Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief

The Basis For The New HBO Documentary. A National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist.

Scientology presents itself as a scientific approach to spiritual enlightenment, but its practices have long been shrouded in mystery. Now Lawrence Wrightarmed with his investigative talents, years of archival research, and more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologistsuncovers the inner workings of the church. We meet founder L. Ron Hubbard, the highly imaginative but mentally troubled science-fiction writer, and his tough, driven successor, David Miscavige. We go inside their specialized cosmology and language. We learn about the churchs legal attacks on the IRS, its vindictive treatment of critics, and its phenomenal wealth. We see the church court celebrities such as Tom Cruise while consigning its clergy to hard labor under billion-year contracts. Through it all, Wright asks what fundamentally comprises a religion, and if Scientology in fact merits this Constitutionally-protected label. Brilliantly researched, compellingly written,Going Clearpulls back the curtain on one of the most secretive organizations at work today.

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