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Scythe Tleppo: My Survival of a Cult, Abandonment, Addiction and Homelessness
Inspirational true story of a boy escaping the clutches of a cult, homelessness, emotional decimation, and rampant drug abuse.
The story of surviving on the streets, completely without family, friends or hope. The story of how to overcome against all odds; of will to carry on.
Born into Scientology, Nathan resisted indoctrination from the start. Eventually he was sent to the cult’s infamously abusive Mace Kingsley Ranch, at age 8. He was sent again to the ranch at age 14, where he was not allowed contact with his family for nearly 3 years. After finally getting away, his family disowned him.
He lived for 7 long years homeless and without hope. Drugs, violence and despair plagued his mind until he was finally able to rise out of the gutter, face his past and live in the present.
From wild LSD experiences to gangs and past life recall, Nathan bears all in this brutally open memoir.
The story of surviving on the streets, completely without family, friends or hope. The story of how to overcome against all odds; of will to carry on.
Born into Scientology, Nathan resisted indoctrination from the start. Eventually he was sent to the cult’s infamously abusive Mace Kingsley Ranch, at age 8. He was sent again to the ranch at age 14, where he was not allowed contact with his family for nearly 3 years. After finally getting away, his family disowned him.
He lived for 7 long years homeless and without hope. Drugs, violence and despair plagued his mind until he was finally able to rise out of the gutter, face his past and live in the present.
From wild LSD experiences to gangs and past life recall, Nathan bears all in this brutally open memoir.
- GenresNonfiction
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2018
30 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Rich
3 books14 followersNathan Rich grew up in Scientology. He was disowned by his entire family after spending four years in Scientology's infamously abusive Mace-Kingsley Ranch.
He was homeless for seven years, addicted and hopeless. After much struggle, he pulled himself up from the bottom.
He appeared on the Emmy award winning "A&E's Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" in October, 2017.
He recently resigned his position as the Chief Technology Officer at Asia's largest visual effects company for major motion pictures.
He hopes to share his inspirational story of overcoming indoctrination and homeless to the world.
He was homeless for seven years, addicted and hopeless. After much struggle, he pulled himself up from the bottom.
He appeared on the Emmy award winning "A&E's Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" in October, 2017.
He recently resigned his position as the Chief Technology Officer at Asia's largest visual effects company for major motion pictures.
He hopes to share his inspirational story of overcoming indoctrination and homeless to the world.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 28, 2018
Thank you everyone for your ratings and feedback. I hope my book will continue to help those who need to know the story.
Please share it with those you think could benefit from it.
Please share it with those you think could benefit from it.
September 22, 2018
Nathan Rich’s memoir of growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s first under the influence of Scientology and then drug addiction is at once heartrending and mind-blowing, sad and exciting. This push and pull becomes a kind of theme in his memoir, a way for the reader to experience a bit of what life in Scientology as a child and teenager is like. He takes you through his entire emotional range from painfully surreal to terrifying to hopeful, which is just one way Rich makes this memoir difficult to set down.
Rich’s upbringing and life make for a turbulent but profound story. Raised in Scientology, we learn they are a deeply private group who prefer to hide in plain sight, Rich details the especially harsh treatment of children and teens as if they are tiny adults with complex histories. The story weaves emotional insight into the various challenges he and other children face in this environment. At the heart of his story is his struggle to find his place in Scientology and with his mother but ultimately with himself.
Even after he is sent away (twice) to a nightmare reprogramming camp in New Mexico, infamous for its abuse of Scientology’s wayward youth, Rich was dedicated to finding answers, longing for a way to truly belong.
Rich’s story straightforwardly recalls his feelings of abandonment because his mother chose the church and the rigorous schedule one is expected to maintain over his growth and well-being. At various points in his life, Rich truly believed his mother and religion were brilliant guides to his and the planet’s salvation. From his cruel beginnings to his erratic dive into homelessness and addiction, Rich learned harsh life lessons, hard-won independence, and eventual inner peace. All this he shares with you, in such a manner that you find yourself immersed as though you are him, living every strange moment, stripped of logic; tip toeing the edge of his life as if it your own.
With conversational, pulsing and unfiltered language, Rich’s journey becomes your journey, riveting as it is shocking. Scythe Tleppo is an unflinchingly candid and undoubtedly necessary book. A deeper glimpse into the ether of youth when in the hands of a tyrant.
