Nominated by Foreword Magazine as 2009 Book of the Year award finalist. Marc Headley provides a rare, never before seen insider's look at life inside Scientology. He spent 15 years at their secret headquarters - a 500 acre property located deep in the California desert. The local townspeople were told lectures and films were made there. But is that all that was happening? It is the location of a multi-million dollar home for L. Ron Hubbard, built two decades after his death. It is the home of Scientology's current leader, David Miscavige. So what really happens there? Are the stories on the internet true? How does Scientology conduct management of its day to day operations? Could stories of armed guards, weapons, staff beatings, and razor wire fences be true? If so, how could a facility like this exist in modern day America? Hundreds of staff tried to escape over the years. Some succeeded but were never seen or heard of again, most failed. Why were people kept here? What was it that went on at the headquarters of Scientology? This is the story of what happened behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology.
"...the Scientology cult, is I guarantee you, a thousand times more bizarre than you could have ever imagined." The John & Ken Show, KFI AM 640
"Headley's book also provides stunning material that has rarely been collected in one place...
a damning account of life working for Scientology leader David Miscavige at the secretive desert base..." Tony Ortega, The Village Voice
"...a new book exposing alleged details about not just Scientology -- but Tom Cruise's association with the church -- is available..." The Washington Post
"A big tip of the hat to Marc Headley, for publicly speaking the truth about Scientology..." Examiner.com
"Marc Headley, a former insider at the church, has written a tell-all book...about his 15 years of work with Scientology. And folks...you can't handle the truth..." TheFrisky.com
"...well-paced and an entertaining read." Perrybulwer.com
Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
148 of 152 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First, it is a page turner and and would make a blockbuster movie.
Second, Marc Headley wrote and published this book while still being harrassed and harrangued by Scientology's "intelligence arm".
One of many rapid-fire expose's, they all expose one startling fact: Our government agencies have been ignoring the crimes and abuses of this cult for decades. Every American should now ask your Senator and Congressman to see to it that these horrendous crimes finally come to an end, and that U.S. Citizens be protected. And don't forget to ask the current IRS Commissioner why the error of religious status given to this group hasn't not been corrected.
When you read what really goes on it will seem too incredulous. Just when you've finished one chapter, thinking it couldn't possibly get worse, you turn the page. Somehow Marc has kept and inserted his sense of humour amidst the horror. Kudos to your courage as well, Marc. Will our elected officials now stand up as well?
Second, Marc Headley wrote and published this book while still being harrassed and harrangued by Scientology's "intelligence arm".
One of many rapid-fire expose's, they all expose one startling fact: Our government agencies have been ignoring the crimes and abuses of this cult for decades. Every American should now ask your Senator and Congressman to see to it that these horrendous crimes finally come to an end, and that U.S. Citizens be protected. And don't forget to ask the current IRS Commissioner why the error of religious status given to this group hasn't not been corrected.
When you read what really goes on it will seem too incredulous. Just when you've finished one chapter, thinking it couldn't possibly get worse, you turn the page. Somehow Marc has kept and inserted his sense of humour amidst the horror. Kudos to your courage as well, Marc. Will our elected officials now stand up as well?
79 of 79 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Stayed up into the night finishing Marc Headley's Blown for Good. I was blown away by how good this book was. I could not put it down - and I'm glad I didn't.
I finished Nancy Many's Billion Year Contract a couple of days ago. That was a good book, It is distinct among the recent Scientology survivor books in how it gives an inside view on how mental illness and Scientology don't mix. Maybe too much of an "inside" view. The book was grueling for sure but I would recommend it. But that book didn't capture me quite so much as Blown for Good.
The day after I finished Nancy Many's book, I got Blown for Good in the mail. There is so much about this book to like. There is a charm to it. I realized half way through the book that all the chapter titles were taken from Depeche Mode songs and like the music of Depeche Mode, the book takes you some place dark where strength and vulnerability walk hand in hand. It also occurred to me that is book begs to be made into a movie, not only because the picture Marc paints is so clear, but also because we already have a sound track.
Marc's sarcastic, smart ass comments are great comic relief and not just funny to laugh at, but almost necessary as he takes you into the world of Scientology's "Secret" Base, the domain of the sociopathic, sadistic "leader" Dave Miscavige. More than any other book to date (I think I've read them all) this book paints a portrait of Miscavige. It is not a pretty picture. Miscavige comes off sometimes as a cartoonish super villain, laughing maniacally at his hapless minions who he makes to suffer, but Marc keeps up anecdote after anecdote, with quotes and details to remind you that this is a real person he is talking about. These surreal outrages against the trust that was placed in this sick man really did happen (and are still happening).
