I want to read this book to understand how a brand new religion takes root in the modern world. I do not expect to be converted to Scientology, but you never know.

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Well, that was as brutal a read as I have ever forced myself to do. The book absolutely plods when it is going anywhere at all. At least the bible is full of stories. This book has nothing to recommend it. No matter how many thousands of times Hubbard claims Dianetics is a science, he presents absolutely no data or evidence. There is a bit of anecdotal stuff given but it sounds made up.

Also, he claims that cells can have memory. I guess that's the basis for his religion because it is inconceivable from a biological viewpoint. He believes some people actually have memories of being sperm. How would those memories be stored? Must be in their "life force." And he has some weird hangup about abortion. According to him, almost everyone must be the victim of a botched abortion. Was that what life was like in the fifties or was he just especially warped?

I am at a complete loss as to how this book could have started a religion. I can't even figure out how anyone managed to read it.