Rich’s upbringing and life make for a turbulent but profound story. Raised in Scientology, we learn they are a deeply private group who prefer to hide in plain sight, Rich details the especially harsh treatment of children and teens as if they are tiny adults with complex histories. The story weaves emotional insight into the various challenges he and other children face in this environment. At the heart of his story is his struggle to find his place in Scientology and with his mother but ultimately with himself.
Even after he is sent away (twice) to a nightmare reprogramming camp in New Mexico, infamous for its abuse of Scientology’s wayward youth, Rich was dedicated to finding answers, longing for a way to truly belong.
Rich’s story straightforwardly recalls his feelings of abandonment because his mother chose the church and the rigorous schedule one is expected to maintain over his growth and well-being. At various points in his life, Rich truly believed his mother and religion were brilliant guides to his and the planet’s salvation. From his cruel beginnings to his erratic dive into homelessness and addiction, Rich learned harsh life lessons, hard-won independence, and eventual inner peace. All this he shares with you, in such a manner that you find yourself immersed as though you are him, living every strange moment, stripped of logic; tip toeing the edge of his life as if it your own.
With conversational, pulsing and unfiltered language, Rich’s journey becomes your journey, riveting as it is shocking. Scythe Tleppo is an unflinchingly candid and undoubtedly necessary book. A deeper glimpse into the ether of youth when in the hands of a tyrant.
September 19, 2018
This book makes you FEEL something.
It takes you on a child's journey that is heart wrenching and terrifying. It allows you watch incredibly evil things being done to a child at the direction of a parent guided by the doctrine and practices of a greedy unfeeling corporation called The Church of Scientology.
Nathans family sacrificed it all for Scientology, including him, and they gained nothing in return. They suffered and struggled and died just like the rest of us. So much for superpowers.
Nathan's strength and heart is the REAL miracle here.
Masterfully told, I felt as if I was there with him, cried with him s he was abandoned on the streets, betrayed by those who should have protected him. I fell in love with his "found" punk family, I could hear the desperate angry music that got him thru so many horrible times, and I felt the pain and despair, then escape to numbness of the drugs he used to cope.
I traveled with him cautiously when he found his path out of that life, joined him when he turned around to better understand what Scientology does to families and children, and I cheered with him LOUDLY when he decided to do something about it.
VERY powerful and moving. COMPLETELY Inspiring.
Scientology (like most bullies) will NOT like it.
It takes you on a child's journey that is heart wrenching and terrifying. It allows you watch incredibly evil things being done to a child at the direction of a parent guided by the doctrine and practices of a greedy unfeeling corporation called The Church of Scientology.
Nathans family sacrificed it all for Scientology, including him, and they gained nothing in return. They suffered and struggled and died just like the rest of us. So much for superpowers.
Nathan's strength and heart is the REAL miracle here.
Masterfully told, I felt as if I was there with him, cried with him s he was abandoned on the streets, betrayed by those who should have protected him. I fell in love with his "found" punk family, I could hear the desperate angry music that got him thru so many horrible times, and I felt the pain and despair, then escape to numbness of the drugs he used to cope.
I traveled with him cautiously when he found his path out of that life, joined him when he turned around to better understand what Scientology does to families and children, and I cheered with him LOUDLY when he decided to do something about it.
VERY powerful and moving. COMPLETELY Inspiring.
Scientology (like most bullies) will NOT like it.
September 23, 2018
I just cannot can’t say enough about Nathan Rich’s new book. This is hands-down the best book I’ve read by a former Scientologist. And that’s not a knock on the other great ones I’ve read (Marc’s, Leah’s, Ron’s, Jeff’s, Janis’...), but everyone can only tell their OWN story and there just aren’t any other former Scientologists who have had THIS story to tell, and told it.
Born into a family of true-believing Scientology OTs, Nathan goes takes us through life as a small child in modern Scientology, child neglect, child abuse, homelessness, drug addiction, gang membership, street life, incarceration, deaths, and at the end of it all...unbelievable success.
I can’t call it a “sad story” because it leads us to what Nathan is today; an unqualified success. Instead I call it a FANTASTIC story.
