Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me

by Ron Miscavige

The only book to examine the origins of Scientology's current leader, RUTHLESS tells the revealing story of David Miscavige's childhood and his path to the head seat of the Church of Scientology told through the eyes of his father. Ron Miscavige's personal, heartfelt story is a riveting insider's look at life within the world of Scientology.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Cults, Religion, Audiobook, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

Ron Miscavige is the estranged father of controversial Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige. He and his family joined Scientology in 1970, and he worked for The Sea Organization for almost 27 of those years before leaving the Church entirely in 2012. He is a Marine veteran and professional musician. Miscavige and his wife Becky live in Wisconsin. His granddaughter is author Jenna Miscavige Hill.

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

No matter how bad things get, just remember: at least your dad never wrote a book about how you're a sociopath.

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ron Miscavige left scientology and states in this book that the final straw for him to go ahead and write his story was the fact that his son David was still having him followed. He found out one day when he bent over and grabbed his shirt pocket to keep his cell phone from falling out that his son had told the people following him-to not interfere..if he dies he dies.
That's pretty hard as a parent to hear. What makes a child change so much that the parent doesn't even really know who they are anymore?

Unfortunately you are not going to find out from this book. Miscavige does go back through David's early childhood and admits that at age 15 David told the family that he was tired of going to school and seeing kids do drugs, so he was joining SeaOrg. (Scientology's ultra-strict recruiting program-or some crap like that)

After that his relationship wasn't really that great with his father. There are stories that the author tells that ring completely true but they are mostly hearsay. He really doesn't know exactly why his son rose to power within Scientology and is so a wacko.


You really don't learn much new about scientology in this book either, the author still seems to have fond feelings of L. Ron Hubbard's reign. It just seems like he got disenchanted once his son took the wheel. (I didn't really feel like that part was even explained..just that David Miscavige was pushing for the top post and got it.) I think from the feeling that I got: If his son was out of control that he would go back to the religion.

Give me more than that! Give me the dirty secrets. Give me why this man is controlling one of the most powerful cults churches. Give me something at least.


There were times during the book that I felt for the author. He does admit the mistakes he made. BUT and it's a big but some of them just don't add up. The author getting charged with attempted rape and then David coming to the rescue with lawyers. The woman didn't even really identify him. Then he signs up for years and years of service at SeaOrg? Frigging slave labor for over 20 years. I just don't get why?

The hitting of his wife. He admits that she isn't here to tell her story but honestly, it feels like he just put it in to gloss over because he knew that his son would use it against him if he didn't.

His oldest son has also left Scientology but his daughters still remained when he wrote the book, they have cut him off because ..well because David Miscavige told them to do so. That hurts.
I do think that the book was done mostly for money though, it just had that ring to me and that's kinda sad.

I'm totally behind the fact though that David Miscavige is a ruthless little Napoleon.


Booksource: I received a copy of the book from the publisher. Many thanks!

[Taryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

For my whole life I have believed that, regardless of the hand we are dealt, each of us chooses how we play our cards.

2.5 Stars. This memoir sounded interesting because it's from the unique perspective of the father of David Miscavige, the leader of the controversial Church of Scientology. Ron Miscavige wrote this book after he discovered that his son had him followed and directed the private investigators not to intervene if Ron needed medical assistance. He is also upset that his daughters stopped speaking to him due to the CoS's policy of disconnection. Ron seems like an affable man, but he has an old-school door-to-door salesman vibe. I got the feeling that he might be presenting himself and the events as rosier than they were. He also really needs the answer to the question of nature vs. nurture to be nature! That's not to say whether he's right or wrong, it's just a point that's emphasized. Ron had a toxic relationship with the mother of his children. She gets the 'shrew' portrayal; the caricature is that pronounced. Most of Ron's admissions of wrong-doing or bad parenting were usually followed by a minimization or deflection of blame. The most obvious offense: "I never slapped or hit [Loretta] in the face but, still sometimes I did strike her. I might punch her in the arm or push her away when she was getting on me, She threw things at me--pots, pans, a pot of boiling coffee once." He is typically quick to gloss over his mistakes, which made him difficult to empathize with.

They were people who sincerely wanted to help others and make a better world. The impulse to help is strong in most people, and I think it exists in the greater part of humanity, but there are also a relative few among humankind who would use people's kind hearts and good intentions for selfish ends. You could even say that good people are flawed because they have a hard time conceiving that others are not also basically good and therefore can be deceived.

My biggest disappointment was that David Miscavige remained on the periphery of the account. David moved out when he was sixteen, but I didn't even feel like I got to know him when he was living in the family home. Basically, Scientology cured his asthma and he was an aggressive bully in school. There are a few direct interactions between father and son, but most of it is speculation, hearsay, and declarations of personality traits without detailed examples to back them up. It's not that I didn't think the events were believable, but I would have liked to see more conversations and corroborating accounts. I know those must be difficult to obtain since the organization is so secretive and quick to retaliate. I didn't feel like I was always getting the whole story, like the rape allegations against Ron or David's quick ascent to leadership after Hubbard's death.

How does it get to that point? By tiny increments. A small change here, a small change there. A slight modification of a rule here, another one there. You agree to each one because it seems like no great loss of liberty or freedom of movement or of thought. It is for the greater good, you rationalize.

There are some interesting tidbits about life in the Scientology compound. My favorite part was Ron's break with the church after twenty-seven years. He went to absurd lengths when planning his escape! My eyes also perked up when Tom Cruise briefly showed up. The celebrity obsession of the Scientology leadership is so strange and creepy! Ron did a good job explaining how a person can get caught up in such a restrictive environment. Despite everything he went through, he still has an overall positive view of the church's teachings. While he does talk about how much better the church was in L. Ron Hubbard's control, he occasionally reveals Hubbard's flaws. It was interesting to see the illusion start to fade as he reflected on the past.

