katielanza's review
3.0
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes wedding!!! And the LAPD’s inactivity to the missing persons report on Shelly Miscavige!!!
tschmitty's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Honest and brutal take on Scientology. Leah Remini is likeable and honest in her memoir.
kalifer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
amygoninan's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my goodness!!! I learned so much about scientology, and my heart breaks for those involved. Leah did a wonderful job at explaining this subject and why it is so hard for so many people to leave.
ingypingy2000's review against another edition
4.0
Wow Wow Wow!!! This book was... wow. I don't know what else to say. I don't know how much is true and how much is 'her side' and whatnot, but so much of what she covers in this book coincides with various things I've overheard or read in other sources, etc. I don't doubt most (if not all) of this book. I'm genuinely in shock that people can follow this "religion" (cult)! I mean, I get why she did since her parents were and she was raised in it, but for people to get recruited into it? I don't understand! Either way, as far as the book itself, it was an easy read that sucks you in almost immediately and has you so 'seriously, this happens?!' that you can't put it down. A truly fascinating book and one that will leave you wanting to run and have someone else read it so you can talk about it!
periodicreader's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. Scientology has always been fascinating to me and hearing crazy stories (like what went down at Tom Cruise's wedding to Katie Holmes) was super interesting. Remini is as spunky as I expected her to be and her writing style is super fun and in your face.
l1brarygirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.75
nancidrum's review against another edition
3.0
This is a real insider's look at the church of Scientology, as lived by the author. Leah Remini grew up on the church until her "escape" in recent years. This book is eye-opening and even shocking in parts. Hard to believe that so many people are still being indoctrinated with this modern day cult-like culture.
Some things I learned from the book:
*children are thought of as adults-therefore adults do not provide supervision or guidance; even for very young children
*children work long, hard hours-sometimes 7 days/week for 12 hour days (can you say "child labor laws"?)
*formal education for children is discouraged-they want them to just be trained as Scientologists and as such schooling for all aged children is frowned upon (can you say "illegal in the US"?)
*the church hooks people in financially by insisting they take their expensive courses to the point where many people are hopelessly in debt for the remainder of their lives-the church will even show people the ins and outs of being able to carry a larger balance on their credit cards to pay for the courses and make other contributions to the church
*the church punishes their members who do not follow their rules by isolating them for years in sub-human conditions, where they are not allowed to have contact with their families or even to speak
I gave it 3.5 stars.
Some things I learned from the book:
*children are thought of as adults-therefore adults do not provide supervision or guidance; even for very young children
*children work long, hard hours-sometimes 7 days/week for 12 hour days (can you say "child labor laws"?)
*formal education for children is discouraged-they want them to just be trained as Scientologists and as such schooling for all aged children is frowned upon (can you say "illegal in the US"?)
*the church hooks people in financially by insisting they take their expensive courses to the point where many people are hopelessly in debt for the remainder of their lives-the church will even show people the ins and outs of being able to carry a larger balance on their credit cards to pay for the courses and make other contributions to the church
*the church punishes their members who do not follow their rules by isolating them for years in sub-human conditions, where they are not allowed to have contact with their families or even to speak
I gave it 3.5 stars.
micasreads's review against another edition
3.0
Leah Remini is known for being a television star, talk show host, and member of Scientology. Having been a member of the religion for years, she does all she can to move up the ranks and support the Church as much as possible. Remini begins to question the Church's motive. When she begins to draw attention to herself and her questions, the Church pushes back. After various encounters, Leah realizes her time as a Scientologist is over and steps away to start over.
Leah Remini has been very outspoken about Scientology and what its members have gone through. She details her first years in the religion, her goal to reach the upper tiers, and the moment that she begins to question all she has ever known. She is very open and opinionated throughout this book and does not hold back. I found the story to be well-done and I enjoyed Remini reading her own audiobook. It should be noted that Remini's accent is very strong in this audiobook and if a Brooklyn accent bothers you, I would go with the print book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
neighborhood_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Troublemaker is the biography of actress Leah Remini and her life growing up in the Church of Scientology all the way into adulthood. In no way is she trying to hide her mistakes from the public in this book. Instead on the very first page she lists her major faults including falling in love with a married man. She puts blame on herself instead of throwing in on everyone else just to prove she is not out for blood but rather trying to make a point.
Remini’s mother was brought to Scientology by a now ex-boyfriend. In order to spend more time with her mother both her and her sister joined as well. It was here she found a sense of peace and understanding. Scientology was a good practice for her because at the time it was black and white by offering a scientific process on how to improve quality of life and make you a better person. It showed her respect from adults she never had from her father or any other adults from her neighborhood. Being from Brooklyn, New York, she was never one to hold back to stay quiet and often spoke up on things that she didn’t think were okay. This led to getting into trouble a lot with the church and its members and have reports written up against her.