If you’ve had any interest in the wacky world of Scientology or if you have anyone in your life who struggles with drug addiction or even just under-achievement, buy and read this book. You’ll be glad you
September 25, 2018
Heartbreaking yet beautiful
Wow, what a story of triumph over the worst adversity. He survived the cult of Scientology and won the long game. I’m a never in but I love these stories of triumph over evil and injustice. Neglected kids exist all over the world but to have a so-called religious organization promote child abandonment is the sickest deception. And even after all pain, he still forgives his family. Just shows you that even Scientology can’t stop a pure, kind heart. LRH was a twisted sick man and it’s very depressing to see there are still those believers who are so broken they can’t even think critically. In this technological age it shouldn’t happen and yet they still exist.
Wow, what a story of triumph over the worst adversity. He survived the cult of Scientology and won the long game. I’m a never in but I love these stories of triumph over evil and injustice. Neglected kids exist all over the world but to have a so-called religious organization promote child abandonment is the sickest deception. And even after all pain, he still forgives his family. Just shows you that even Scientology can’t stop a pure, kind heart. LRH was a twisted sick man and it’s very depressing to see there are still those believers who are so broken they can’t even think critically. In this technological age it shouldn’t happen and yet they still exist.
September 27, 2018
Nathan Rich's story is really amazing for me. For our 80s generation, Nathan's story really shot me, homeless, sleeping in the street, playing with the bad guys, moving to China, becoming the top computer and technology guy!!! I hope some producers can read this book and make a movie someday in the future. Highly recommended!
September 22, 2018
This book was so incredible. My heart was pounding the whole time. The illustrations were awesome. You can tel this person was speaking from the heart. Highly recommend.
September 29, 2018
Some of the top journalists and authors don’t like to use the word cult. They prefer High Control Group. How do you pick, or define what a cult is?
There is the B.I.T.E. model. At https://www.openmindsfoundation.org/t... we find:
Behavior Control
Information Control
Thought Control
Emotional control
As defined by Robert Jay Lifton, cult and mind control expert.
A famous American cult is The People’s Temple led by Rev. Jim Jones. Yes, they drank the kool aid, or were shot, and many died. A US Senator died.
Adults can make choices. When their children are born into the cult, they grow up a scientologist, a Hare Krishna, a White Supremacist. Isolated from the culture at large, they home-school, or go to private school.
S
cythe Tleppo is a fascinating book. I knew quite a bit about this young man’s story from watching some Youtube videos, interviews with him about his growing up in a cult, seven years of homelessness, and death-defying drug use, and recovery.
I wanted to know more. How can a person live through and recover from all that?
The book is a harrowing, nerve wracking page turner.
Nathan loved his scientologist single mother and tried to please her by engaging with a high control group and its militant perspective on humanity, education and “ethics”.
Eight year old Nathan was sent to an isolated private school in the California desert, exploited for hard labor, and even deprived of good food and education.
Emotional and physical tortures were duly applied. FInally he goes home.
The nerve wracking issue is, how can this happen in the US? What about the law? Are more children experiencing this today?
When Nathan gets the chance to advance in a non-cult private school, from a failing, to an A plus student, mentored by a teacher who was also a father figure to him, he finally experiences educated, caring, masculinity.
This progress in his scholastics and his healthy socialization is a heart-warming relief. We can see his driven personality and high potential.
Mom, with her distorted cult perspective, sees a threat in this wonderful relationship and intervenes, resulting in despair and embarrassment for Nathan.
He derails rapidly in the high school grades, when he loses daily contact with his mentor.
Mom signs guardianship of Nathan over to the same school, now in a more isolated location. They can starve, deprive and torture her son as they like.
Which they do, protected by the US First Amendment, which allows the starvation, deprivation, humiliation and physical torture of both minors and adults.
The next decade of Nathan’s life is sensational and shocking. It’s like everyday is a ride on the runaway train to a predictable death.
Nathan Rich achieves what many authors undergo years of study for. A holistic, deep connection with the reader which conveys the depth of his honesty and intelligence.
The details are fascinating, understandable and heart breaking. Deeply heartbreaking, as it is all heartbreaking.
Near death events with drugs.
Arrests and jail time.
Recovery.
