The Scandal of Scientology

by Paulette Cooper

This book is a critical expose of the activities and beliefs of the Church of Scientology. Writing it got her in a lot of trouble with the Scientologists: "Through the years as she continued to expose the Church, Paulette Cooper was the target not only of litigation but of several harassment campaigns including a Scientology campaign known as Operation Freakout, the goal of which was to deter Cooper from criticism of Scientology by having her "incarcerated in a mental institution or jail or at least to hit her so hard that she drops her attacks." In a previous campaign titled Operation Dynamite the church sent itself forged bomb threats, purportedly from Cooper, using her typewriter and paper with her fingerprints on it; further plans included bomb threats to be sent to Henry Kissinger. The Church's campaign was discovered when the FBI raided Scientology offices in 1977 and recovered documents relating to the operation. The Church finally agreed to an out-of-court settlement with Cooper in 1985 in exchange for her discontinuing her legal actions against Scientology." From Wikipedia

Genres: Nonfiction, Cults, Religion, History, Cult Classics, True Crime

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Paulette Cooper (Noble) is an American author and journalist. As an early critic of the church of Scientology, she published The Scandal of Scientology in 1971. Cooper has authored or co-authored nearly two dozen books, covering a wide range of topics including travel, missing persons, psychics, and pets, in addition to Scientology. Her books have sold close to half a million copies in total.

Reviews

[Ioana · Rating 5 out of 5]

What with all the brouhaha over Going Clear, I've been doing some research of my own (ok so I am a bit obsessed with cults, brainwashing, and the like) and ran into Paulette Cooper, the first brave journalist to go against "the Church"; her book, for which she was highly persecuted, is almost impossible to find in print, but you can read it online here.. The "scandal" behind the Scandal of Scientology is even worse than the book: this woman was framed for bomb threats, was followed, tapped, taped, sued, received death threats, and was even indicted based on false information by "anonymous sources".

The book itself is not sensationalist about any of the info presented--Scientology practices are apparently outrageous enough on their own merits and don't need embellishment to make them seem more exciting, psychotic, terrifying, or evil. This is not a work of literature or science, psychology, or the like, but a simple journalistic "expose"-kind of like a long Harper's or Vanity Fair article. I don't usually read these kinds of books (I just read Harper's and VF), so I have no idea where it stands in its genre, but I'm rating it a 5 for the courage it took to write and to stand by these words.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

scientologists sued the hell out of this woman for writing this book. these people are FUCKED up. it's not easy to find either-- i had to get a spiral bound manuscript from the Seattle Public Library via InterLibrary Loan.
but if you are at all curious about scientology and what they are really about, this is a great book.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is available for free on the internet at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Sh.... I read it over the course of a day and it could be read in one day with no interruptions. While it is a little dry, it is jam packed with many footnoted facts about Scientology, revealed during a time when Scientology was beginning its popularity. Today's internet access makes learning this information much easier so a lot of credit it due the author for researching and making available so much information so long ago.

[Owlseyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

She managed to escape. She offers a load of good points. Convincing ones.

Scientology is political, contrary to Hubbard's claims. You should ask Tom Cruise.

[Lisa-Jaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read what caused all the furore back in 1971 pre-Tom Cruise times when Scientology was just starting to cause a ripple. Presented matter of factly in neatly bundled paragraphs Ms Cooper outlines her findings succinctly. She also took a weekend course so she could understand for herself the process and has described this within.

I can imagine this book would have had a greater shock value at the time it was first published than it does now, however the campaign launched by the Scientologists in return for this tome set out to destroy Ms Cooper by incredible means.

This book is available to read free on the internet and definitely worth checking out.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this journalistic expose many years ago. Quite
disturbing. Cooper's life was made miserable as a result.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good early account of Scientology's machinations. Read with today's knowledge about the cult in mind, the changes in administration and dealings in the mid-80s become even clearer.

[Lucía Del Amor · Rating 5 out of 5]

El otro día paseando por Madrid, un señor me dio un panfleto y yo obviamente lo cogí porque soy buena y siempre los cojo para que acaben y se vayan a su casa. Cuando lo miro y veo que era de la cienciología se me quedaron las patitas colgando. Yo sabía que ya habían llegado a Madrid, ¿pero dar propaganda? total que luego, mientras esperaba al bus, me volví loca buscando información de mi secta favorita. No es la primera vez que entro en bucle con este tema porque me parece demencial que esto siga existiendo, pero el caso es que entre vídeos, documentales… encontré este libro gracias a Leah Remini que entrevistó a la autora y, sinceramente, me partió el alma de ver lo que le hicieron.

El libro me ha encantado porque en cada capítulo te van explicando cómo funciona todo y te da ejemplos de gente que lo ha vivido. Leyéndolo desde fuera es todo un despropósito, pero la gente que está aquí metida o ha estado lo ha pasado fatal y ha perdido toda su vida y todo su dinero en creer cada gilipollez que te quedas tiesa. Por favor!!! si estáis en un mal momento acudid a vuestros amigos, a vuestra familia o al médico de cabecera o de urgencias, pero no a una secta como mucho a la iglesia más cercana. Y si la cienciologia me lee y me busca pues aquí estoy yo con 10€ en el banco y pocas ganas de vivir.

Por más gente valiente como Paulette Cooper que arriesgó su vida para que el mundo supiera que porque tu madre se echase dos bailes embarazada de ti no vas a salir cleptómano.

*Esta reseña es una excusa para contar mi vida. Por cierto, si alguien me lee y me quiere regalar un e-meter de esos, por favor, que lo haga y nos hacemos un test!!!

[Barbara Bales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paulette Cooper wrote this early critique of scientology in the early 1970s. She was nearly driven to suicide, may have been the target of an attempted murder, lived in a domestic relationship for about a year with a man who was there to spy on her, and was charged for terroristic bombing threats and lived for months under the threat of up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

All of this happened because of this book. Scientology throws out all laws and any concept of decency when it comes to their attempts to "obliterate" or "destroy" anyone who dares report on the abuses and practices of this criminal, dangerous cult. It has been this way for over 50 years and still is to this day.

I thought I had the book on my wishlist. It was $49 and my son got it for me for my birthday this year. Turns out, this is a printed and bound version of the book, which is available on the internet. The book is literally a printout of the web version. Oh well. I like having a physical book in my hand when I read anyway - I just hope some of that money went to Paulette Cooper.

It's a revelation in that so little has changed in the years between the writing of this book and all of the information coming out about the cult in the 21st century. Worth the read, but if you aren't troubled by it, save the money and find it on the web.

[Ramoths Own · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book in a lending library on the beach and thought I would give it a go. It is a bit on the dry side but the information was very interesting. She obviously did a lot of research on the subject. I did find the book full of answers to some of the questions about what it is about, so for that I would recommend it.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

1971 classic on the subject- touching on the O.T.O., the Process, Manson etc. fun for the whole family to enjoy.

[Leo Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-balanced collection of essays. Pleasantly aloof tone and appropriately dry humour. Solid investigative journalism... maybe too short?

[Edwin Stratton-Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paulette is a real-life superhero. Infinite respect.