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fattylumpkin's review
5.0
Mike Rinder gives so much insight into the inner workings of Scientology and just how damaging it is. Loved the book.
mcle1990's review
5.0
This was my first read on Scientology and what a great one to pick. If you want to learn more about Scientology and can only pick one book, this is hard to put down.
Mr. Rinder was raised in Scientology and left after decades of service in some of the highest roles of the organization. This book was so unique and special as it is told from the perspective of someone who is on the leadership and management side of the Church vesrus a parishoner. It's easy to see how so much abuse and malfeasance can go undetected by the average Scientologist, as Mr. Rinder details that these elite ranks are populated largely by those who are lifetime Scientologists. In an organization where individuals are constantly asked to consider what "overts" and "withholds" THEY have that may have caused issues, it quickly becomes apparent how easy it is to manipulate individuals into seeing themselves versus their church as the problem.
The multitude of ways that Scientology has built an organization on foundational practices that force individuals to look at themselves when things seem wrong or unjust is incredible. It's built on removing those in your life who leave the Church (disconnecting), not ingesting media that talks about Scientology in a poor light, and millions of dollars funnelled into PI's and other means of threatening and terrifying those who speak against it.
As an aside, Mike narrates his audiobook and does a fantastic job. It was easy to listen to and went by quickly.
Mr. Rinder was raised in Scientology and left after decades of service in some of the highest roles of the organization. This book was so unique and special as it is told from the perspective of someone who is on the leadership and management side of the Church vesrus a parishoner. It's easy to see how so much abuse and malfeasance can go undetected by the average Scientologist, as Mr. Rinder details that these elite ranks are populated largely by those who are lifetime Scientologists. In an organization where individuals are constantly asked to consider what "overts" and "withholds" THEY have that may have caused issues, it quickly becomes apparent how easy it is to manipulate individuals into seeing themselves versus their church as the problem.
The multitude of ways that Scientology has built an organization on foundational practices that force individuals to look at themselves when things seem wrong or unjust is incredible. It's built on removing those in your life who leave the Church (disconnecting), not ingesting media that talks about Scientology in a poor light, and millions of dollars funnelled into PI's and other means of threatening and terrifying those who speak against it.
As an aside, Mike narrates his audiobook and does a fantastic job. It was easy to listen to and went by quickly.
kattedronning's review
2.0
This book was, by turns, interesting and dull. I was hoping to get a sense of the allure of this cult, but I never did. It sounds like utter hell in the company of the worst of humanity, yet somehow people continue to be drawn in, and to remain. The more I learn, the more perplexed I find myself. I considered abandoning it many times in the middle, but it became more interesting towards the end.
lyndseydyan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.0
persnickety9's review against another edition
4.0
Very well written and so honest. I applaud him for being so forthright and telling about his role in Scientology, as well as how horrific the cult truly is. I honestly have so much respect for Mike Rinder.
eviealv's review
Wow, this was a harrowing story but wonderfully told. I appreciated Rinder's straightforward, candid style when describing the very intense world he spent the first several decades of his life in. The abuses he experienced and witnessed were just so shocking to read. His description of his time in The Hole particularly was just heartbreaking but his story of how he got out was really inspiring. Highly recommend!
biblioberuthiel's review
4.0
Not a lot of new info here if you've read/watched Rinder in other places but it's good that he finally got his own book out.