#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An eye-opening, no-holds-barred memoir about life in the Church of Scientology, now with a new afterword by the author—the outspoken actress and star of the A&E docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath Leah Remini has never been the type to hold her tongue. That willingness to speak her mind, stand her ground, and rattle the occasional cage has … and rattle the occasional cage has enabled this tough-talking girl from Brooklyn to forge an enduring and successful career in Hollywood. But being a troublemaker has come at a cost.
That was never more evident than in 2013, when Remini loudly and publicly broke with the Church of Scientology. Now, in this frank, funny, poignant memoir, the former King of Queens star opens up about that experience for the first time, revealing the in-depth details of her painful split with the church and its controversial practices.
Indoctrinated into the church as a child while living with her mother and sister in New York, Remini eventually moved to Los Angeles, where her dreams of becoming an actress and advancing Scientology’s causes grew increasingly intertwined. As an adult, she found the success she’d worked so hard for, and with it a prominent place in the hierarchy of celebrity Scientologists alongside people such as Tom Cruise, Scientology’s most high-profile adherent. Remini spent time directly with Cruise and was included among the guests at his 2006 wedding to Katie Holmes.
But when she began to raise questions about some of the church’s actions, she found herself a target. In the end, she was declared by the church to be a threat to their organization and therefore a “Suppressive Person,” and as a result, all of her fellow parishioners—including members of her own family—were told to disconnect from her. Forever.
Bold, brash, and bravely confessional, Troublemaker chronicles Leah Remini’s remarkable journey toward emotional and spiritual freedom, both for herself and for her family. This is a memoir designed to reveal the hard-won truths of a life lived honestly—from an author unafraid of the consequences.
Praise for Troublemaker
“An aggressively honest memoir . . . Troublemaker is the most raw and revealing Scientology memoir to date.”—Entertainment Weekly
“Leah’s story is a juicy, inside-Hollywood read, but it’s more than that. It’s a moving story about the value of questioning authority and how one woman survived a profound crisis of faith.”—People
more
Troublemaker is an intriguing view into the secretive and scary Scientology world which I cannot call a religion, but is a cult.
Very informational.
An inside look at a questionable religion told from someone who was on the inside, as well as some funny memories from her as she was coming of age.
Before she was the star of the hit American TV show The King of Queens, Leah Remini was a committed adherent to The Church of Scientology and one of its most famous defenders. After questioning the church’s tactics, she went from being Scientology’s poster child to one of its most visible and vocal critics.
Her public break with Scientology in 2013 resulted in lawsuits, exile from friends and family, and threats. Troublemaker is her story of thirty years in Scientology, how and why she started to question her beliefs, how she made the break, and the challenges she faced after leaving.
Personal note: I included this book in my article for the WHSmith blog in the Uk, “Five Great Companion Books for The Marriage Pact”) The Marriage Pact
I enjoyed Remini’s take on Scientology and how it attempts to control the members of the cult. It’s well written and entertaining.
I didn’t finish it, I got bored with it
It was Great, and I believe her story !
Wow. I had no idea what was involved in Scientology. My question is: How can people subject their children to this religion? I appreciated the book and Remini’s honesty. Would like to find out more.
Hard to read, but yet I couldn’t stop reading it.
I actually listened to the Audible version which was read by Leah herself. She was fantastic and the story is fascinating.
When this book first came out, I was not at all interested in reading about some Hollywood starlet’s experiences with a religious cult. After hearing some things about her in the press, I decided to give the book a chance. While I was surprised by her excessive foul language I was proud of her for standing up and calling out the leaders for what was wrong with her “church”. What a pity that so many unfortunate people find themselves essentially trapped in a cult.
Honest expose about the real truth of Scientology.
A real eye opener.
I thought it would be interesting but she is a poor writer
Fans of her show about Scientology will appreciate this book. She writes with an authentic voice and great candor regarding her entire life.
it was an interesting book. I felt like I had already heard a lot of it in magazines and interviews, but still glad I read it.
Wow! Amazing. Great read.
This book gives the reader a look deep inside the cult of Scientology. Informative and eye-opening!
Holds your interest.
Always interested in the Church and celbs, a real eye opener.