Nathan gets back to real education. But he tells us, he will never be as intelligent as he once was, due to drug use.
Most of us would settle for the level of intelligence he was left with.
There is more, and it is inspiring.
While this author was born into an antisocial high control group, if you’re a parent, please know that there are hundreds of cults waiting for your child. In an insecure or vulnerable time, especially at college, a myriad of cult recruiters lurk, behind seemingly harmless front groups, poised to hijack your child’s future.
The book isn’t perfect. It could do with a little more polish. However it is an important tale that parents, students of cults and many fellow humans may find as mesmerizing as I did.
Caveat culti!
There is the B.I.T.E. model. At https://www.openmindsfoundation.org/t... we find:
Behavior Control
Information Control
Thought Control
Emotional control
As defined by Robert Jay Lifton, cult and mind control expert.
A famous American cult is The People’s Temple led by Rev. Jim Jones. Yes, they drank the kool aid, or were shot, and many died. A US Senator died.
Adults can make choices. When their children are born into the cult, they grow up a scientologist, a Hare Krishna, a White Supremacist. Isolated from the culture at large, they home-school, or go to private school.
S
cythe Tleppo is a fascinating book. I knew quite a bit about this young man’s story from watching some Youtube videos, interviews with him about his growing up in a cult, seven years of homelessness, and death-defying drug use, and recovery.
I wanted to know more. How can a person live through and recover from all that?
The book is a harrowing, nerve wracking page turner.
Nathan loved his scientologist single mother and tried to please her by engaging with a high control group and its militant perspective on humanity, education and “ethics”.
Eight year old Nathan was sent to an isolated private school in the California desert, exploited for hard labor, and even deprived of good food and education.
Emotional and physical tortures were duly applied. FInally he goes home.
The nerve wracking issue is, how can this happen in the US? What about the law? Are more children experiencing this today?
When Nathan gets the chance to advance in a non-cult private school, from a failing, to an A plus student, mentored by a teacher who was also a father figure to him, he finally experiences educated, caring, masculinity.
This progress in his scholastics and his healthy socialization is a heart-warming relief. We can see his driven personality and high potential.
Mom, with her distorted cult perspective, sees a threat in this wonderful relationship and intervenes, resulting in despair and embarrassment for Nathan.
He derails rapidly in the high school grades, when he loses daily contact with his mentor.
Mom signs guardianship of Nathan over to the same school, now in a more isolated location. They can starve, deprive and torture her son as they like.
Which they do, protected by the US First Amendment, which allows the starvation, deprivation, humiliation and physical torture of both minors and adults.
The next decade of Nathan’s life is sensational and shocking. It’s like everyday is a ride on the runaway train to a predictable death.
Nathan Rich achieves what many authors undergo years of study for. A holistic, deep connection with the reader which conveys the depth of his honesty and intelligence.
The details are fascinating, understandable and heart breaking. Deeply heartbreaking, as it is all heartbreaking.
Near death events with drugs.
Arrests and jail time.
Recovery.
Nathan gets back to real education. But he tells us, he will never be as intelligent as he once was, due to drug use.
Most of us would settle for the level of intelligence he was left with.
There is more, and it is inspiring.
While this author was born into an antisocial high control group, if you’re a parent, please know that there are hundreds of cults waiting for your child. In an insecure or vulnerable time, especially at college, a myriad of cult recruiters lurk, behind seemingly harmless front groups, poised to hijack your child’s future.
The book isn’t perfect. It could do with a little more polish. However it is an important tale that parents, students of cults and many fellow humans may find as mesmerizing as I did.
Caveat culti!
October 2, 2018
Excellent read
Valued insight into both Scientology in the US (kids are treated differently in Scientology in other countries as we dont have centres like the Mace Kingsley one) and into the world of drugs. Thank you so much for telling us your story. Invaluable lessons on how to NOT treat your kids and so glad mine are no longer going to be raised in the cult.
Valued insight into both Scientology in the US (kids are treated differently in Scientology in other countries as we dont have centres like the Mace Kingsley one) and into the world of drugs. Thank you so much for telling us your story. Invaluable lessons on how to NOT treat your kids and so glad mine are no longer going to be raised in the cult.
October 2, 2018
Masterful
Nathan Rich gives a brutally honest, and delicate and tender description of his life. Reading these words will make anyone a better, more compassionate person. Thank you for sharing, Nathan Rich!
