Rating: 
Summary: A must read for all interested in Scientology!
Review: I read this book several years ago while my younger sister was in the throws of trying to divorce herself from Scientology. Very insightful! Written from a real "insiders" perspective, this book is a MUST READ for anyone even remotely interested in Scientology. This book IS biased but then again, aren't all of Scientology's too?
Rating: 
Summary: Disagree completely
Review: I think this book is totally biased and totally false. I can say truthfully that this book is full of lies. L. Ron Hubbard was a great man and has been viewed as such by many world leaders and dignitaries. He was an amazing humanitarian and someone who has created a beautiful technology that anyone can use to better any condition in their life. I think that anyone claiming otherwise is probably hiding actions of his own that he could be upbraided for.
Rating:
Summary: Scientology: A Menace of Massive Proportions?
Review: I was shocked to find accusations herein of...GREED! Where are the basement graves? the CIA connections? the drug-running? Oops, I guess that's the government. Forget about this book and put your attention on a real scandal, like the fact that 1 out of every 144 Americans is in prision for a drug or alcohol-related crime. Write your Congressman about THAT.
Rating: 
Summary: An expose in search of an editor
Review: I'd give this book five stars as a badly done but entirely riveting expose... and anyone as famous as Hubbard oughta have one... save that it is badly written, disorganized, and internally incomplete.
For example there is this lawsuit involving somebody named Armstrong that permeates the book. But, having now reread the book for just this purpose, I can't tell you exactly who Armstrong is, where the lawsuit came from, or what it was about. And then there are these two fellows named Miscavage and Broeker who are, in their ways, pivotal folks. We don't learn who they are, where they came from, or indeed why they matter to the narrative. Maybe they are important, maybe not. Corydon says they matter and I am inclined (but not convinced, pending research) to believe him.
This book needs, and needed, a good editor and a rewrite. But is still a true page-turner.
My readings of material on and of Scientology convince me that Hubbard was, at best, a mad prophet. But whether through madness or reason he discovered, or rediscovered and marketed, valuable truths. Corydon does not deny this. But he makes a compelling case that Hubbard did not live by the rules he proposed and that Hubbard was perhaps the most dominating, abusive, and unkind mad prophet that ever was.
Corydon, through testamentary evidence, documents a self-serving, abusive, and nasty-minded pattern of activity by Hubbard and his Church that is, since it has not been questioned in court after all these years, beyond refutation.
Hubbard's Church still wants us to join. And I will not deny that they have a contented life to offer. But if you question the Catholic confessional then read this book to decide, whatever the good derived from Scientology is worth it. You need to know how little the Scientologists value confidences as opposed to the interests of the church.
Corydon tells us and I believe... that there is a great bit of good in the techniques of Scientology. I think that is true. But if you are considering Scientology I suggest, strongly, that you read this book first. It's statements have not been denied. Yet there is something of Scientology that attracts me. But this business of my brain (not Corydon) owing to a clam is plain silly.
(...)
Rating: 
Summary: Well written, though a bit rough in spots
Review: It's obvious that the author has an ax to grind, but he grinds it so entertainingly. And if even a tenth of what he alleges is true, then this book is a sobering wakeup call we should all heed. Mind you, I'm not saying that I'm entirely convinced, but this book is more coherent and it's premise seems much more plausable than the books of Scientology's founder. If you need more convincing, just read the negative reviews. They read like they were written by (poorly) paid automatons...
Rating:
Summary: A True Expose of L. Ron Hubbard's Meglomania
Review: Not as good as Jon Atack's very fine work "A Piece of Blue Sky", but still filled with many first hand accounts of the man who created a world-wide cult of personality - Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard a science-fiction writer of the 30's and 40's turned cult hero and is still worshipped as a God in the Scientology cult he founded in the 50's. To understand why and the personality of the man who did this you need the kind of first hand accounts you will find here. Exposing the dark true nature of the man including incidents of drug and alcohol abuse, extreme paranoia, attempted manipulations of foreign governments, as well as abuse of children and adults alike, you won't find anything like it about a man who is as well known as Hubbard.
Rating:
Summary: Uhhh ......
Review: Pathetic.
This book is a biased, almost 'unfair' portrayal of a certified religion. I would advise reading 'What is Scientology' or one of Hubbard's basic Scientology books before or after reading this one to truly understand Scientology. When you look at it fairly, Scientology actually isn't as bad as this book makes it out to be.
What are the author's motives? The large majority of educated people who have viewed Scientology from an unbiased view point have found nothing wrong with it. I read this book, then questioning the author's obviously unscrupulous intentions researched Scientology for myself. The book is written like a madman's rant and appeals only to individuals who are either 1) gullible or 2)religious bigots.
Rating:
Summary: Read the book if you really want to get lost
Review: Scientology saved my life more than once and I have a healthy
bank account. How can it be? I use Scientology management and
ethics tools too... I plan my life. I don't buy a $5,000 package if I don't have the money.97% of the people are gaining from Scientology and it works for them. 3% don't. This book is about those 3%. So, in fact, this book tells the stories of loosers.
It doesn't tell the stories of people who gained an enormous
gain from it. Right? How many stories can you compile against Doctors, Psychologists,
Teachers, Judges, Senators, Presidents that will make you tremble?
Rating:
Summary: The truth about Scientology explained!!
Review: Scientology's true beliefs and motives explained... Great book, but needs to be revised for Scientology's new scams.
Rating:
Summary: Just a little comment on people's "cult" attitude
Review: Since I havent even read the book Im not going to give it a bad rating however just reading the reviews gives me the idea that all the people think that Scientology is the only "religion/philosophy" that has flaws. Good gawd if any of you people would look at Christianity you would find countless accounts of undeniable immoral acts against humanity yet somehow christianity still strives in the world... the reason: because there ARE some aspects of christianity, the aspects that provide humanity with the ability to extend love. And so, Scientology also has its principles and ideas that provide humanity with the ability to love. When critizing an idea, to be true in the greatest ideal, one must see the perspective of both extremes otherwise the critque wont be accurate. This message doesnt only relate to scientology but all philosophies. I don't even understand why people call it a cult considering that the majority of other religions were once cults be! fore gaining political power. Im not sure whats more believable scientology or a deity. And whats more logical?
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