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Going Clear by Lawrence Wright

Scientology wants to be understood as a scientific approach to spiritual enlightenment. It has, really, no grounding in science at all. It would be better understood as a philosophy of nature

-Lawrence Wright

According to the author, of this insightful and somewhat disturbing book about the Church of Scientology, L Ron Hubbard was an imaginative and prolific science fiction writer. He dropped out of college and claimed to be an expert in science. Subsequently he served with the Navy in WWII and this was not a positive experience either for the young Hubbard.

And according to this book L Ron Hubbard was a philanderer, a con-man, a misogynist, a hypochondriac and in his later years he was paranoid and delusional. In fact he had so many psychological issues that at times he invokes some genuine sympathy.

But Hubbard was also a narcissist of the highest order and this disorder, whether intentioned or not, became the main theme of the book for me. Hubbard claimed he alone had the answers to many of life's illnesses, through his pseudo-science. He even developed an electrophysiology meter to audit individuals by measuring their electrical resistance that was helpful for lie detectors. It could even allegedly improve one's IQ by up to one point per hour. Some ba-na-na crazy stuff to be sure.

There are other characters in the book who take over the church after Hubbard's death in 1986 and who unsurprisingly embrace similarly manipulative methods. Many of these church leaders are well known Hollywood stars. This part of the story felt the most current to me but while it did not resolve as many open questions it did highlight some of the crazy.

The last few chapters cover the investigation of the church by the author and the New Yorker magazine. This coincided with the departure of Paul Haggis, a prominent Hollywood director who severed ties in 2009 over the church's stance against gay rights. Many other high level officials left the church around this time for different ressons. They are called suppressives by the church. The interviews by the author with church officials and their subsequent defense of abuse allegations made for some pretty bizarre reading.

In an insightful epilogue to the book, Wright discusses other recent religions and their similarities with Scientology.

How do you spot a narcissist? Unfortunately I have narcissists in my family and I've also worked in corporate America for thirty years where I've met more narcissists than I can count with my fingers and toes. Narcissists always have inflated egos, grandiose notions and sometimes full on delusion. They often have an aggressively superficial and politically expedient interest in others' ideas and their well-being. They can be charmers and the more 'benevolent' narcissists truly believe that they alone can save the flock. They like to hire people who are permanently dependent upon them or owe them in some way. They like to "collect" people, even sad sacks, and will lash out against those who don't need them any longer, especially the financially independent. They fear losing the fuel and attention that feeds their disorder. If you have ever tried to sever ties with a narcissist, you will immediately recognize what the suppressives have gone through when reading this book.

4.5 stars. This was an excellent read, perhaps just a notch below The Looming Tower for me.