#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
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Only a third of the way through but I’m lacking much enthusiasm for sitting down with the book. Underwhelmed.
Interesting to read an account of Scientology by someone who was involved with this organization for decades. Enlightening.
Pretty good writing. Good story. Filled in a lot of details on a story I was familiar with.
I couldn’t wait to get back to it when I had to put it down! I love her spunk, bravery, and loyalty to her friends. So glad she had the strong personality to stand up to the brainwashing bullies. I was disappointed that there was no full disclosure of her missing friend- I was left with the impression that she was probably dead.
Ms Remini’s personality comes through with every page. It is interesting to see the thinking that facilitates the fidelity to a cult illuminated from someone who has emerged from the other side of the fog, and sees how dense it had been.
I found Ms. Remini’s experiences to be disturbing in a major way. Children sharing her life and rules. Still going on is nauseating. I had to read it twice because my mind could not absorb the mind games being played on trusting children and adults. Is this even legal?
Exposed Scientology for the cult it is
Leah is so gutsy and true to herself. She is so much smarter then she gives herself credit for.
Very interesting to have an inside view.
Outs scientology for what it really is.
Eye-opening look at this cult and how it acts as a predator with respect to the vulnerable ensnared by its tentacles.
Eye opening. Scientology language and mind numbing control reminds me of Orwells 1984. They have their own ” Sci-speak”. Scary. Leah is very brave to live through all of this and still be able to write and help others.
The repetitive writing/discusion of her earlier experiences with Scientology distracted me from enjoying the book.
M
Opens one’s eyes about a group to be feared. They are a cult not a religion. She is very brave to take a stance and defy them.
Terrific book shows how easily people can slip into a cult .Mind boggling
Well paced, funny and controversial. I couldn’t put it down. Leah is my kind of real person, a true friend, warts and all.
I love the raw honesty of this book, very heartfelt! A rare and eye-opening look into Scientology.
If you’re intrigued by the enigma that is Scientology, this is a most interesting expose, as well as an intriguing look into the life of a public figure who was bright in as a most perceptive child.
This was a fabulous read.