There is a good deal of insider information about Tom Cruise, Lisa McPherson and many other people of interest to the critics of Scientology as well as the general public. I kept thinking to myself while reading this book that Marc just happened to be in the right place at the right time to tell me everything that I was curious about.
Much of what I found so interesting about the book stems from my own curiosity as an ex-Sea Org member who didn't last quite as long as he did. While I never went to the "Secret" Int Base, I experienced the veil of mystique that surrounded the Int Base and had been in awe of it. Turning the pages of this book, Marc tells me the only thing to be in awe of at the Int Base was the incompetence, abuse and lack of dignity. I saw enough outrageous stuff during my time in the Sea Org to make me sneak out of the Sea Org's LA base in the middle of the the night, but I had no idea how bad it really was at the upper echelons. In recent years I've read about Miscavige hitting people and the sleep deprivation and the rest, but when Marc's book hit me with it page after page, I got worn down - more and more outraged. The only thing that sustained me was the knowledge that it would end for Marc.
It is haunting to know that for many Sea Org members it hasn't ended and is still going on, especially when I remind myself how many of these Sea Org members joined out of a selfless desire to help others.
To say that Marc names names in this book is an under statement. There are some that he leaves out, but the important ones are in. The mood, the incompetence and internal politics of the the Sea Org are painstakingly detailed with a long string of events related by Marc, most of which he witnessed first hand. These are details that I wondered about for a long time - how did the mighty Sea Org operate at the highest levels? Marc's answer is fear, back stabbing and (for some reason I'm using his word a lot in this review) incompetence.
The plot of the book works well as a story. The good guy is Marc the author and the bad guy is, ultimately, David Miscavige. All the other bad guys are just idiots who haven't figured out that Miscavige will throw them to the wolves once he drains them dry. The only thing suspicious about the book is that Marc seems to come off as a overly reasonable person who at the same time happens to be just as brainwashed as everyone around him - never giving in to the back stabbing, in fighting and desperate, immoral measures which surrounds him more so than the razor wire and guards.
I'll say it again to anyone listening. This book begs to be made into a movie. Not only does it read like a screen play with sarcasm, but is a story that needs to be taken to the public. I wouldn't say this is the beginning of the end for Scientology. The "end" is well underway. This is the middle of the end - it's a good time for a movie.
I finished Nancy Many's Billion Year Contract a couple of days ago. That was a good book, It is distinct among the recent Scientology survivor books in how it gives an inside view on how mental illness and Scientology don't mix. Maybe too much of an "inside" view. The book was grueling for sure but I would recommend it. But that book didn't capture me quite so much as Blown for Good.
The day after I finished Nancy Many's book, I got Blown for Good in the mail. There is so much about this book to like. There is a charm to it. I realized half way through the book that all the chapter titles were taken from Depeche Mode songs and like the music of Depeche Mode, the book takes you some place dark where strength and vulnerability walk hand in hand. It also occurred to me that is book begs to be made into a movie, not only because the picture Marc paints is so clear, but also because we already have a sound track.
Marc's sarcastic, smart ass comments are great comic relief and not just funny to laugh at, but almost necessary as he takes you into the world of Scientology's "Secret" Base, the domain of the sociopathic, sadistic "leader" Dave Miscavige. More than any other book to date (I think I've read them all) this book paints a portrait of Miscavige. It is not a pretty picture. Miscavige comes off sometimes as a cartoonish super villain, laughing maniacally at his hapless minions who he makes to suffer, but Marc keeps up anecdote after anecdote, with quotes and details to remind you that this is a real person he is talking about. These surreal outrages against the trust that was placed in this sick man really did happen (and are still happening).
There is a good deal of insider information about Tom Cruise, Lisa McPherson and many other people of interest to the critics of Scientology as well as the general public. I kept thinking to myself while reading this book that Marc just happened to be in the right place at the right time to tell me everything that I was curious about.