A philosophy is just a philosophy. Nearly everybody follows someone else's way of dealing with life or makes up their own or creates a blend of the two.

Obviously, this book wasn't received well by the Church of Scientology! When I search "Ron Miscavige" via Google, the first link is a paid ad to a website set up by the CoS to discredit Ron and his co-author Dan Koon. Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige and Me was more about a man who needs to absolve himself of both his and his son's sins, rather insight into the mind of a cruel and controlling cult leader. I'd recommend it if you're curious about what kind of environment David Miscavige grew up in. I preferred Leah Remini's memoir because I was already familiar with her, the transition from regular member to celebrity member was interesting, and it was pretty juicy on the celebrity gossip front!

What is the catalyst for such an unfortunate transformation? I have included that it is the acquisition of power. Some who come into positions of power may be able to remain whole and true to themselves, but my son David has demonstrated beyond doubt that he is not one of them.

_______________________
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Char]

DNF at 30%. I don't like this man and I don't like this book. I want to give it two stars, but maybe it gets better? I don't feel that's fair after listening to only 30%, so DNF it is.

[Hester · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ruthless is more like Pointless.

I decided to read this book to see if I could gain any insight into the warped mind of angry midget David Miscavige, I thought maybe his father had some idea, though Poppa Miscavige never did share any real insight he most certainly left some clues that point straight back at him.

For a book supposedly about his relationship with his son, there wasn't much of one. Ron raised David until the age of 15 when David decided that since too many of his classmates do drugs he wanted to join the Sea Org. But I'm suspecting this desire to leave home had something to do with the arguing and physical fights between his parents, I'm suspecting that's where David got the idea that it's okay to beat and verbally abuse his lackeys and I'm sure that working with LRH cemented this behavior as the only way to handle underlings.

Ron doesn't have many first hand stories of David's unacceptable behavior, it's mostly just second hand information but I believe every single one, mainly because of the countless credible stories of his behavior from actual victims.

Ron shares a story of how he was accused of attempted rape in the mid 80s. He went to the police station was questioned and was shown a police sketch that looked like him, he then contacted David and his son had the CO$ pay all of his attorney fees, the case was thrown out when the victim could not positively ID Ron, he joined the Sea Org shortly after. This made a big warning light go off in my head. I find it very suspicious and wonder how much truth is behind his story. Did the CO$ pay his legal fees and help him get out of trouble in exchange for his unending servitude in the Sea Org? That whole situation made me give him side eye until my eyes grew exhausted from the strain, something in the barley water ain't clean.

Ron Miscavige is an old fool who wrote this unenlightening book for some quick cash. I don't believe for a second he wasn't aware of the CO$'s intimidation tactics and spying until it happened to him. He still believes in Scientology and blames his son for the strong arming of members into donating money, but Scientology always did that. Anyone with a brain can see that LRH started his cult in the pursuit of money, and he got it and ruined many lives along the way. All hail Xenu indeed!

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

NB: I received a finished copy of this book as part of a marketing campaign, but that has not affected the content of my review.

This book was disappointing and pretty poorly written, but not worthless. There are far better books about Scientology out there, so don’t make this your first stop. But there are a few interesting glimmers here I haven’t read in any other Scientology books, so if the subject matter is something that really gets you going, you may want to check Ruthless out anyway.

The title (and subtitle) may have clued you in, but just in case, this book was written by Ron Miscavige, the father of David Miscavige, who currently heads up the “church” of Scientology. RM (as I will call him) ostensibly decided to write this book after an incident in a parking lot, where the private investigators RM’s son had following him thought they saw RM having a heart attack, and when they checked in with David, he reportedly told them not to offer any assistance, letting him die if that’s how things went. RM took this inciting incident, which occurred about a year after he left Scientology, and uses it basically as an excuse to tell us his life’s story, when the book is marketed like it’s all about his son.

I’ll be honest, most of this book was dull as turds. RM has led a more interesting life than most people, and yet reading about it is about as exciting as watching said turds dry in the sun. That combined with the beyond basic writing style, and an emptiness of content, meant that most of this book was not engaging at all. It wasn’t until about halfway through the book that it became interesting. Then again, it really is very difficult to make the abuses one suffers under a cult uninteresting*, so I don’t think RM should get much of that credit.

*I remain completely fascinated by the fact that what pushed RM out of Scientology at last was not the violation of privacy, terrible working conditions, literal physical abuses and deprivations, emotional terror, and essentially being a prisoner in his own mind. No, it was that RM lost his job composing music and no longer felt useful as a man, so when he asked David to intervene for him and help him have a purpose again and David didn’t, RM wanted out.

Overall, this book as a whole feels like RM wanted to examine how his son turned out the way he did, but didn’t actually want to place any blame on himself. He makes nods towards examining his own role in his son’s life, but there’s no meat in it. It just ends up feeling like a big mea culpa, that in the end accepts no responsibility at all. I also think ex-Scientology members maybe need to spend a little more time outside of the cult before they write their books. He was still fresh as a daisy when he wrote this, still professing to believe a lot of the tenets of the religion. He needed more time. This out-in-a-physical-sense, but still-inside-in-his-head mindset, actually dovetails with the book acting as more of a defense, an apologia, than honest reflection, though he does have some really interesting things to say about the meaning of freedom, and allowing others to take away your basic human rights in exchange for, well, anything. Safety, security, salvation . . .

I think this book would have been better with more time on the author’s part reflecting, more hard facts, and a better ghostwriter. I’m disappointed that there wasn’t more to be found here, though I’m not unhappy I read it.

[John Duignan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ruthless, a review and critique

It has been said that the reading of a biography or memoir is so often more interesting for what the subject omits from the discussion than for what the author commits to on paper.

