Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige Hill

14 reviews

abby314159's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

Well written first-person account of scientology that gives some insight into the experiences of those in David Miscavige's (evil) orbit.
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riahlex's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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vannahcabana's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

This book details the Scientology journey of the niece of the organization’s current leader. It was very interesting to read her story as a child through young adult years in the “religion.” I’ve watched several documentaries regarding Scientology and other folks leaving, but this was quite interesting being the current leader’s niece. Not an easy story to read but definitely interesting. 
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libraryshifter's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring tense slow-paced

4.0

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siobhanward's review against another edition

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emotional informative slow-paced

3.5

This book piqued my interest since I knew that Shelley Miscavige is the (probably) missing wife of the leader of scientology, so I figured a book from one of her family members was interesting, and it definitely was. I didn't know a whole lot about scientology going in other than the basics. Frankly, it just was never a rabbit hole that I fell down, but wow there's a ton out there. Learning about what it's like on the inside from someone who experienced it first hand as a child was an experience.

Hill's accounts of her time in scientology, training from an early age to be a "good" scientologist is fascinating and heartbreaking - I'm so, so glad she got out but I'm now more disturbed knowing what's happening to those who are still inside. I definitely found this book was slow at points. Hill's account was detailed, but sometimes to the point of being overly detailed or repetitive, but it was still a solid read.
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abookofwildflowers's review against another edition

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informative inspiring sad slow-paced

4.0

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erz02006's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

TLDR: The epitome of the phrase “truth is stranger than fiction”

Jenna’s childhood is absolutely bonkers. I’ve never read or heard of any childhood quite as bizarre. Every chapter I would just sit there in disbelief at what I had just read.

This book does a good job of illustrating Scientology’s beliefs and practices, their views on childhood and family, as well as highlighting techniques that are used to brainwash and keep people compliant in cults. I found it fascinating, although a bit sad.
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havenraven23's review

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challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

3.75

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stepnic's review

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dark hopeful informative inspiring sad slow-paced

3.5

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avidreaderandgeekgirl's review

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adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

 3.5 stars- I thought for a memoir the narration was excellent. It was quite slow-moving, yet there was a lot going on. I was so glad in the end that the outcome was what it was. I never realized quite how bad Scientology was. I knew it was bad, but not this much of a total cult. The fact it has been declared a religion in the US is terrifying! 
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