Much of what I found so interesting about the book stems from my own curiosity as an ex-Sea Org member who didn't last quite as long as he did. While I never went to the "Secret" Int Base, I experienced the veil of mystique that surrounded the Int Base and had been in awe of it. Turning the pages of this book, Marc tells me the only thing to be in awe of at the Int Base was the incompetence, abuse and lack of dignity. I saw enough outrageous stuff during my time in the Sea Org to make me sneak out of the Sea Org's LA base in the middle of the the night, but I had no idea how bad it really was at the upper echelons. In recent years I've read about Miscavige hitting people and the sleep deprivation and the rest, but when Marc's book hit me with it page after page, I got worn down - more and more outraged. The only thing that sustained me was the knowledge that it would end for Marc.
It is haunting to know that for many Sea Org members it hasn't ended and is still going on, especially when I remind myself how many of these Sea Org members joined out of a selfless desire to help others.
To say that Marc names names in this book is an under statement. There are some that he leaves out, but the important ones are in. The mood, the incompetence and internal politics of the the Sea Org are painstakingly detailed with a long string of events related by Marc, most of which he witnessed first hand. These are details that I wondered about for a long time - how did the mighty Sea Org operate at the highest levels? Marc's answer is fear, back stabbing and (for some reason I'm using his word a lot in this review) incompetence.
The plot of the book works well as a story. The good guy is Marc the author and the bad guy is, ultimately, David Miscavige. All the other bad guys are just idiots who haven't figured out that Miscavige will throw them to the wolves once he drains them dry. The only thing suspicious about the book is that Marc seems to come off as a overly reasonable person who at the same time happens to be just as brainwashed as everyone around him - never giving in to the back stabbing, in fighting and desperate, immoral measures which surrounds him more so than the razor wire and guards.
I'll say it again to anyone listening. This book begs to be made into a movie. Not only does it read like a screen play with sarcasm, but is a story that needs to be taken to the public. I wouldn't say this is the beginning of the end for Scientology. The "end" is well underway. This is the middle of the end - it's a good time for a movie.
104 of 108 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It is not often that one gets a look inside a secretive organization like the Church of Scientology. Mark Headley spent years working at Golden Era Studios, shoulder to shoulder with top management and Scientology celebrities.
This book reveals the inner workings of the Sea Organization, and the machinations of cult leader David Miscavige and his acolyte Tom Cruise. Headley writes with credibility and humor. This is a must read for any current or ex-scientologist, or anyone with an interest in this subject. The faithful should have no problem with it, as one of the early abilities they lay claim to is the ability to talk to anyone on any subject, and the focus on truth.
The book includes a forward by Marty Rathbun, a former high level church leader during the time Mark was there.
This book reveals the inner workings of the Sea Organization, and the machinations of cult leader David Miscavige and his acolyte Tom Cruise. Headley writes with credibility and humor. This is a must read for any current or ex-scientologist, or anyone with an interest in this subject. The faithful should have no problem with it, as one of the early abilities they lay claim to is the ability to talk to anyone on any subject, and the focus on truth.
The book includes a forward by Marty Rathbun, a former high level church leader during the time Mark was there.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nobody can be that puttylike, surely!
OK, having established by my heading that I think the author was weak as a trickle of water when he was a teenager and continued to be so well into adulthood even knowing... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Saz
3.0 out of 5 stars
Kind of drags on...
The author is so detailed that it makes reading the book almost boring.
His experience is startling and depressing. Read more
His experience is startling and depressing. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Olive
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved this book!!
This book was funny, touching, sad, and ultimately triumphal. Marc and Claire overcame so much. God bless both of them and their children. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Gregg Somers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth reading.
An interesting look into why people leave Scientology. Captivating from cover to cover. The book was well written and informative.
Published 15 days ago by Peter W. Silk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!!! Important Read!!!
Second book I read after reading Jenna Miscaviage's "Beyone Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape" - Wow - the story electrified me, scared me,... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Lauren Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good look at Scientology
This book details just how scary the cult scientology is. It is well written. I could not put it down
Published 24 days ago by Patricia Rindel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping
Revealing book about a crazy, diabolical and dangerous cult. I read this after reading Beyond Belief by the niece of Miscavige. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Roncar6
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blown for Good (or Good for you!)
Having known very liitle about Scientology except that Tom Cruise was a member, I found this book fascinating. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Betty Huber
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blown for Good Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology
I've read all of the books available on this subject and consider Marc Headley's to be the best. I appreciate that he does not shy away from his own culpability when it comes to... Read more
Published 27 days ago by Nancy Law
3.0 out of 5 stars
A revealing look into Scientology, but...
I've been interested for a long time in the cult phenomena, and in recent years have read several of these books from high ranking ex-scientologist. Read more
Published 1 month ago by DaveInNm
