Going Clear

Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief

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Lawrence Wright: Going Clear (2013, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group)

448 pages

English language

Published March 3, 2013 by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

ISBN:
978-0-385-35056-3
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4 stars (29 reviews)

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief is a 2013 non-fiction book about Scientology written by Lawrence Wright. The book contains interviews with current and former Scientologists, the histories of founder L. Ron Hubbard and current leader David Miscavige, and analysis of the relationships of Tom Cruise and John Travolta to the organization. In an interview with The New York Times Wright said that "There are a lot of people out there who were very high up in the church and know a lot about it who have become outspoken... I'm very lucky to come along at a time when a lot of these people are ready to talk". Wright also disclosed that he has received "innumerable" letters threatening legal action from lawyers representing Scientology and celebrities who belong to it. Wright spoke to two hundred current and former Scientologists for the book. It was originally published in …

6 editions

Review of 'Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

By far one of the most engrossing pieces of investigative reporting I've gotten into. Lawrence Wright has an uncanny ability to suck you in and keep you reading, even if you already have some prerequisite knowledge of Scientology's turbulent history.

For those who have seen the HBO documentary of the same name and are concerned that the book is much of a retread: It absolutely isn't. While the situations in the documentary are described in greater length in the book, there's a number of other situations presented that are completely separate from the film.

Review of 'Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Good read for those interested in cults, generally, or Scientology in particular. The author's factual research is excellent, but I wish he'd tied it together with more "how" and "why": How did L. Ron Hubbard get so many people to follow him? Why does Scientology continue to hold so much sway over so many people? Anyway, the thesis of the book is pretty well summarized by this bit from the epilogue: "Many current and former Scientologists have attested to the value of their training and the insight they derived from their study of the religion. They have the right to believe whatever they choose. But it is a different matter to use the protections afforded a religion by the First Amendment to falsify history, to propagate forgeries, and to cover up human-rights abuses."

Review of 'Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief' on 'LibraryThing'

4 stars

When the Dianetics movement subsided, Hubbard was unable to restore the momentum that had given it such a rocket-powered launch. Imitators and competitors came onto the field, some even rivaling Hubbard himself. He was determined not to make the same mistakes with Scientology. From now on, he would exercise total control. His word was law. He was not just the founder, he was “Source”—the last word, whose every pronouncement was scripture.



MASTURBATION CHAIN. 1st incident embryo. 80 succeeding incidents. Mother masturbating with fingers, jolting child and injuring child with orgasm.

Some times, the line between genius and madness is blurred. With scientology, it is not.As with all cults, dismissing them as stuff that only affects weak-minded persons, I think is utterly wrong and dangerous. And yes, I am referring to other things than just watching Tom Cruise freak out on furniture.Most of my friends know a lot about the scientology …

Review of 'Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

When the Dianetics movement subsided, Hubbard was unable to restore the momentum that had given it such a rocket-powered launch. Imitators and competitors came onto the field, some even rivaling Hubbard himself. He was determined not to make the same mistakes with Scientology. From now on, he would exercise total control. His word was law. He was not just the founder, he was “Source”—the last word, whose every pronouncement was scripture.



MASTURBATION CHAIN. 1st incident embryo. 80 succeeding incidents. Mother masturbating with fingers, jolting child and injuring child with orgasm.

Some times, the line between genius and madness is blurred. With scientology, it is not.As with all cults, dismissing them as stuff that only affects weak-minded persons, I think is utterly wrong and dangerous. And yes, I am referring to other things than just watching Tom Cruise freak out on furniture.Most of my friends know a lot about the scientology …

Review of 'Going Clear' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

When the Dianetics movement subsided, Hubbard was unable to restore the momentum that had given it such a rocket-powered launch. Imitators and competitors came onto the field, some even rivaling Hubbard himself. He was determined not to make the same mistakes with Scientology. From now on, he would exercise total control. His word was law. He was not just the founder, he was “Source”—the last word, whose every pronouncement was scripture.



MASTURBATION CHAIN. 1st incident embryo. 80 succeeding incidents. Mother masturbating with fingers, jolting child and injuring child with orgasm.



Some times, the line between genius and madness is blurred. With scientology, it is not.

As with all cults, dismissing them as stuff that only affects weak-minded persons, I think is utterly wrong and dangerous. And yes, I am referring to other things than just watching Tom Cruise freak out on furniture.

Most of my friends know a lot about …

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