Scared the Hell Out of Me

This book should be required reading/listening. The book seems to be very even handed in that, even in the closing words, the author balances his findings with a response from the organization.

Still, in spite of Church of Scientology denials, there is just too much evidence of very dangerous behavior. Germany got it right.

You know, I am a little fearful in posting this because Scientology strikes me as so dangerous and vindictive.

This is the Audible book I had to stop frequently because it is just so disturbing.

99 people found this helpful

Shockingly Great

This was a great book. I really found myself unable to put this down. I somewhat expected a dry, one sided, hatchet job. Instead this was detailed story starting with the early life of the clearly troubled founder of Scientology and continuing to the present day. I fully enjoyed the reading of every footnote. I did not really expect to, but I learned a lot. The writing and the narration were both quite compelling.

I have not been a fan of Scientology since a friend of mine joined, and after a few years called me having just escaped penniless and only wearing his underwear out of a window after a many hour auditing session with several people pointing out body thetons on him that were visible to them but not visible to my friend. I agree many of the ideas of Scientology are no weirder than any other religion, and I always thought the basic idea of auditing sounded interesting and potentially useful, but there does seem to be a pattern of secrecy and intimidation not seen elsewhere. This book presents a pattern of paranoia, violence; control, and hypocrisy with an intensity that is truly shocking. I would recommend anyone thinking about Scientology to read this book first.

107 people found this helpful

Brilliant and Scary

Where does Going Clear rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

For it's genre it's very good.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Going Clear?

The biography of Hubbard. He was so disturbed.

Any additional comments?

I didn't know much about Scientology. I knew they believed in aliens or we were aliens or something. After listening to this book I'm actually anxious for the poor people who are in the Sea Org. I really like the line in the book about people joining and being in religions, not because they are evil people but because they want to be better people, help people, help themselves. That's a noble desire, it's sad how people exploit others. I don't understand why anyone would want to be part of this "religion" unless you're Tom Cruise. Everyone else seems to be disposable and unimportant. For Tom Cruise it must be great, your own personal slave team and a religion set up where you can't do wrong. I always kind of thought he was a nutter, but now I think he's beyond narcissistic, maybe even sociopathic.

48 people found this helpful

Fantastic, if also horrifying!

Any additional comments?

I have read several books and articles about Scientology as I enjoy comparative religions. This is the best book so far. Thorough, even-handed, and fascinating! It was sad to read about the abuse and exploitation of church members by the church hierarchy. As a mental health professional, I felt some of the practices were similar to concepts in psychology and enjoyed reading about those. Ultimately, I found myself agreeing that the odd, science fiction aspects of the church were no more unusual than aspects of other religions - virgin birth, for example - and believing that people should be allowed to practice their faith as they see fit. That said, the human rights abuses that are part of the church were horrific and should be addressed. And I was angered by the surrender of the IRS in giving tax-exempt status to parts of the church that are obviously not faith related such as selling Hubbard's science fiction books that aren't part of the church tenets. Narrator was good although I wasn't always sure that reading the footnotes and spelling out websites was necessary.

59 people found this helpful

Very similar to "Inside Scientology"

Any additional comments?

'Very, very similar to Inside Scientology. Both books cover the formation and history of Lafayette Ron Hubbard's Dianetics book success. But Hubbard did not have control over the groups that formed around the philosophy and the profits. Thus came a group with tax free status: a church, which charges you for advancing within it.
Of the two books, I preferred this one more, tho' both are great and fascinating listens. Both are well narrated too.
If you have wondered what Scientology is all about, this is a very entertaining and factual way to find out.

29 people found this helpful

I was there...

My story is long but in short I was in the Sea Org for about 8 years.

I was 20 yrs old. I read Dianetics and it made so much sense to me. A few months later I was on staff on a Church and a few weeks after that I joined the Sea Org. I then ended up in the RPF as well and eventually left. I wanted to make a difference and truly felt that this was the way to do it. Scientology was making a positive change in my life and my family as well.

I ended up in middle management. I got to work with pretty much all the celebs in Scientology, i.e. Tom Cruise, John Travolta, etc. The pressure to perform was immense. I knew Tommy Davis and worked with him as well.