Throughout different stages of her faith she was strongly encouraged in to giving so much money and time to the church that she not only lost out on jobs but lost her car and home as well because she was unable to make payments. As children and adults were all treated as equals in regards to payment for “classes” which were mandatory to go up levels in the church, as well as jobs outside the church to contribute to the church and its. Remini dropped out of middle school to help support her family because it was what the church told her to do. While living on a Scientology work base she was starved to the point that she stole some food. Later in life after admitting to this deed her auditor (person who makes sure she is staying on track with the church) told her she owed the church $40,000 in payment for the food she took as a child.
After 30 years of practicing Scientology, Remini had enough. Being forced to cut contact with some of her best friends and own family and giving millions of dollars away, she begins to question some of the church’s practices. It wasn’t until she was put in bad standing after questioning the church about a certain celebrity holding a very high standing in the church and controlling practices she realized that something was truly wrong and tried to get help. Receiving no answers and being told she was a horrible person and everything happening was all her fault, in 2013 she left the Church of Scientology for good.
This book not only tells of Leah’s personal experiences with Scientology, but history of how it came to be as well as what attracts people to it in the first place. By just asking questions such as where her friends were or where the money she gave to the church was going; she was declared a threat to the organization and therefore all contact with her should be severed.
Leaving something that you have invested your whole life into is not easy or simple as one may think. Remini had to deal with many repercussions from rewriting her brain to realizing that she was not the horrible person people kept saying she was as well as telling herself that she really did do the best thing for her and her family. This book shows just how hard that struggle can be and how it is even harder when the people against you have more control then you ever dreamed.
Leah Remini knows that her life hasn’t been perfect; She has made many mistakes and fallen many times only to pick herself up and move on. This book highlights all of that. Every story and every painful memory she tells is packed with her personality and humor that it seems as if you are swapping stories with a friend. Remini admits that she is not perfect and has many flaws which many people see as a problem but it is these statements that make her that much more likeable and enjoyable as a person. You want her to succeed and create a better life not only for her sake but her husband and daughters as well. With the support of her loved ones, Remini is getting her life back on track by going to therapy. The main thing that she is learning is that you have to find what works best for her to succeed in life and that sometimes it’s okay to be a troublemaker and stir things up.
Remini’s mother was brought to Scientology by a now ex-boyfriend. In order to spend more time with her mother both her and her sister joined as well. It was here she found a sense of peace and understanding. Scientology was a good practice for her because at the time it was black and white by offering a scientific process on how to improve quality of life and make you a better person. It showed her respect from adults she never had from her father or any other adults from her neighborhood. Being from Brooklyn, New York, she was never one to hold back to stay quiet and often spoke up on things that she didn’t think were okay. This led to getting into trouble a lot with the church and its members and have reports written up against her.
Throughout different stages of her faith she was strongly encouraged in to giving so much money and time to the church that she not only lost out on jobs but lost her car and home as well because she was unable to make payments. As children and adults were all treated as equals in regards to payment for “classes” which were mandatory to go up levels in the church, as well as jobs outside the church to contribute to the church and its. Remini dropped out of middle school to help support her family because it was what the church told her to do. While living on a Scientology work base she was starved to the point that she stole some food. Later in life after admitting to this deed her auditor (person who makes sure she is staying on track with the church) told her she owed the church $40,000 in payment for the food she took as a child.
After 30 years of practicing Scientology, Remini had enough. Being forced to cut contact with some of her best friends and own family and giving millions of dollars away, she begins to question some of the church’s practices. It wasn’t until she was put in bad standing after questioning the church about a certain celebrity holding a very high standing in the church and controlling practices she realized that something was truly wrong and tried to get help. Receiving no answers and being told she was a horrible person and everything happening was all her fault, in 2013 she left the Church of Scientology for good.
This book not only tells of Leah’s personal experiences with Scientology, but history of how it came to be as well as what attracts people to it in the first place. By just asking questions such as where her friends were or where the money she gave to the church was going; she was declared a threat to the organization and therefore all contact with her should be severed.
Leaving something that you have invested your whole life into is not easy or simple as one may think. Remini had to deal with many repercussions from rewriting her brain to realizing that she was not the horrible person people kept saying she was as well as telling herself that she really did do the best thing for her and her family. This book shows just how hard that struggle can be and how it is even harder when the people against you have more control then you ever dreamed.
Leah Remini knows that her life hasn’t been perfect; She has made many mistakes and fallen many times only to pick herself up and move on. This book highlights all of that. Every story and every painful memory she tells is packed with her personality and humor that it seems as if you are swapping stories with a friend. Remini admits that she is not perfect and has many flaws which many people see as a problem but it is these statements that make her that much more likeable and enjoyable as a person. You want her to succeed and create a better life not only for her sake but her husband and daughters as well. With the support of her loved ones, Remini is getting her life back on track by going to therapy. The main thing that she is learning is that you have to find what works best for her to succeed in life and that sometimes it’s okay to be a troublemaker and stir things up.