She balances high-ranking defectors' eyewitness accounts of abuse with the observations of practicing Scientologists who come across as believers but not robots — and ask some pretty good questions of their own.

Reitman, a freelance journalist, supplements Scientologists' memoirs, founder L. Ron Hubbard's extensive writings, news reports and declassified online documents with dozens of interviews of former and current church members.

"[6] According to a review published in The Village Voice, Reitman's book is a "stunning overview of everything" and calls the author a "thorough, brave journalist," who has "done such a good job with original research and interviewing eyewitnesses from every era of the organization's development that she can weave a page-turning narrative no matter how arcane the material.

"[9] The Seattle Times wrote, "Reitman's analysis of Scientology's ability to survive scandal and mockery is compelling and persuasive.

She describes Scientology as a "shape-shifting" organization, attuned to changes in the national mood, able to be whatever people in a given time most want: a religion, a UFO story, a countercultural movement or a self-help program.