Author | : | Lawrence Wright |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 430 pages |
| Published | : | January 17th 2013 by Alfred A. Knopf |
| Categories | : | Nonfiction. Religion. History. Audiobook |
Rating Out Of Books Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief
Ratings: 4.03 From 36833 Users | 4347 ReviewsComment On Out Of Books Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief
What a terrible and scurrilous attack on a noble and helpful religion! What a libel against its honest and self-effacing founder and prophet, L. Ron Hubbard! And upon its current and not at all insane leader, David Miscavige, who is by no means a sadistic tyrant! And upon Tom Cruise, who is not at all a megalomaniacal weirdo!Psst...is everyone gone? Is it safe? Okay, I really liked this book. It's a hard hitting exposé of Scientology that has to be read to be believed. That first paragraph aboveI can't lie- I fell in love with Jesus at a young age....I was about 6 years old and my parents took me to see Jesus Christ Superstar. That was about the extent of my religious education.I was conflicted to who was more dreamy...Jesus...or Judas????In the end Jesus won out- not because of his morals... as a 6 year old I was attracted to both- but I am afraid I was just more attracted to Jesus...I mean seriously do you want to align yourself with the troubled man who hung himself from a tree- or
What a terrible and scurrilous attack on a noble and helpful religion! What a libel against its honest and self-effacing founder and prophet, L. Ron Hubbard! And upon its current and not at all insane leader, David Miscavige, who is by no means a sadistic tyrant! And upon Tom Cruise, who is not at all a megalomaniacal weirdo!Psst...is everyone gone? Is it safe? Okay, I really liked this book. It's a hard hitting exposé of Scientology that has to be read to be believed. That first paragraph above
"It is like history writ with lightning. My only regret is that it is all so terribly true."- Woodrow Wilson, on first viewing "The Birth of a Nation"In "Going Clear" Lawrence Wright does something that surprised me: he managed to make Scientology (or, at least, the people who run the Church) more repellant to me than they were going in, but he also manages to satisfactorily explain how such an organization could come to be and why people would follow it. This is a masterful feat.It's clear
Dear Lawrence Wright,Sincerely,Me* * *I'm finding it impossible to organize the hundreds of thoughts I have about this book.The only regret I have is that it could have been far more comprehensive...if That Authoritarian Cult had a cooperative bone in its twisted little body. But cooperation and "shadowy, secretive cult" are incompatible concepts. If David Miscavige hates Wright's end product, he had it within his power to cooperate because, if anything, Wright shows a willingness to be fair and
Incredibly interesting tale of L Ron Hubbard and Scientology. Wright considers all viewpoints and tries to help the reader understand what made Hubbard tick and why so many people followed his teachings. The most abhorrent aspects of Scientology were its totalitarian hold on the lives of its followers. Conformity at all costs: separating families, incarcerating people for minor "infractions" including non-conformism, spying, and rounding up runaways to bring them back. Everyone knows that John
Reading this I thought I'd learn more about Scientology's secret doctrine. Just what exactly do they teach at OT III (answer: it's crazy)... Who was L Ron Hubbard (answer: a crazy person, to say the least)... But this book is also a whole lot more. I was shocked to learn about many of the abuses perpetrated by church leaders against lower ranked Scientologists. Shocked to read about the level to which Tom Cruise and other celebrities are complicit in these abuses (especially Tom Cruise). I was
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