Rating: 
Summary: A Disgusting Religion.
Review: This book is not organized chronologically, but works best as a collection of short articles documenting the Church of Scientology's abuses of its members, the legal system, and society in general.While not particularly bloody, the short history of the "Chruch" of Scientology is hands-down the most bizzaire of all religions (the term applied to this particular organization is in dispute by most right-thinking persons). The information in each chapter was culled from court documents and interviews, and the fact that the Cult of Scientology was unable to legally supress its publication attests to its honesty and accuracy. Here are a few weird factoids about the Cult: 1) The church paid Alexis, Hubbard's daughter, money to settle her claim to a share of Hubbard's estate. They failed to get her to sign a document stating her BROTHER was her father, not L. Ron. 2) High-ranking members of the chruch believe they are posessed by thousands of souls of dead aliens, called body thetans. These souls were implanted with false visions of reality by an evil intergalactic ruler named Xenu, 75 million years ago. This possession hinders mankind from achiving its true potential -- and only Scientology tech can exorcise these body thetans. 3) A raid by the FBI in 1977 uncovered information that the Chruch of Scientology had been raiding government offices and destroying documents related to the cult. This resulted in the criminal conviction of 11 high-ranking Scientologists, including Mary Sue Hubbard, Hubbard's wife. Well, there you have it -- and that's but a teeny-tiny bit of the weird, weird world of the inner-workings of the Church of $cientology.
Rating: 
Summary: A step in the right direction
Review: While it is a critical and truthful book, a "structure" is missing, i.e. he just collected critical info and squeezed it into a book - I could get the same from the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology. I'd rather recommend to buy "A piece of Blue Sky" by Jon Atack, available here, which is much better researched, and has an index.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, if unpolished insider's look at a modern cult
Review: While not as thorough or polished at Jon Atack's "Blue Sky", this book is nonetheless an important view of this bizzare cult from a former insider. Originally co-authored by Hubbard's oldest son, some very intriguing insights are availabe. Hubbard, Jr. took his name off after an out of court settlement with Scientology.A very worthwhile read for anyone interested in this modern cult.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, if unpolished insider's look at a modern cult
Review: While not as thorough or polished at Jon Atack's "Blue Sky", this book is nonetheless an important view of this bizzare cult from a former insider. Originally co-authored by Hubbard's oldest son, some very intriguing insights are availabe. Hubbard, Jr. took his name off after an out of court settlement with Scientology.
A very worthwhile read for anyone interested in this modern cult.
| 
