About the Book
Indoctrinated into the church as a child while living with her mother and sister in New York, Remini eventually moved to Los Angeles, where her dreams of becoming an actress and advancing Scientology’s causes grew increasingly intertwined. As an adult, she found the success she’d worked so hard for, and with it a prominent place in the hierarchy of celebrity Scientologists alongside people such as Tom Cruise, Scientology’s most high-profile adherent. Remini spent time directly with Cruise and was included among the guests at his 2006 wedding to Katie Holmes.
But when she began to raise questions about some of the church’s actions, she found herself a target. In the end, she was declared by the church to be a threat to their organization and therefore a “Suppressive Person,” and as a result, all of her fellow parishioners—including members of her own family—were told to disconnect from her. Forever.
Bold, brash, and bravely confessional, Troublemaker chronicles Leah Remini’s remarkable journey toward emotional and spiritual freedom, both for herself and for her family. This is a memoir designed to reveal the hard-won truths of a life lived honestly—from an author unafraid of the consequences.
That sums up my problem with Scientology—despite its claims to the contrary, the practice doesn’t help you better the world or even yourself; it only helps you be a better Scientologist.
Review
I’ve been fascinated with scientology for a while. Mostly because it’s been hard for me to understand. This book helped me connected many of the missing pieces I had when I questioned it.
There are many lost and lonely people in the world. When they’re given hope and the offer of love and relationships – they’re going to take it. That’s basic human nature being exploited by a company that needs numbers to make money.
I think it took a lot of guts for her to publish this tell-all. At the same time, I feel she didn’t really have a choice. She was backed into a corner and wasn’t going to go down without a fight. I can respect that.
There are many answers on the behind-the-scenes stuff about scientology answered with this book. There’s also a ton about Tom Cruise, of who I give 0 shits about, if you’re interested in that particular subject.
If you have any interest in scientology then I recommend reading this book. Before I did I thought it was just a weird cult, but now I have a better understanding of the people involved.