Troublemaker - Surviving Hollywood and Scientology is the autobiography of Leah Remini, sitcom TV star and ex-Scientologist who is making waves for her documentary-like reality show exposing the church.
Working her way up in Hollywood (she was almost Monica on Friends, she was Carla's daughter on Cheers) before hitting it big on the comedy King of Queens, she talks about the rigorous training Scientologists have to endure to maintain their status as churchgoers. Most of what she has written here I had already heard first hand from watching her recent A&E show Scientology and the Aftermath, but it was interesting and always astounding to hear what Scientologists are subjected too, both emotionally and monetarily. It sounds like a giant club you have to pay to belong to and cannot leave once you are in. Criticizing it leads to punishment including forceable disconnection from your family and friends - this is what Leah says. She grew up a Scientologist and for many years both defended the church and was a vocal proponent of it in promotional videos. Once she began to question things, she realized she couldn't continue and began to look into what the church offered in earnest.
I didn't watch her career on TV, but admire her gutsy attitude as she digs into the Church secrets. Teaming up with several of the very top Scientology leaders - the people who developed many of the embedded programs they are now working to correct - most of what she is reveals is childish behaviour worthy of elementary school. Really wacky stuff I think it must be hard to swallow - remember this a religion created by a science fiction writer in the 1950's. You might assume that all celebrity Scientologists know each other, but I was still surprised how close she was to Tom Cruise, and she has some very odd things to say about his place in the church and how they cater to him in every area of his life.
Since I had already heard many of the stories on her interesting A&E show, much of this was not new, but a very interesting autobiography that continues to make waves.
2015 / Hardcover / 234 pages
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