Nathan Rich gives a brutally honest, and delicate and tender description of his life. Reading these words will make anyone a better, more compassionate person. Thank you for sharing, Nathan Rich!
October 21, 2018
So very touching Very well written.
This book is fast paced and well written. It also breaks my heart with the truth of this young man's painful beginning. But he has proven he is now a self made man well done Nathan
This book is fast paced and well written. It also breaks my heart with the truth of this young man's painful beginning. But he has proven he is now a self made man well done Nathan
November 5, 2018
An earnest and riveting account of life in and out of Scientology
Nathan paints a stark and intense account of life born into and growing up in a family centered around Scientology. Then a life of homelessness and addiction when he’s left on his own, after rejecting that old life. I found his story gripping and intense and it offers a very deep and frightening look inside the church. It was a story that needed to be told, to learn the truth about how someone can be caught up and manipulated at birth into a life ultimately made better by leaving that insanity behind. I highly recommend it!!!
Nathan paints a stark and intense account of life born into and growing up in a family centered around Scientology. Then a life of homelessness and addiction when he’s left on his own, after rejecting that old life. I found his story gripping and intense and it offers a very deep and frightening look inside the church. It was a story that needed to be told, to learn the truth about how someone can be caught up and manipulated at birth into a life ultimately made better by leaving that insanity behind. I highly recommend it!!!
September 27, 2018
I read this book in one sitting. It is engrossing, heartbreaking and inspiring, depicting a range of abuses and misery that few people have endured while maintaining their sanity, let alone their lives. I can't recommend it enough.
December 25, 2018
Nathan's diary-like writing feels new, fresh, and like you're reading your own memoirs. The art work contributed well to his narrative.
You will read with humility, sorrow, fascination, disbelief, and grief from loss of his family due to "religious" soul-sucking extreme beliefs stemming from scientology. Once you begin you won't want to stop reading his account of life within and without this cult's pull and the effect on his psyche.
A brilliant account of an obviously bright boy and how all he wanted was his life to go on with a mother's love and guidance, a decent education, and his cat. All will go awry very early in his life until he is dismissed from any association to family or normal childhood things.
A descent into anesthetizing pain, loss, and inability to comprehend how he ended up alone and on the streets until he decidedly rises above the mess to become an expert in computer and CGI/VX technology.
IMO, there is no better written personal account of being a third (or second) generation (former) scientologist out there. It's gripping, in-your-face personal and well worth reading.
You will read with humility, sorrow, fascination, disbelief, and grief from loss of his family due to "religious" soul-sucking extreme beliefs stemming from scientology. Once you begin you won't want to stop reading his account of life within and without this cult's pull and the effect on his psyche.
A brilliant account of an obviously bright boy and how all he wanted was his life to go on with a mother's love and guidance, a decent education, and his cat. All will go awry very early in his life until he is dismissed from any association to family or normal childhood things.
A descent into anesthetizing pain, loss, and inability to comprehend how he ended up alone and on the streets until he decidedly rises above the mess to become an expert in computer and CGI/VX technology.
IMO, there is no better written personal account of being a third (or second) generation (former) scientologist out there. It's gripping, in-your-face personal and well worth reading.
November 8, 2018
Good read
This book is interesting and easy to read. It is absolutely amazing what he overcame. It's inspirational. Recommend for anyone that wants to learn about Scientology
This book is interesting and easy to read. It is absolutely amazing what he overcame. It's inspirational. Recommend for anyone that wants to learn about Scientology
December 16, 2018
Wow, that was a tough read, especially the homeless part. How the heck does one remember such detail from that period?
I guess I was expecting more Scientology stuff. Amazing story, though.
Mel
I guess I was expecting more Scientology stuff. Amazing story, though.
Mel
November 15, 2018
An absolutely riveting story that needs to be heard. It's hard to believe such things happen, but they do and Nathan's honesty and courage touches a place deep inside us all. How a child survives and overcomes abuse, neglect and downright evil brings hope amongst the tears. I was both a child and mother within scientology and know the truth of it, his struggle to find himself against almost unbeatable odds is totally inspiring. Thankyou for sharing Nathan, you touched my heart.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews