Let's sell these people A Piece of Blue Sky: Hubbard, Dianetics and Scientology

Everyone i see criticizing this book is telling people to go out and find out for themselves. While normally this would be logical, in this case to get any true first hand objective experience with The Church of Scientology, you'd have to pay them and go through their auditing programs. Getting books that are pro-scientology is the same as reading ones that have a negative bias. Unless you're going to front money to get auditing, which is exactly what they want, your only reliable source is what a former member has to say on the subject. This book presents that in an acceptable manner. So to people advising me to go find out for myself, I say no thanks. I'll keep my money in my own pocket and out of the hands of Scientology.

I guess I've always loved reading about cults, their leaders and their followers. I think it started with the Baghwan section of the book "Cities on a Hill" ...that was just gripping. There seem to be certain similarities between the personalities who head truly dark cults and charismatic figures who are viewed as legitimate even heroic. The Secrest book on Frank Lloyd Wright is a good one...generally admired as a genius, but also a completely unprincipled huckster. There's even a little bit of it in Wilhelm Reich, who is often viewed as one of the good guys. I have read quite a bit on Hubbard and mostly I have just derived a good chuckle out of it. He's so obviously a Charlatan and a buffoon... it's written all over his face for one thing. He reminds me a lot of Mussolini. The book though actually ended up being rather sad; especially the undercover operations, personal vendettas and the insane internal machinations of the cult during the latter years of Hubbard's life. I gotta say it's a hoot that there are actual scientologists posting one star reviews on this book! Way to go guys, why not order a couple of dozen copies of Battlefield Earth while you are here! The book is not a literary masterpiece but it's pretty clearly written considering density of the material to be presented and all the mentions of orgs, OSTs, PRTs, Body-Thetans all all the other CoS jargon that cannot be avoided in telling the story. I wish there had been slightly more humor since some of the material is potentially so funny. I realize of course that the effect on thousands of people's live has been tragic and overall I finished the book feeling that the organization was far more sinister than I had previously given it credit for. As to the CoS postings here warning of the perils of Atack's bias I can assure potential readers that there is very little in way of judgement or interpretation here... Hubbard's own proclamations and the uncontested facts more than make the case against him. If anything I would say that Atacks greatest failing in this book is failing make the reader (me at least) understand how a rational person could have been taken in by this foolishness for the length of time he was involved. Perhaps he steered away from the pyschological aspects for fear of exploring his own weaknesses and gullibility or perhaps just to avoid making the book another self-obsessed confessional. If the latter then at least he learned something from the great Lafayette Ronald Hubbard.

I believe it is important for everybody to learn the truth about Scientology before they are trapped by a front organization. At some point in your life you very well may be scammed by Scientologists, my family lost $20,000 to them, and thus I think it is imperative to read this well-researched and well-written book.Negative reviews are invariably written by Scientologists who see it as their duty to stiffle any criticsm of their church. That is their right, but it is important that you not be put off reading objective works about Scientology merely because of their attacks on the works.By all means I would also suggest reading L. Ron Hubbard's original works as well--I know I have enjoyed reading them. It is important, though, that you read his books with the understanding that they are fiction--that includes the 'non-fiction' works like 'What is Scientology'.At some point in your life you may yourself be caught up in Scientology or one of their many fronts, so educate yourself about them now.

Considering Scientology's penchant for suing everyone and anything (they even sued Time/Warner when Time Magazine called Scientology a "cult of greed and power"), this book took a lot of guts to write, and the author and publisher should be applauded.Living in Los Angeles, I have met people whose lives have been destroyed by Scientology, and it is creepy driving down Hollywood Boulevard and seeing how much real estate the "church" owns. (I recommend, for a good laugh, people check out the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibit.) That the group can afford so much premium property in one of the most expensive districts in the country is indicative of the millions of dollars "donated" by so many weak-minded, hapless people.This book unmercifully exposes the cult for what it is, as seen first-hand by former members. Even if one has no interest in Scientology, it is a fascinating commentary on human behavior vis-a-vis modern cults. Atack's work is indicative that, in the face of brain-washed celebrities pushing Scientology, there is still some sanity left in the world.