Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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78 of 96 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Look Who's Laughing Now ..., February 3, 2000
In 1992 Jane Self's impeccable research told the sordid tale - so impossibly hard to fathom by those who love Werner and discover so much in his seminars - of how Werner's alleged abuse of his children, tax evasion, and brutal treatment of his staff was a complex premeditated plot by an ex-wife, disgruntled ex-employees, and the Church of Scientology to discredit Werner for reasons that even twelve years later are still unclear. What is clear, however, is that directly or indirectly as a result of the "assassination", Werner moved his primary residence away from the United States.
Today, over a decade after this book was written, the IRS has recanted it's charges against Werner (settling, instead by paying Werner $200,000 in damages), the daughter who originally made claims of abuse has publicly recanted, and the work Werner started and subsequently sold to Landmark Education Corporation thrives around the world, "Landmark Education" having now become a brand name almost as well known as "Xerox" says Time magazine.
Interestingly enough, the media chose to completely ignore this vindication of Werner's integrity. It is, indeed, a sorry reflection on all of us when a firestorm of publicity can erupt based on lies, conjecture, and salacious claims and can ruin a man's reputation. Yet when the truth emerges, no one in the media stands up to correct or to apologize for the damage caused.
The information in this book is now dated. However, it is must read reading for anyone interested in how the media can fan shreds of disinformation into cataclysmic proportions with devastating and sad results.
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46 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A must read book to see how our media can be manipulated., February 20, 1998
By A Customer
Werner erhard has received mostly bad press for a long time. In the early 1990's, he was hotly pursued and accused of illegalities and improprieties with the IRS, his family, the participants in his programs, and his employees. In Dr. Self's book, this is reviewed with the facts behind the hype. As we all know, it's much easier to trash someone's reputation than it is to defend it. This is a case study of how a small group of people working for and/or with the Church of Scientology methodically undercut the reputation of Werner Erhard. What is clearly underscored is that the members of the media were willing participants, probably because of the sale-ability of trashing an already controversial person. It also shows that significant money can get people to say almost anything. While I don't think Werner Erhard is any better (or worse) a person than the rest of us, he did stick his neck out to teach people the basics of living a transformed life. That kind of life involves thinking for onseself, and history shows us many people who promoted such ideas who met with hard times or assassination of both character and body. This is not a "positive piece" about Werner Erhard. It's a factual account with dates, times, names, and references of what happened. This book does a lot to set the record straight about a mountain of misinformation. It also sheds light on the process by which our national scandels take shape.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thank you Jane, for your honesty and integrity, March 19, 2008
Anyone who reads this book will see that it was very well researched. Jane Self obviously did not enter the writing project with an ax to grind, but as someone wanting simply to uncover the truth. I benefitted greatly from doing the EST training in 1972 and was active in EST programs for many years, including being a guest seminar leader, and know first hand about the truth of many of her assertions.
I was delighted to see someone stand up to the--surprisingly spineless--60-Minute people, who had done a real hatchet job on Werner Erhard in that broadcast. As other reviewers have mentioned, all the seemingly damning allegations have subsequently been recanted.
I worked for Werner's wife Ellen in 1973, and was in close touch with Werner all during the 70's and 80's, and still consider him to be one of the best friends I ever had. I think he has a heart of gold, and his greatest desire is to love and empower people. I assert that he's done a better job of it than just about anyone anywhere.
Which is not to say he didn't make mistakes, maybe some major ones. So who hasn't?? I know for a fact that he put in 100+ hour weeks every week, putting out the most positive energy he could, once again, to empower the greatest number of people possible. I'd think it is fair to say that he's surely done his best to rectify past mistakes the best way he can...and has moved on. Like I would hope we all do. More power to you, my dearest of friends.
This book is well worth reading.
FYI, I just discovered there is a new movie out about Werner, and is available on DVD. It's called "Transformation, the life and legacy of Werner Erhard."
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