Scientology was something I've never understood or cared enough about to research. All I knew was that Tom Cruise is a Scientologist and, when he was really speaking up about it, he was also coming across as an unstable man who would either snap at you or jump up and down in joy. Maybe man is the wrong word? That sounds more like a child with frequent temper tantrums.
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology is Leah Remini's tale of growing up in the church and eventually parting ways with it. Leah Remini, if you don't know, was on a long running sitcom called King of Queens that is in syndication now. I get why she threw "Hollywood" in the title, but this book is mostly about her experience with Scientology, even as she gained fame. I listened to the audiobook with my boyfriend, and I enjoyed that experience. Remini has an awesome Brooklyn accent and a lot of attitude and emotion that helped the storytelling.
Remini was in grade school when her mom introduced her to Scientology. Her belief in the church was never meant as a publicity stunt or a way out of addiction, which I often see as the reasoning behind many celebrities converting. She never finished school and, though she did have the outside goal of becoming an actress, her life was about reaching the different levels of Scientology through various programs.
The higher-ups in Scientology see fame as a positive - if you're a celebrity of some sort, you can use that to bring people into the faith. Most celebrity Scientologists spend their time and money on the church, whether it's promoting it or defending it.
It's hard for me to truly judge someone who finds some sort of faith and follows it. From the outside, all religions can seem silly. Leah Remini was young when she began, and a lot of it stemmed from the fact that her mother got involved. In the beginning, she was taught that no matter what she did, she'd be pardoned for it with honesty. What better pay off for a little "troublemaker"? It was as she got older and saw what was happening to her family, friends, and various Scientologists around her that she realized maybe they aren't really about L. Ron Hubbard's original hopes for the church. Remini portrays the church as money-hungry. Most churches have some sort of due or donation to help keep things running, but Remini noticed the money wasn't really going anywhere helpful and many people were going into debt to pay outrageous course fees.
While I enjoyed listening to the book, I still feel like there is a lot to be learned about this religion. I'd like to check out the documentary Going Clear at some point.
If you're at all interested in Scientology, what Tom Cruise was like around his Katie Holmes days (Leah Remini was there for most of it, including the wedding!), or her quick stint as Stacy Caruso in Saved By the Bell, I would recommend it as a quick, gossip-y read.
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology is Leah Remini's tale of growing up in the church and eventually parting ways with it. Leah Remini, if you don't know, was on a long running sitcom called King of Queens that is in syndication now. I get why she threw "Hollywood" in the title, but this book is mostly about her experience with Scientology, even as she gained fame. I listened to the audiobook with my boyfriend, and I enjoyed that experience. Remini has an awesome Brooklyn accent and a lot of attitude and emotion that helped the storytelling.
Remini was in grade school when her mom introduced her to Scientology. Her belief in the church was never meant as a publicity stunt or a way out of addiction, which I often see as the reasoning behind many celebrities converting. She never finished school and, though she did have the outside goal of becoming an actress, her life was about reaching the different levels of Scientology through various programs.
The higher-ups in Scientology see fame as a positive - if you're a celebrity of some sort, you can use that to bring people into the faith. Most celebrity Scientologists spend their time and money on the church, whether it's promoting it or defending it.
It's hard for me to truly judge someone who finds some sort of faith and follows it. From the outside, all religions can seem silly. Leah Remini was young when she began, and a lot of it stemmed from the fact that her mother got involved. In the beginning, she was taught that no matter what she did, she'd be pardoned for it with honesty. What better pay off for a little "troublemaker"? It was as she got older and saw what was happening to her family, friends, and various Scientologists around her that she realized maybe they aren't really about L. Ron Hubbard's original hopes for the church. Remini portrays the church as money-hungry. Most churches have some sort of due or donation to help keep things running, but Remini noticed the money wasn't really going anywhere helpful and many people were going into debt to pay outrageous course fees.
While I enjoyed listening to the book, I still feel like there is a lot to be learned about this religion. I'd like to check out the documentary Going Clear at some point.
If you're at all interested in Scientology, what Tom Cruise was like around his Katie Holmes days (Leah Remini was there for most of it, including the wedding!), or her quick stint as Stacy Caruso in Saved By the Bell, I would recommend it as a quick, gossip-y read.
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