Lawrence Wright's book, "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief," offers a deep dive into the controversial world of Scientology, from its origins with L. Ron Hubbard to its present-day status under David Miscavige's leadership. The book uncovers the secretive practices of the church, including billion-year contracts, abusive punishments, and the involvement of high-profile celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Wright's writing style is captivating, combining clear, informative storytelling with a touch of humor and disbelief as he exposes the inner workings of the church and its impact on both members and society at large.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of psychological abuse, physical abuse, manipulation, and cult dynamics.
From The Publisher:
The Basis for the HBO Documentary. A National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist.
Scientology presents itself as a scientific approach to spiritual enlightenment, but its practices have long been shrouded in mystery. Now Lawrence Wright-armed with his investigative talents, years of archival research, and more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists-uncovers the inner workings of the church. We meet founder L. Ron Hubbard, the highly imaginative but mentally troubled science-fiction writer, and his tough, driven successor, David Miscavige. We go inside their specialized cosmology and language. We learn about the church's legal attacks on the IRS, its vindictive treatment of critics, and its phenomenal wealth. We see the church court celebrities such as Tom Cruise while consigning its clergy to hard labor under billion-year contracts. Through it all, Wright asks what fundamentally comprises a religion, and if Scientology in fact merits this Constitutionally-protected label. Brilliantly researched, compellingly written, Going Clear pulls back the curtain on one of the most secretive organizations at work today.
A New York Times Notable Book
A Best Book of the Year: The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, New York magazine,Slate, Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post, Newsday, Entertainment Weekly, People, The Week, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews
A GoodReads Reader's Choice
Ratings (10)
Incredible (3) | |
Loved It (5) | |
It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (20):
Read It (10) | |
Want To Read (8) | |
Not Interested (2) |
2 comment(s)
This book was super interesting, I just couldn't get myself to finish it. Reading it just made me too depressed and paranoid. I may try again because the historical information was so great, but...I just couldn't finish it right now.
It's not that this isn't good - it's that I have zero patience to read about a lying narcissist. So Wright actually does a great job of drawing out Hubbard's character, to the point that I can't stand to read about him because he sucks so much.
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Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief?
About the Author:
LAWRENCE WRIGHT is a staff writer for The New Yorker, a playwright, a screenwriter, and the author of ten books of nonfiction, including The Looming Tower, Going Clear, and God Save Texas. His recent novel, The End of October, was a New York Times best seller. Wright's books have received…
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