This is a bibliography of works critical of Scientology and the Church of Scientology.
Between 1954 and 2020, only four English-language scholarly monographs have been published about Scientology (Wallis 1977 ; Whitehead 1987; Urban 2011; Westbrook 2019). Most other critical works have come in the form of apostate memoirs: books written by ex-members about their experiences within the Church of Scientology (CoS). On several occasions, the Church of Scientology has initiated copyright infringement lawsuits to restrain the publication of books critical of Scientology or its founder L. Ron Hubbard. Since 2008, the Internet has been able to provide a much safer ground for publishing material critical of the CoS, because traditional copyright law had little application there.
Books by title
Ali's Smile: Naked Scientology (1971) by William S. Burroughs Arrows in the Dark: A True Story of Intrigue and Espionage from the Church of Scientology's #1 Spy (2015) by Merrell Vannier Bare-faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard (1987) by Russell Miller Believe What You Like: What happened between the Scientologists and the National Association for Mental Health (1973) by C. H. Rolph Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape (2013) by Jenna Miscavige Hill A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology (2022) by Mike Rinder Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology (2009) by Marc Headley The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion (2011) by Hugh Urban The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology (2008) by John Duignan (with Nicola Tallant) Counterfeit Dreams: One Man's Journey into and Out of the World of Scientology (2010) by Jefferson Hawkins Cults of Unreason (1973) by Christopher Evans Damaged Lives: the Legacy of Scientology (2012) by Margery Wakefield David Miscavige: The Scientology Leader in the Shadow by Renata and Claudio Lugli The Defector: After 20 Years in Scientology, originally in Danish, Afhopperen: Mine 20 år i Scientology (2011), memoir by Robert Dam A Doctor's Report on Dianetics (1951, 1987) by Joseph A. Winter Escaping Scientology: An Insider's True Story (2017) memoir by Karen Schless Pressley The Expert Witness: My Life at the Top of Scientology (2018), memoir by Jesse Prince Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science (1952, 1957) by Martin Gardner Fair Game: The Incredible Untold Story of Scientology in Australia (2016) by Steve Cannane. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief (2013) by Lawrence Wright Have You Told All? Inside my Time with Narconon and Scientology (2013) by Lucas Catton Hollywood Undercover: Revealing the Sordid Secrets of Tinseltown (2007) by Ian Halperin Hollywood, Interrupted: Insanity Chic in Babylon - The Case Against Celebrity (2004) by Andrew Breitbart & Mark Ebner Inside Scientology: How I Joined Scientology and Became Superhuman (1972) by Robert Kaufman Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion (2011) by Janet Reitman I Survived! Overcoming Abuse, Scientology and Life in General (2019) by Margery Wakefield L. Ron Hubbard, Messiah or Madman? (1987, 1995) by Bent Corydon and Ronald DeWolf Lång väg hem: mina 25 år i sekten (2024, in Swedish), memoir by Mariette Lindstein The Mind Benders (1971) by Cyril Vosper My Billion Year Contract: Memoir of a Former Scientologist (2009) by Nancy Many , The New Believers (2001) by David V. Barrett Nineteen Eighty-Four, My Journey Into Scientology's Innermost Secrets - And Out Again (Norwegian: Nittenåttifire, Min vei inn i Scientologiens innerste hemmeligheter - og ut igjen) (2013) by Geir Isene A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics, and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed (1990) by Jon Atack A Queer and Pleasant Danger: A Memoir (2012) by Kate Bornstein , Religion Inc. The Church of Scientology (1986) by Stewart Lamont , Renunciation and Reformulation: A Study of Conversion in an American Sect (1987) by Harriet Whitehead , The Road to Total Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of Scientology (1976, 1977) by Roy Wallis The Road to Xenu: Life Inside Scientology (1991) by Margery Wakefield Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me (2016) by Ron Miscavige (with Dan Koon) The Scandal of Scientology (1971) by Paulette Cooper Scientology: Abuse At the Top (2010) by Amy Scobee n:Author Amy Scobee recounts abuse as Scientology executive (Wikinews) Scientology: The Now Religion (1970) by George Malko. Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography (2008) by Andrew Morton Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology (2015) by Leah Remini The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper (2015) by Tony Ortega Understanding Scientology: The Demon Cult (2009) by Margery Wakefield
Government reports
Year TitleNotes 1965 Anderson Report Australia, Board of Inquiry into Scientology 1969 Dumbleton–Powles Report New Zealand, Commission of Inquiry into the Hubbard Scientology organisation 1970 Lee Report Canada, Sectarian Healers and Hypnotherapy 1971 Foster Report United Kingdom, Enquiry into the Practice and Effects of Scientology 1972 The Kotzé Report South Africa, Report of the Commission of Enquiry into Scientology
Investigative reporting
Year TitleNotes 1979 Scientology: An in-depth profile of a new force in Clearwater Investigative report by St. Petersburg Times and winner of 1980 Pulitzer Prize in national reporting 1990 The Scientology Story A sixteen-part series by the Los Angeles Times 1991 The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power Investigative report by Richard Behar in Time magazine 2009 The Truth Rundown A 3-part series of investigative reporting in the St Petersburg Times 2009 Inside Scientology 215-page report by the St. Petersburg Times
Television
Year TitleNotes 2005 Trapped in the Closet South Park episode 2006 The Return of Chef South Park episode 2007 Scientology and Me Documentary on BBC's Panorama hosted by John Sweeney 2010 The Secrets of Scientology Documentary on BBC's Panorama hosted by John Sweeney 2010 Until Nothing Remains German documentary aired on ARD by 2015 My Scientology Movie Louis Theroux, Altitude Film Distribution 2016-2019 Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath 3-season series on A&E (TV network) hosted by Leah Remini and Mike Rinder
Film
Year TitleNotes 2002 The Profit Peter N. Alexander, Independent film 2006 The Bridge Brett Hanover, Independent film 2012 The Master Paul Thomas Anderson 2015 Going Clear Alex Gibney, HBO Documentary Films
See also Scientology controversies List of apologetic works
References (html version)
UK National Archive piece reference MH 153/606 (html version) See also Foster Report.
(html version)