Critical Books on Scientology/Dianetics

By Martin G. V. Hunt, from alt.religion.scientology newsgroup,
6 November, 1995

Books on Scientology

A Piece of Blue Sky - Scientology, Dianetics, and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed. Atack, Jon. Carol Publishing Group, New York. 1990.

Bare Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard. Miller, Russell. Henry Holt, New York. 1988.

L. Ron Hubbard: Messiah or Madman? - Revised, Updated and Expanded Edition. Corydon, Bent. Barricade Books, Fort Lee, New Jersey. 1992.

Scientology: The Now Religion. Malko, George. Dell/Delacorte, New York. 1970. (Review available on request.)

The Scandal of Scientology. Cooper, Paulette. Tower Publications, New York. 1971.

The Hidden Story of Scientology. Garrison, Omar V. Arlington Books, London. 1974. (Note that this is a pro-Scientology book, the only one on this list.)

Inside Scientology: Or How I Found Scientology and Became Super Human. Kaufman, Robert. Olympia Press, New York. 1972.

The Road to Total Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of Scientology. Wallis, Roy. Columbia University Press, New York. 1977.

Religion Inc. Lamont, Stewart. Harrap, London. 1986.

Books on Dianetics

A Doctor's Report on Dianetics: Theory and Therapy. Winter, Joseph A. Julian Press, New York. 1951.

Dianetics in Limbo. O'Brien, Helen. Whitmore Publishing Co., Philadelphia. 1966.

Fads & Fallacies in the Name of Science. Gardner, Martin. Dover, New York. 1952. (Read the chapter "Dianetics".)

Books of Origins [of dianetics and scientology]

Book of the Law. Crowley, Aleister. Thelema Publications, King-Beach, California. 1976.

The Prince. Machiavelli, Niccolo. Translated by George Bull. Penguin Books, London. 1981.

Science and Sanity. Korzybski, Count Alfred Habdank Skarbek. Institute of General Semantics, Lakeville, Connecticut. 1933.

Scientologie 34. Nordenholz, A. Translated by W. R. McPheeters.

The Art of War & Big League Sales Closing Techniques (Hard Sell) are also used as reference by the cult. More info appreciated!

Books on Brainwashing and Thought Reform

Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A study of "Brainwashing" in China. Lifton, Robert J. W. W. Norton, New York. 1961.

Thought Reform of the Chinese Intellectuals. Chen, Theodore H. E. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong. 1960.

The Search for the Manchurian Candidate: The CIA and Mind Control. Marks, John. Times Books, New York. 1979.

Coercive Persuation. Schein, Edgar H., with Inge Schneier and Curtis H. Barker. W. W. Norton, New York. 1961.

Influence: The New Psychology of Modern Persuation. Cialdini, Robert B. William Morrow, New York. 1984.

The Mindbenders. Vosper, Cyril. Neville Spearman, London. 1971.

Youth, Brainwashing, and the Extremist Cults. Enroth, Ronald. Zondervan Press, Kentwood, Michigan. 1977.

Rape of the Mind. Meerloo, Joost A. Grosset & Dunlap, New York. 1961.

Battle for the Mind: A Physiology of Conversion and Brainwashing. Sargant, William. Doubleday, Garden City, New York. 1957.

Books on Cults and Therapy

Combatting Cult Mind Control. Hassan, Steven. Park Street Press, Rochester, Vermont. 1990.

Snapping: America's Epidemic of Sudden Personality Change. Conway, Flo, and Jim Siegelman. Delta/J. B. Lippincott, New York. 1979.

Radical Departures: Desperate Detours to Growing Up. Levine, Saul V, M.D. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Orlando, Florida. 1984.

Destructive Cult Conversion: Theory, Research, and Treatment. Clark, John G., et al. American Family Foundation, Weston, Massachusetts. 1981.

Cults in America: Programmed for Paradise. Appel, Willa. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York. 1983.

Cults of Unreason. Evans, Dr. Christopher. Delta, New York. 1973. About a third of this book is on Scientology.

Cults and Consequences: The Definitive Handbook. Andres, Rachel, and Lane, James R., eds. Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles. 1988.

Let Our Children Go! Patrick, Ted, with Tom Dulack. Thomas Congdon Books/E. P. Dutton, New York. 1976.

Strange Gods. Bromley, David G., and Anson D. Shupe, Jr. Beacon Press, Boston. 1981.

All God's Children: The Cult Experience; Salvation or Slavery? Stoner, C., and J. Parke. Chilton Books, Radnor, Pennsylvania. 1977.

Other Materials

Nineteen Eighty-Four. Orwell, George. Penguin, Middlesex, England. 1954.

Brave New World. Huxley, Aldous.

The Hidden Persuaders. Packard, Vance. David McKay, New York. 1965.

The Organization Man. Whyte, William H. Simon & Schuster, New York. 1956.

Mein Kampf. Hitler, Adolph.

The Third Reich of Dreams. Beradt, Charlotte. Quadrangle Books, Chicago. 1966.

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. Bugliosi, Vincent, with Curt Gentry. W. W. Norton/Bantam, New York. 1975. (Was Manson a Scientologist?)

Selected Magazine and Periodical References

"Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power." Behar, Richard. Time, May 6 1991.

"Information Disease: Have Cults Created a New Mental Illness?" Conway, Flo, and Jim Siegelman. Science Digest, January 1982.

"Coming Out of the Cults." Singer, Margaret Thaler. Psychology Today, January 1979.

"Scientology Plot Against State Official." Henderson, Bruce. Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, 29 May 1980.

"Scientologists Plotted to Frame a Critic as a Criminal, Files Show." Gordon, Gregory. Boston Globe, 24 November 1979.

"Scientology: Anatomy of a Frightening Cult." Methvin, Eugene H. Reader's Digest, May 1980.

"How Cults Bilk Us All." Williams, Carson. Reader's Digest, November 1979.