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  • Inside Scientology

  • The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion
  • Written by: Janet Reitman
  • Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
  • Length: 15 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (17 ratings)

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Inside Scientology cover art

Inside Scientology

Written by: Janet Reitman
Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
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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

What the critics say

"A detailed and readable examination of the life of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the church, and his successor, David Miscavige." ( Publishers Weekly)

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A little hard to believe

If these guys are all the book claims they are, then there better than the CIA and the FBI as far as intelligence goes. Impossible,,,,,

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

More 'Documentary' Than 'Exposé'

This exhaustively researched book is fascinating and fair. Janet Reitman doesn't shy away from controversies but neither does she allow them to overwhelm her narrative. Rather, she discusses the founding principles, often bizarre belief/disciplinary systems, growth efforts (e.g. the "celebrity strategy"), and frequently controversial history of Dianetics->Scientology with an objective eye. If you're looking for the "cult" narrative, look elsewhere (there are plenty of books/videos available from that perspective on the Internet/YouTube).
I admit that I was hoping for a more fiery discussion, but Reitman chooses to present the facts (clinical but unapologetically honest) - gleaned from media reports, court documents, and interviews with ex-members - and let her readers draw their own conclusions. That said, the scenes in the picture she paints are pretty ugly.
[Don't worry if you decide to try it: This book is much more than "The History Of Scientology"]

Stephen Hoye was an excellent choice to read this book. Hoye demonstrates exceptional diction, cadence, timbre, and tone. He reads a little too slowly (I recommend setting playback speed at 1.15X for the best experience), but the narration is definitely a strong selling point for this Tantor Audio product.

Taken in toto, this audiobook rates 8.5 stars out of 10. The no-holds-barred accounting gave me a robust understanding of what the *movement* is all about (calling it a "religion" is laughable imo). 'Inside Scientology' is a little dry at times, but worth your Credit if you're more interested in forming an opinion than feeling outraged.

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