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lrmsreads 's review for:
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
by Leah Remini
I found myself fascinated by the story when Leah Remini left the Church of Scientology a few years ago, so I was eager to read her account of her life in the church and her subsequent departure in Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology. From what I gleaned from the book, I'm not sure that I understand how Scientology is a religion because it doesn't seem to have a god or gods at its center. But, it does have a moral code and a system to abide by in order to live a better existence, so maybe that is what makes it a religion. As an outsider, it mostly seems like an elaborate scheme to take people's money. Remini pulls no punches when she shares her story (sometimes veering into the brash which she readily owns) and I applaud her for coming forward and trying to be a voice for the disenfranchised within the organization. I think Remini feels that David Miscavige and Tom Cruise are the biggest issues with the religion, but I think she gave enough evidence of the overarching organization being corrupt and a scam without needing to focus so vehemently on those two men. I mean an organization that requires you to pay money to take classes and purchase coursework to advance as a spiritual being seems a bit suspect. Not only that, but to be on constant guard to "tattle" on fellow members for infractions and then to require that courses be taken again for these infractions just seems ridiculous. They also "reward" you the more money you donate to them and they ask for money to be donated so they can help in crisis situations (i.e. 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, etc.), but their help seems to consist of "spreading the word" which will then "help" those in crisis instead of actually doing tangible things to help in the situation. That to me is despicable. I am happy that Leah was not only able to leave, but that her family was willing to go with her. I hope her voice will help others.