The audio book delves into the earlier life of LRH. Things I didn't know about him were shocking but then again isn't the life of people who want to change the world weird or shocking as well?

"Because The People Who Are Crazy Enough To Think They Can Change The World, Are The Ones Who Do.” - Steve Jobs.

I never met David Miscavige or worked with him directly so I can't confirm him beating up people. Do I believe it? Yes, I do. The pressure where I was working was so intense I can only imagine what it must have been like for those in upper management or those that worked with Miscavige directly. Evidence of course is also the fact that many high level executives have since left the church and their stories match as well.

Many things in the audiobook rang true for me and took me back. For the most part I think the author captured what it's really like in Scientology especially in the Sea Org.

I was captivated by the overall story and the narrator did an excellent job as well.

To this day I truly believe Scientology works. I believe it has been ruined by bad management and an arrogant leader which is why I left. It's really sad. I think the author described this perfectly. He gives many examples of how Scientology has had positive changes in people's lives. But like I said, it comes down to the management which has to change.

Scientology works. I have see it first hand many times. Too bad people are being turned away from it because of the Church's arrogance and bad publicity it creates.

Listen to this audiobook. You will not be disappointed. Just keep in mind that Scientologists are some of the most honest, caring and hard working people ever. I met some great people there and think of them all the time.

99 people found this helpful

Very Informative

Well researched, organized, balanced, and articulated book telling of the life of L Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology, his family, the genesis, evolution, and beliefs of the Church of Scientology, and the lives of many within the church including well known celebrities. The Epilogue is worth listening to/reading more than once.

4 people found this helpful

Amazing !

Very well investigated book on scientology ! Must read for everyone who are interested in understanding a human's need to be part of something and how that need can be taken advantage of by other humans who seek to exploit that need for their own profits.

I feel sorry for all the scientologist who dedicate their life to Hubbard. How can these people who believe in science cannot see there is nothing scientific about scientology is beyond comprehension. But this books does give an insight to human conditioning and the power of influence.

16 people found this helpful

Tax-exempt Space Operas are just not my Jam

"Earth is an insane asylum, to which the other planets deport their lunatics."
- Voltaire, in Memnon the Philosopher

I remember when I was first exposed to Scientology. A good friend of mine in high school suggested I read L. Ron Hubbard's Battlefield Earth*. I politely declined. Space opera just wasn't my thing. But I never forgot L. Ron Hubbard. Occasionally, in used bookstores I'd see one of his other books: Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, The Way To Happiness, etc. Again, I would politely walk by. But I've always been intrigued by this funky religion. Perhaps, it has something to do with being a Mormon (we've got our own funky origin, hypergraphiac founder, cosmology, etc).

Anyway, I found Wright's take on Scientology fascinating. Not just as a look into a visible and sometimes very troubled 20th Century religious movement (and the people in it), but also because it funhouse mirrors ALL religions. Like Neil deGrasse "Awesome" Tyson said in a Daily Beast interview in March of 2015, "So, you have people who are certain that a man in a robe transforms a cracker into the literal body of Jesus saying that what goes on in Scientology is crazy? Let’s realize this: What matters is not who says who’s crazy, what matters is we live in a free country. You can believe whatever you want, otherwise it’s not a free country—it’s something else."

Going Clear is scary because it makes you think not just that Scientologists, but we ALL are just a bit nuts and in need of a bunch of crazy pills.

* Mitt Romney's favorite book.

27 people found this helpful

Tragically Illuminating

This was one book that once I began, I found it very difficult to stop listening. It is not a book bashing Scientology but rather a documentary of sorts that starts at the beginning of Scientology and brings you up to its current status. I disagree with the other reviewer as to the footnotes. I found those to be very interesting and necessary. Just more validation to support the book. So many things are covered regarding Scientology that just make you shake your head and are very sad and deplorable. Not to say that things like this do not happen in other "religions", but the focus of this book is on Scientology. Unfortunately the tragedy which unfolded at Waco really gave rise to Scientology's allowable existence in the eyes of the IRS. In this regard, Scientology was basically given the green light to proceed pretty much without sanction other than within their inner hierarchy. Truly a sad situation for those involved with Scientology who now desire the opportunity to leave of their own free will with no strings/debts attached.

21 people found this helpful