Name: jk's review of Troublemaker by Rebecca Paley
Item: Troublemaker
Rating: 4
Author: jk

Rebecca Paley

Leah Remini

"The outspoken actress, talk show host, and reality television star offers up a no-holds-barred memoir, including an ... insider account of her tumultuous and heart-wrenching thirty-year-plus association with the Church of Scientology"--Dust jacket flap.

Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

Troublemaker

Ember Skies

A fascinating insider's look at the Church of Scientology that I just couldn't put down (I read the whole thing in less than 36 hours). Remini details how her family converted to the religion when she was a child, and how circumstances kept them in it until it became all they knew. As she tells it, and from what I've seen or read about the Church of Latter-day Saints (specifically in Utah), the two religions share striking similarities, including excommunication, financial hardship suffered by parishioners (while money is spent on expanding the religion), discouraging traditional education in favour of church-sanctioned learning, and leaders being untouchable by church rules and mandates. Though where LDS eschews the secular world, Scientology reveres celebrity (even producing a magazine bearing that as its title), using its high-profile members as a means to entice new recruits.

Remini also details her rise to fame (and the set-backs she faced, including being on 25 sitcoms that were cancelled) as Carrie Heffernan on King of Queens, among other autobiographical details, which fans of hers (or Hollywood in general) will no doubt enjoy.

Patrick Book

I'll never get tired of Scientology stories.

Becky A

A short book that is the perfect combination of readable, juicy, and fascinating.

kels

Caroline Lewicki

WOW. This was the first book I'd read about Scientology and Leah Remini's experience in it is so interesting. She walks you through her initial exposure to Scientology in such a way that you could see how someone would get sucked in. It's crazy to see how much she gives to the Church and how quickly Church leaders shut her out when she starts asking too many questions.

Now off to fall down a reddit rabbit hole about Shelly Miscavige.

Lauren Attaway

I remember when this book came out and there was the story in People Magazine, and I read a few of her other promotional interviews. I even watched the documentary Going Clear (and read the book) years ago. I also watched a few episodes of the A&E show Leah starred in where she said she was going to expose scientology. I said all of this to say that I've read a ton of scientology and this was more about Leah than scientology. Luckily for me, I was still interested in her life story. I think people hoping for this to be all crazy stories about aliens and Tom Cruise and crazy scientology rituals will be disappointed. However, I think anyone that has ever been disillusioned with their chosen religion for its members and not the practice will sympathize with her story.

"With a new afterword by the author"--Cover.

Easy to read, informative, funny, and brutally honest! Leah's book pulls back the curtain of Scientology and reveals many of the shady practices and downright abuses of the "church." In addition to talking about general practices, she describes in detail the treatment she received from the "church;" which, while it pales in comparison to the stories of abuse mentioned in the book and on her A&E miniseries, is still a stunning example of the brainwashing and gaslighting the "church" is capable of.

In addition, Leah describes her rise to fame, how she had to reconcile being her loud-mouthed self with playing by the rules to get acting jobs, and how Scientology impacted her life through all this. She also discusses quite a few celebrities with whom she's interacted over the years, both Scientologists and non-Scientologists, so the reader gains insight into the personalities of Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, Sharon Osborne, Kevin James, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, and others.

Playing up many things for laughs, being honest about her mistakes, and even being down-right self-depreciating at times, Leah comes across as very authentic in her book. I feel like I know her personally as the woman "with a smart mouth, a sense of humor, a New York accent, and a heart of gold" (p. 60) that described her first major role, which was so very HER.

Ruth Parker 

Leah Remini might be someone who annoys me if I ever met her in real life - she’s a bit brash and outspoken. But none of that can detract from this amazing memoir of her time as a member of the Church of Scientology. I always wonder what gets people into cults and why they refuse to leave for so long. And this book answered so many of my questions. 
At times Leah annoyed me in her book, but actually I can’t imagine what I would do in those situations either. Perhaps I would be exactly the same. Or maybe I would pay to get higher levels and do exactly as my leaders say. 
A brave woman whose story will help and move others. Thank you Leah. Although we might not be friends in real life, I find your journey inspiring and your strength unparalleled.

Luisina Rivoira

Rachel

I love Leah Remini on King of Queens, I still watch it regularly on TBS, so of course I wanted to read her book and was thoroughly surprised. She's had a very interesting life with Hollywood and Scientology. I kinda knew she was a Scientologist and left the church and knew there were issues on The Talk with her, but not the full story. She goes into great depth about her life at the church and explains what they believe and do. Leah also talks about her struggle to find her place in Hollywood, but kind of only talks about the main points of her career once King of Queens begun. I would of liked to of known more about her career. She shares some horrific stories about Scientology and Tom Cruise. Leah explains why she liked Scientology, why she bought into it, and the painful process of realizing it was messed up and time to leave.

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Troublemaker by Rebecca Paley

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