Isaacson’s 2011 Steve Jobs biography is a case in point. In interviews and discussions with Jobs, it was clear that the subject did not recognise his often abusive treatment of his staff, nor, as his body was being eaten away by the ever ravenous cancer, did he recognise his misplaced faith in the curative properties of ‘miracle’ foods and odd-ball psychic practices until, tragically, it was too late.

Ron Miscavige’s ‘Ruthless’ is an astonishing example of ‘the blinkered gaze’. It is an account of a man caught in the relentless grip of his own psychic dissonance. It is an account of a man walking a tightrope over the chasm that describes his wilful ignorance of the violence that his forty odd years of fanatical adherence to Scientology has done to him and his most cherished. What it is not is an insightful book on David Miscavige, Scientology’s omnipotent leader.

Ron is a salesman. Most salesmen spend their working lives persuading people to spend their hard earned cash on things they don’t need. That is why you don’t encounter the irritatingly insistent sales guy giving you his frantic pitch in the cereal aisle at the supermarket. But you do encounter him cold calling you, pushing financial products, used cars and religion.

To have any kind of endurance in the sales field one must be not only adept in the arts of coercion, seduction and entrapment, but must maintain in oneself a certain gullibility. A credulousness coupled with an almost brutal facility in the suppression of one’s own conscience. The most durable sales people I have encountered displayed a number of these distinctly sociopathic traits.

Back in 1985 Ron Senior was just wrapping up the Scientology equivalent of Boot Camp just as I was being initiated to that same Sea Org regime at The Complex, that strange Neverwhere world sprawling the twenty odd acres between the rundown, seedier end of Sunset Boulevard and the otherwise wholly unremarkable Fountain Avenue in Los Angeles.

Seared into my cerebral cortex – and to this day I awake from nightmares, in a cold sweat. I am back there again, running its labyrinth corridors in an effort to escape. It is the impotent terror that assailed the naïve and rather innocent twenty two year old me when I first stared into the shabby portal to that looming mass of a building. It exuded a darkness, a perceptible air of grimness and foreboding that was not in any sense mitigated by the sky blue paint job.

It was a creepy and disturbing experience.

I stood for a moment holding onto the door of the blue and yellow Ford LTD taxi cab. That inner voice screamed at me to jump back in and demand that the driver take me right back to LAX. But that awful blend of self-doubt and impetuosity, typical of wilful youth, forced me out of the safety of the cab and into the hungry maw that was the heart of the Scientology machine.

I intuited correctly that the blue and yellow Ford LTD represented the last contact with normality I was to have for the ensuing two decades.

Scientology marches to the beat of its own drum, it lives just outside the real world, and it exists on a different plane. You can see the cars, you can even, if sanctioned, own a cell-phone. But these are tenuous things, relics of a life forfeited, a citizenship renounced, your past, a foreign land.

I met Ron Miscavige on my first, and his last, week of Sea Org Boot Camp. In ’88 We shared a long, snow-bound Christmas weekend up at the Big Bear Lake resort high in the San Bernardino hills when the one hundred plus crew of the rarefied and exclusive ‘International Level’ Sea Org folks took it over for the holidays.

I was his chauffeur when the ‘Golden Era Musicians’ played for the infamous IAS events at the Saint Hill complex in Sussex and I breakfasted with him a few times both in Los Angeles and at the Saint Hill Sea Org crew housing facility in Crowborough.

The Ron Miscavige that I knew was a somewhat self-obsessed, nervy and often sanctimonious individual. He could be nice enough and I never had a ‘run in’ with him. It is just that he seemed, not unlike his steely eyed progeny, to lack any kind of empathy or interest in the person he was dealing with.

The stories he shared seemed to be for the purpose of self-gratification and to fill in an otherwise empty space. Rather than engaging with you, he talked at you. The salesman all over.

He regaled me with tales. A mix of childhood reminiscence of the coal towns of West Virginia and of his time spent on spaceships several million years ago and of seeing mounted knights in shining armour heading off to do battle against the French, and more movingly, of seeing a soot covered urchin scampering up a chimney.

You see, what Ron does not tell you in ‘Ruthless’ is that Scientologists see ghosts. They are inhabited by ghosts and more poignantly, are in fact the hollowed out ghosts of the people they could and should have been. They spend their auditing hours trying exorcise these unquiet spirits, wraiths that burden them with woes of deaths past.

You are either mad when you join Scientology or you are driven mad by Scientology. By any objective measure, the practice of Scientologist is a journey into insanity. You are in a place where psychotic behaviours are normalized, celebrated even. We all witnessed Tom Cruise’s couch leaping on Oprah. We saw his unhinged behaviour in the unsanctioned ‘black-turtleneck’ YouTube interview. Tom is the ideal that all Scientologists are encouraged to emulate.

You cannot imagine the awe, the thrill that we Scientologists experienced as that interview played out in the packed auditorium in October 2004. The fanaticism, the unquestioning loyalty to the spirit of Hubbard and the person of David Miscavige. The pure joy of seeing the movie star, Cruise, as the exemplar of everything we aspired to be.

For all of the hints as to the efficacy of Scientology techniques with which Miscavige peppers his account, a between the lines reading reveals one of its key failings. This is its complete lack of any kind of objective assessment of what Scientology really is. Why is it that it has been able to hold sway over a relatively small, yet exceedingly devout, following in its half century or so of existence?

Miscavige is forever extolling the positive effects of the method. His critique of Hubbard seems forced, his critical assessment of the practice, carefully couched.

To study a social culture in its uncontaminated form is the ne plus ultra of the anthropologist. This maxim has bled over into the Sociology field where academics tend to discount the testament of the ex-Scientologist, believing that they cannot give an unbiased account of the culture. This is, in my view, akin to trying to understand psychiatric methodology and practitioners by interviewing the unhinged psychotic.

There was a time in the mid-nineties when the Scientology propaganda office sanctioned the ostensibly ‘free and open access’ study into the Scientology culture by a number of sociology academics.

I recall seeing these willing dupes being led by the nose through a finely orchestrated theatrical presentation, not unlike that put on for visiting tourist parties to North Korea. The trouble was, that these academics, so thrilled that they finally had access to the ‘real Scientology’, naïve fools, bought the ploy, hook line and sinker.

They left and produced a series of academic articles that might have been written by the Scientology propaganda office.

In a sense, that is exactly what did happen.

While Scientology is broadly reviled in the public sphere, it is still given leeway by academics who remain deeply imbued with their relativist orthodoxy. This academic laxity bleeds over into governance sector. The American tax authorities are happy to call it a ‘church’ and wipe their hands of the numerous accounts of gross violations of human rights and accusations of criminal activity. It is treated rather like a distant rogue state, a banana republic that is allowed to stamp on and crush its populace as long as it does not upset the domestic equilibrium.

That is not a bad analogy. When you get down to the nuts and bolts of it. Scientology and cults of that ilk are in fact autonomous States. Principalities carved out of the host nation and its populace. Devotees do not swear allegiance to Flag or Crown. They are loyal only to the cult leader and obey his edicts and laws before those of the State. In fact they mostly distain Federal law and regulation, complying just enough to avoid investigation and litigation.

These Principalities might be described parasitic on the nation, but cannot be described as beholden to the nation.

It is this then that provides the lens through which we can view and make sense of the phenomena that is Scientology. The lens provided by the fourteenth century political philosopher, Niccolò Machiavelli.

The essence of the Machiavellian thesis is that the Prince is the State and the State is the Prince. He develops the thesis by stating that a Prince should present the appearance of being a compassionate, trustworthy, kind, frank, sincere, credible, faith-filled, courageous, generous and pious ruler. Let me reiterate. The Prince should present the appearance of compassion, of trust, of sincerity and courage.

Listen to Tom Cruise in that infamous YouTube video extolling the virtues of the Great Leader, David Miscavige.

"I have never met a more competent, a more intelligent, a more tolerant, a more compassionate being outside of what I have experienced from L. Ron Hubbard”.

This becomes terribly interesting with the revelation that one of the stipulations of qualification for certain levels of executive within Scientology is to have passed a close reading and thorough examination on Machiavelli’s address to 14th Century Florence’s ruling Medici clan.

Machiavelli’s book made little or no sense to me when I studied it as a Scientology executive. I lacked the life experience and acumen in which to frame what I was reading. I passed the test by parroting excerpts, but it was only when, some years after I made my way out of the bedlam that is Scientology, I took an undergraduate module on Machiavelli in Italian. That, along with a political Science module and some political activism gave me the framework to understand what he was on about. But I am pretty sure that David Miscavige got it first time. I would bet he kept a copy under his pillow. You see, his rise to the top is mapped out in the chapter by chapter progression of ‘The Prince’.

Hubbard was the King usurped. David, the cunning and conniving usurper. By 1985 Hubbard was paranoid, sick and probably suffering the early stages of dementia. But he was still a vicious old dog and would snap and bite with some ferocity during those increasingly rare moments of lucidity.

His convenient death in 1986 set the stage for young David’s final power push. Oh, and let us not forget that one of necessary tasks of the Machiavellian usurper is the decimation and destruction of the key supporters of the old order. Those who remain loyal to the defeated monarch, in Scientology terms that would in the main be those who worked closely with or trained under Hubbard. The Class VIII Auditors and Briefing Course graduates of the late Sixties, seventies and eighties.

In Chapter 6, Machiavelli discusses the achievement of power by virtue. In the Machiavellian use the term is used in the way of guile, canniness and decisiveness. The young David took that on board alright. His peers were gullible and thus easily outmanoeuvred.

David’s violence and oppression is utterly justified in the Machiavellian paradigm. It is a point that Ron misses. He tries to explain it through Hubbard’s ‘SP’ test. A piece ‘borrowed’ from psychiatric studies on sociopathic personalities.

Ron, and his co-author, Dan Koon, do us disservice. There are no revelations of any real merit. At least not that we have not already encountered in much greater detail from the likes of Paul Haggis and Jason Beghe and former Sea Org members like Sylvia ‘Spanky’ Taylor in Gibney’s brilliant documentary ‘Going Clear’. There are the shocking admissions in the court interviews of Debbie Cook and the accounts David’s violence and abusive behaviours by Amy Scobee in her first-hand telling, 'Scientology - Abuse at the Top'.

Ron and Dan forward the line maintained by the Independent Scientology movement hardliners, that it was all grand until nasty little David took over and perverted Hubbard’s inspired scriptures.

There are a lot of broken souls who, if given voice, would contend this assertion.

A puzzling few paragraphs dedicated to the musician Isaac Hayes pop up, out of the blue really, in chapter thirteen. These comprise a cringe worthy underscoring of Miscavige’s obtuse avoidance of reality. Like so much of the book, this Hayes encounter is distressingly self-serving. It is Miscavige, the failed musician, basking in the reflected glory of a true musical genius.

Ron fails to even comment on the notorious 2006 Trapped in the Closet South Park spoof on Tom Cruise, Xenu, Hubbard and Travolta. It is the one truly interesting aspect of the great man’s involvement with a cult that stands, in principle, against everything ‘Mister Chocolate Salty Balls’ fought for throughout his life.

Hayes initially was tickled by the episode and supported Parker and Stone. Then the cult came down on him like a ton of bricks. I imagine that Tommy Davis rocked up on his door step and did not stop screeching at Hayes until Cruise’s threats against Viacom began to bite.

Isaac’s untimely death not long after the dust settled could well be related to the stress of his own intuitive tendency to truth and the humorous piss take, butting up against the unbearable group pressure, guilt tripping and enforced ‘confessionals’ that Scientology officials put him through. The sort of pressure that can turn a proud, strong man into a spineless zombie. Believe me, it is the one thing that Scientology truly excels at.

I do not contend the assertion that life in David Miscavige’s Sea Org was miserable. It was a ridiculously regimented, sweatshop existence. We were ruled by bullying, fear and terror. We were trapped by poverty and ignorance. But even within that system it is possible to take a stand, to right some wrongs. Where was Ron when his Granddaughter, Jenna, was going through hell, not being allowed to see her parents, often for stretches of a year or more? Where was he when his son, Ron jr, was battling the terror little David unleashed on the Sea Org crew in 2000?

Ron’s issue is really that of petulance. He, the father of the Ruler, being treated like regular crew. He lacks the self-awareness to see that he was in fact privileged. He was treated with kid gloves. I remember the exhortation, passed on to us by the Commanding Officer of Gold, Ron Norton. David Miscavige told them "look after him, he is my Dad". He sees fit to remain miffed on being chewed out by the Gold Base Motor Pool guys for parking his car in their repair lot.

The trouble with media and publishing is that it runs itself ragged scavenging around for the next sexy tidbit. The gripping headline. These more often than not turn out to be empty puff pieces, damp squibs. I for one, often feel somewhat sullied after being seduced to click on the Beckham’s divorce headline. I am stupid for being suckered into contributing to the publisher’s revenue via the Facebook ‘like’.

Ron Miscavige and Dan Koon’s Ruthless made me feel a bit like that. Soiled, dirty. It made the New York Times bestseller list because it was a sexy headline. But there are so many more worthy stories out there begging to be told.

They will not be told because they are from nobodies, dupes like me or Noel, the formerly wealthy CEO of a Real Estate empire, now an aged, penniless inmate of an Irish lunatic asylum.

Yes, Scientology really works and helps people.

So, Ron, forgive me if I call you unreflective, if I call you self-obsessed. You simply cannot see that it was your desperation to follow Hubbard and his yellow brick road to Xenu that shattered two generations of your family. Your son Ronnie now works to rebuild his relationship with his long estranged daughter, Jenna. I am sure they are doing well, no thanks to you. Your daughter Denise, ah yes, your daughter Denise.

There is a Tampa Police mug shot showing David’s dear little twin, a stoned and inebriated Denise Gentile after being picked up outside of a crack house, one of a group of properties that she and her husband owned in a bad part of the otherwise rather upmarket Clearwater.

Reporter Joe Childs describes the affair in his June 2013 article in the Tampa Bay Times. Her tenants explained that they often paid her in ‘blunts’ - thick cigars of marijuana. The church legal attack dogs got the charges lifted. A few years previously she had been deeply implicated in the death by shooting and the subsequent cover up of evidence in the murder of a bright, happy go lucky young man called Kyle Brennan.

He had been visiting his father, a fanatical Scientologist and close associate of Denise Miscavige Gentile. She was the first person called by Tom Brennan, the father. From the moment Denise arrived at the crime scene a tale of lost and tainted evidence, bribed officials, stolen belongings, a convoluted cover up worthy of the most fevered crime novelist’s imagination, ensued. Why? Because David Miscavige and the cult he rules was implicated – all of the principles being active and high achieving Scientologists, not to mention, Denise, First Sister, Scientology Royalty.

The young man’s mother, Victoria, had no idea what she was getting into when she started to investigate some very serious investigative omissions and strange behaviours by the Clearwater police. She did not know that the full might and power of Scientology and it legal teams would come down on her, crush her and leave her with a mountain of debt. The costs of ‘inconveniencing’ Scientology. Court costs and legal fees that she has no hope of ever paying off in her lifetime.

Meanwhile, because she cannot afford a gravestone, she has had to place the body of her darling, youngest child in an unmarked Virginia grave.

Scientology has had a catastrophic effect on this little family from Philadelphia. And the ripple effects of Ron Miscavige's blind belief has resulted in untold suffering for the many thousands directly and indirectly touched by David Miscavige’s Scientology.

Ron, the salesman remains utterly convinced of its efficacy.

In the final analysis, Ruthless is not an exposé, not a revelation of the inner workings of a mysterious cult. It is rather, a testament to delusion. An insight as to how a credulous and intemperate husband and father can lead his family down the rabbit hole and into madness.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mind numbingly boring. This book is supposed to be about how evil David Miscavige the leader of Scientology is. But really Ron his father is a pretty horrible person himself. Nothing is ever Ron's fault; his ex-wife was evil, he was arrested for attempted rape because people hate Scientology not because he tried to force himself on a girl. I didn't really learn anything from this book. If you're looking for a behind the scenes look at Scientology don't read this there are so many better books out there like Leah Remini's book.

[britt_brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m having trouble understanding why this was even published. Perhaps Mr. Miscavige needed to supplement his Exer-Genie income? 🤷🏼‍♀️ This could’ve been an intriguing article, but as a book, it was unbearably boring. There are plenty of other Scientology memoirs out there that are much better.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me" authored by Ron Miscavige with Dan Koon offers a fascinating comprehensive insider view of the CoS (Church of Scientology) that only he can tell. Outlining his family history within the organization beginning in 1971, he clarifies David's cure from severe allergy and asthma attacks that required hospitalization, to his son's determination to serve LRH, and his calculated rise to power becoming the Chairman of the Board (CoB) following the death of LRH in 1986.

In March of 2012 when Ron and his wife Becky "escaped"-- motion sensors and barbed wire fencing would be surrounding all new living quarters with 24 hour armed security and surveillance cameras. All phone calls were monitored, ingoing-outgoing mail read/censored. There were no days off or vacations allowed. Times to dine and watch TV were carefully scheduled and controlled. When Ron sought approval to attend his brother's funeral, he was accompanied by two "minders" and an armed investigator. This was not prison incarceration, but the life he and his wife Becky lived at the Gold CoS compound in an isolated desert region located in Southern California.
After leaving the church, Ron and Becky stayed in Wisconsin at the home of Becky's parents. Ron would be informed he was under surveillance by detectives hired by the CoS, though they would be grateful for the large lump sum of money donated by the church to buy a home.

As with many stories told about the church, Ron's story is controversial, he has been accused of selling out to make a buck, and too harshly criticized David's leadership. Ron readily admits his faults as a father, and his inability to have a successful happy marriage with his children's mother Loretta due to constant bickering and fighting. They were married for 3o years before divorcing in the 1980's. This turmoil and bitter unhappiness has taken its negative toll on his family dynamic, though he has been happily remarried to Becky for years.
Ron was very speculative about David's rise to the top, the numerous problems in the CoS, including the drastic change in philosophy, the extreme control of reporting petty and trivial matters, and its negative impact as the CoS demanded more time and money from members. Many of his observations were also verified in the excellent book "Trouble Maker Surviving Hollywood and Scientology" Leah Remini (2o15). The differences between Scientologists who lived inside and outside the organization were very noticeable, also the enriched lifestyle of the upper class management compared to ordinary Scientologists living on church property.

The practice of Scientologists "disconnecting" from former members and anyone who doesn't agree with their views must change immediately according to Ron. This is a policy that doesn't allow honest communication, tolerance, and mature respect for differences of ideas and opinions that define individuality and a person's humanity. This policy is harmful and divides people rather than promoting unity for a common good. This an important book, hopefully there will be brighter days ahead for this father and son relationship. Great photo's included, including an aerial photographs and numbered buildings for easier identification.
Special thanks and appreciation to St. Martin's Press for the ARC for the purpose of review.

[hagerle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3rd star added because I wasn't expecting full-color photos (or any photos) to be included.

Only rated 2 stars, because while it was interesting to learn about David's (& his siblings) early years, I disagreed with a major point of Ron's book. Namely, that Scientology was a sunny lollipop-filled paradise until David took over in the 1980's. IMO Scientology is & always has been an evil in the world & no amount of apologetics about LRH's personal life or the Church's failings will in some way "validate" their "teachings" as truth despite the mountains of evidence to the contrary.

I found myself wishing Ron could break away completely & leave all of Scientology's nonsense behind, instead of his half-hearted attempt to convince the Reader that Scientology has something of merit at its core.

After all, LRH said: "You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion."

[Bettie]

http://time.com/4310263/scientology-l...

[Melissa kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree with other readers this memoir isn't well written or what I refer to as having a point....

there isn't any like oh my God revelations or real harsh view of scientology. I believe his abuse at the hands of the church however the information he gives doesn't seem like he was an insider. its all second hand information or "a guy i knew said this". I don't think he was privy to scientology secrets so there isn't much true substance to the workings of the church other than his son doesn't care if ron dies of a heart attack according to the private investigators that were following him.

which he reminded us every frigging chapter. along with "hey David had super bad asthma that I helped solve" and "I'm an awesome salesman"

he also glossed over his own failings in this memoir. he claims not understanding why his daughter wouldn't want to talk to him after the trauma she suffered from growing up with his abusive actions toward her mother. he is unapologetic sayings it's been 20 years and she should be over it. fuck you ron that's where your son David got his remorsless attitude.

the majority of the book is Ron's crying over being a failed musician and how David somehow interceded with that.

his granddaughter Jenna miscavige has a truly revealing memoir growing up in the sea organization and having to be separated from her parents her whole life and a truly critical view of the church and it's failings. Jenna also had a more brutal view of her uncle and aunt.

with the poor quality on this memoir ron either didn't know enough like Jenna did or is holding back.

her book came out first and was really successful for its true merit.

this book by Ron smells like a money grub.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this account from David Miscavige's father fascinating. I also read Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape and enjoyed it, but Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me was more readable, in my opinion. JMH's book goes into more detail, which was interesting, but I remember getting a little confused/lost with all the details and names. Anyone who thinks Scientology is harmless and innocuous needs look no further than Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me. I won't tell you how Ron ends up escaping, because that would be a bit of a spoiler. But is was very interesting and that part of the story reads more like fiction (seriously, it is that unbelievable and crazy) than a true account. It's so sad that Scientology splits families apart by preventing current members from having any contact with non-members, and Ron's account is at heart a story of his son, whom he misses (but also knows is cruel,crazy, misguided and has totally lost touch with reality). The last sentence almost brought a tear to my eye. Good for you, Ron, for finally leaving!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ron Miscavige spends way too much time defending Scientology and justifying his own abusive behaviors. Besides that, the book is poorly written and doesn't provide any information about David Miscavige that can't be found elsewhere. Ron's granddaughter Jenna's book is much better.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimately I'm not sure Ron Miscavige is really much more likable than his son.

[Shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I gave this three stars because, according to Goodreads scale, that's "I like it." And I did like reading this, but mostly because I enjoyed being angry at Ron and his son, the monster known as David Miscavige.

Kind of spoiler-y ahead?

First of all, I received this free in exchange for an honest review - so here's some honesty: Ron Miscavige sucks. He spends SO MUCH of this book trying to push away blame for the way his son turned out. He also admits some more or less conman-esque habits (sound familiar??) through his life, as well as "PUNCHING" HIS WIFE. That is a direct quote from the book, by the way, "punch". He goes on to say that he did not slap her - it seems that we're supposed to think better of him for punching rather than slapping? Baffling. Aside from that (AND staying way too long in a horribly abusive, both verbally and physically, marriage and subjecting his children to these tactics), he also mentions how David had a penchant for bullying. Apparently, David was a small kid, but athletic and used his strength to bully others. Ron recognizes that this was a fact, but didn't try to intervene in these aspects of his son's life.

And here is the best part of this book: How was David introduced to Scientology? Well, his dad, Ron, decided it would be a good idea to go get involved in a pyramid scheme (see a pattern with this family?). So he goes to a meeting in a hotel, where he meets a man with an interesting theory. This man claims that he can get rid of a headache by looking into a mirror and 'giving the headache' to his reflection. And, as you may guess, the man says it was Scientology that taught him how to do this. Of course, Ron brings in his whole family because this particular brand of b*llsh*t is right up his alley! And because of that ridiculous anecdote, now we have a monstrous bully at the helm of a huge cult.

Fun stuff!

For all my sh*t talking, if you, like me, are interested in reading more of Scientology's bonkers system and horror stories - this is a good one to read

[Sharon Skinner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm fascinated by Scientology but cannot recommend this book - the writing is terrible and doesn't offer a lot of new information or insight other than the leader being a complete nut.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating information, although not particularly well-written.

[Ike Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not trying to clear the planet, just trying to clear these scientology books from my to-read list

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Ever since the first memoir I read by someone who'd escaped Scientology, this cult/"religion" has really fascinated me. It really baffles me that so many otherwise intelligent people get sucked into the trap of a greedy, overbearing cult. Ron Miscavige, in his memoir Ruthless helps address this, as well as revealing some other experiences and insights, in a casual, conversational tone.

Unlike the other ex-Scientologists whose stories I've read, Ron Miscavige wasn't brought into Scientology as a child. Instead, he joined as an adult, seeking new ways to explore life. From his perspective, early Scientology looks like a hippie trend, one that's about self-exploration and fun. His early experiences don't resemble current Scientology practices at all, if all of the memoirs and documentaries I've seen can be believed. I thought this part of his memoir (describing his early experiences with Scientology) was really fascinating because it's one I haven't really seen before.

He was directly responsible for bringing his son, current Scientology leader David Miscavige, into the organization. He believes that Scientology's methods essentially cured David's severe asthma, and while I'm not sure I completely believe that, I can see that some form of mindfulness might have helped. I had hoped that he would have some behind-the-scenes stories about David and some kind of insight into how he became the tyrannical leader he is today. I was disappointed that there wasn't more of this, but rather a few snapshots of interactions with David. (It could be that this is because Ron Miscavige didn't have any real access to his son, which is in itself telling.) It seems like his only explanation for where things went wrong is that David got too much power, and power corrupts. That's fine, I guess, but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for in picking up this book.

Much of the book consists of Ron Miscavige's personal experiences with Scientology and the Sea Org, which were interesting and basically consistent with other accounts I've read. I did enjoy reading about how he escaped and how he re-started his life with his wife after leaving. I do hope that eventually he's able to talk to his children again -- maybe they'll see the light and leave the church, too.

I gave this book three stars because I felt that it had some interesting information, though much of it wasn't particularly new at this point, but the early parts especially felt like listening to a grandpa tell a story. It felt like a series of anecdotes without much to tie them together. This made it a quick and easy read, but it gets no bonus points for great writing. I think hearing Ron Miscavige tell his story would have a bigger impact (his memoir makes me think he's likely to be chatty and a good storyteller, and he says himself in the book that people frequently see him this way), but this was a quick read with a new(ish) perspective into the world of Scientology.

[Erik Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first learned about Scientology from an ad for 'Dianetics' in an old Science Fiction Book Club notice, it being listed along with more typical SF books, then by reading occasional articles appearing in major print media, maybe 'Time' or 'Newsweek'. Eventually I checked out a collection of L. Ron Hubbard's pulp fiction. I wasn't impressed by his writing, but I was impressed by the cult he founded, especially when contrasted with what the daughter of one of his SF colleagues told me of how he came up with the idea of starting a (tax-exempt, naturally) religion. Since then I've seen several documentaries and read several books about Hubbard and Scientology, including ones written by one of his sons and by the grand-daughter of Ron Miscavige, father of Scientology's current Fuhrer, David Miscavige, and author of this memoir.

Miscavige the elder comes across as a well-meaning, honest fellow much exercised by the transformation of one of his children into one of the most unsavory cult leaders of our time. Having served the movement himself for over three decades--still maintaining that there has been (note the past tense) something of worth in Hubbard's thinking--while living in close proximity to his son for most of that time, Ron Miscavige is certainly an expert, worth reading for those interested in the phenomenon.

This is primarily the story of the author's life, with primary reference to his relationship with Scientology and with his son. It is also, albeit at a distance, something of a psychobiography of his son, asking the anguished question as to what made him turn out so badly. The answer, while quite simple really, that power corrupts, may be adequate.

[Richard Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept me intrigued from the moment I started it. I have seen some documentaries regarding Scientology and I have read so many articles relating to its practices but this book gave me new insight.
I don't think anyone will be able to read this book and not think of a cult. The way that the Church of Scientology is currently run is shocking and it surprises me that so many people have chosen to continue to follow its practices.
Ron Miscavige gives great insight as to how life as a member of the church truly was. It's hard not to feel sympathy for him and what he went through. I love memoirs and really found this book captivating. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in memoirs or anyone who is simply interested in learning more about Scientology.

[Brett Rohlwing · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit meandering, and not as interesting as I hoped. Still, Mr. Miscavige is brave for speaking out on the abuses he has seen and experienced.

[Clarissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dieses Buch ist meiner Meinung nach mit einer grooooßen Prise Salz zu genießen, alleine schon durch den Wunsch des Autors, sich selbst so gut wie möglich darzustellen und durch seine offenkundig werdende immer noch bestehende Liebe zur Philosophie von Scientology. Und überhaupt kommt nicht allzu viel aussagekräftiges herum. Nach 300 Seiten Anekdoten (natürlich ist da auch viel interessantes dabei, aber es bleiben trotzdem größtenteils Anekdoten) ist das Fazit in einem Satz: sein Sohn wurde von der Macht korrumpiert. Meiner Meinung nach hätte das Buch von einem überzeugteren Aussteiger oder jemandem von außerhalb, der die Erfahrungen von Ron Miscavige gehört hat, geschrieben werden müssen, der auch Scientology an sich und ja, auch dem Vater Ron, seinen Teil der Verantwortung zuordnen würde. Natürlich macht Macht einen Menschen korrumpierbar, aber die pseudowissenschaftlichen Ansichten der Church haben sicherlich ihren Teil beigetragen. Ron Miscavige selbst scheint nicht darüber zu reflektieren, dass er es damals war, der die ganze Familie ins Scientology-Fieber gebracht hat und so das Schicksal seiner Kinder und Kindeskinder besiegelt hat. Dass Miscavige seine Frau geschlagen hat und auch das nur als Rand-Anekdote herhält, sagt mir genug über den Charakter des Autors.
Bücher von Aussteiger*innen aus Sekten werden für mich immer interessant sein, aber das hier ist eher eine Abrechnung und eine Geldquelle für den Ruhestand des Autors.

[PacaLipstick Gramma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is absolutely not a literary masterpiece. A whole lot of run on sentences, in serious need of editing, punctuation, and a lot less ego of Ron Miscavige. Not a whole lot about his son, David, except that he was vertically challenged, a tyrant, and evil.

Personally, I have never liked Tom Cruise or Kirstie Allie. (I don't know them personally!!!) It's just that in seeing them on tv, I always thought their egos were bigger than the public's perception of them. Maybe that's why they get along so well with David Miscavige?

Ron may be charismatic, likeable, a good musician, salesman, hard worker, and was a model parent, but.... After while it got old. Enough already. But if he's trying to provide insight to his son, maybe the nut didn't fall too far from the tree? We couldn't hear enough from Ron about what a wonderful person he was.

I don't get what part of Scientology/cult doesn't he understand? In August of 1990, when it was bad, he had a "watershed" moment, but took him until 2012 to leave? Lest we forget, despite the fact that he was overworked, not promoted, food and sleep deprived, berated, and rejected....he stayed? And still defends them!!! (Holy crap, and I thought his son was a few bricks short a load.)

As for telling us about Scientology? OMG. The COB was in charge of the CSI who was over the BFA who ran the day to day operations of the KET. But the DSE had to be accountable to the POT who was the officiator to TVC, NDU, BDO, and LHR. Suffice it to say, IWQ never answered to GYE only to VUW, when LED wasn't available. And advertising to promote CD's and music for promotional events. A lot of words that told us basically nothing, and so confusing that really, what is the point of Scientology? I also have to laugh at the whole absuridty of the e-meters and "auditing". What a crock of bullcrap if I ever heard any!!! OMG. Anyone with half a brain could figure out that is the biggest hoax of all. It has been proven. We have lie detectors, which are certainly more accurate than e-meters, and even they're not accurate, or admissable in a court of law.

Has anyone ever watched a dog chase it's tail? This is Scientology. Run faster and faster, and they still never catch their tail, and the rut just keeps getting deeper.

I also thought the part that David was authorized to "audit" people, a minister, and could marry people was laughable. He was 15!!!! Right. I'm going to get married and have a 15 year old kid perform the ceremony. Right. I'll get right on that. Me and my trolls.

If we think secrets are going to be revealed about the Psycho Scientologists... be prepared for disappointment.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but it wasn't particularly well-written or all that interesting. As a palate cleanser after reading the Hamilton bio for like two months, however, being able to read this in a couple days was nice.

If you know a decent amount about Scientology, there's not much new in this book. I have a bit of an obsession with the crazy that is Scientology, so I'll read pretty much anything on the topic. Still, you're not going to find much in this book that sheds light on anything new, not even David Miscavige.

If you want to know more about Scientology you should read Going Clear. If you want to read more about the insanity that is the Sea Org from a Miscavige, Jenna Miscavige Hill's book is pretty much a "WHAAA?!" must read. And if you're looking for a quick, easy read that still has more actual information, Leah Remini's book is interesting in that she was on both sides of the fence, first as a Sea Org member and then one of the pampered stars in the Celebrity Center. Unlike those books, Ruthless doesn't bring much new or interesting to the table.

I was surprised that even after everything he had been through, both with his son and just in general in the Sea Org, it seemed as if Ron Miscavige still bought into some of the Scientology principles.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ron Miscavige tells how he had come to give 27 years of his life and his family to Scientology. Then he tells how he had escaped (you can’t just leave Gold Base) past the guards and the concertina wire that essentially imprison the Scientology staff. His voice in the book is thoughtful and friendly. In his late 70’s he is starting his life over with a forward looking attitude despite all he has been through.

The book is about Ron’s family and life in Scientology. There is some, but not much on David since once David quit high school (with his father’s blessing) and started working full time for Scientology he was essentially lost to his father.

Ron remains a believer in Scientology and feels the church needs reform.

This book is a quick read and adds to the pile of literature that amazes you that this “church” continues to exist flouting so many laws related to employment, consumers and the protection of minors.

[Cadence · Rating 2 out of 5]

Waaaaaaay too much defense of Scientology and not nearly enough compelling story telling...

Of the half-dozen books about Scientology that I've read, this one's by far the biggest snooze. Ron Sr's life is pretty damn ordinary. I agree with Peter Orvetti, do yourself a favor and skim the first third. Better yet... Go read Lawrence Wright's "Going Clear" or even Jenna Miscavige Hill's memoir instead.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruthless: Scientology

I got pulled into reading this book when I saw a recent interview with Ron Miscavige. I really didn't learn anymore out of the book than I did after seeing his interview though. I had read Jen Miscavige's book a few years ago so this book really didn't add anything that I didn't already know. I think Scientology is just a cult or just like a cult how it keeps family apart if they are not in Scientology with them.