Before I compose this review, I would like to make it clear that I have read the book (since it seems that many of the reviews posted here are from those who haven't). While you are obviously free to decide for yourself if my review is informative and an accurate assessment of the contents therein, please note that I am trying to be as objective as possible. Now, with that out of the way, onto my review!
Scientology, the religion created by L Ron Hubbard and promoted by stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, is a polarizing topic that is mired in secrecy and misinformation. When South Park aired an episode about the Scientology course that laid out Scientology's own "creation tale", the Church was brought to the forefront of pop culture. Margery Wakefield, using her experience of being a member of Scientology, wrote this book to clarify the practices of the Church; her story is both informative and terrifying, to say the least.
The first thing that the reader will notice is that "Understanding Scientology: The Demon Cult" is written in a very approachable manner, making it easy to follow the arguments presented within the book. The second thing noticed is that Ms. Wakefield spent a lot of time researching Scientology, the philosophy of cults, and the experiences of people who left the Church. While it helps to know a bit about the philosophy of Scientology before reading this book, it is not critical; the author walks through each phase of becoming a Scientologist.
Each chapter of "Understanding Scientology: The Demon Cult" (henceforth referred to as USTDC) breaks down a specific step in the Scientology process, starting with the history of its founder, L Ron Hubbard. That being said, the book isn't solely about L Ron Hubbard; Ms. Wakefield only reviews portions of his life and compares his claims versus the truth (obtained through government records, newspapers, and other methods). It then segways to the broader picture: the development of Scientology and how L. Ron Hubbard controlled, developed, and ultimately profited from his venture into the creation of a religion. If you are looking for a detailed biography of Mr. Hubbard, this book is not it.
Following the synopsis of L Ron Hubbard, the author describes to the reader how Scientology "hooks" people, and how the techniques used by local missions are meant to obtain a specific reaction: to subtly convert a person to joining and slowly incorporate itself into every aspect of their life. From the hard sell techniques to sign someone up for the first "course" required of all Scientologists, the "Communications Course", to the upper echelons of study, Ms. Wakefield argues (quite convincingly), that every aspect of Scientology is designed to get the most out of a person. Whether the person ends up working for Scientology or remains in their current job, one thing is clear: Scientology is designed to get as much money out of them, and to do so for a long time. Every aspect is then analyzed by USTDC, with research used to support the argument that Scientology is nothing more than a cult.
In the end, Ms. Wakefield has written a powerful account of the machinations of Scientology, breaking down every step of the journey required for a new convert to climb to OT8, the coveted pinnacle of devotion. For every action, material, and verbiage of the Church, the author is able to present an argument addressing the inherent "evil", and does so by referencing several psychology / religious studies books. While it is quite clear that Ms. Wakefield both despises and fears the Church, her writing is balanced with the evidence presented; that in the end the book leaves it up to the reader to determine whether Scientology is evil. So, if you are looking for the analysis of the different levels of Scientology and how it "programs" its followers to be loyal to it, this book is amazing, and a good first step in the study of the Church. It makes you think and also makes you feel pity for those under Scientology's thrall.
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