Headley worked in the film-production studios and he recounts the aging equipment and outdated processes of making Scientology training films and public relations videos.

[3]: 263 Headley recounts episodes from his years as a member of the Church of Scientology, most of that time as part of the inner group called the Sea Org.

Headley reproduced thousands of copies of audio recordings of speeches by Hubbard, and he was often faced with repercussions from Miscavige if production quotas were not satisfied.

[7][5] Headley was selected in 1990 to undergo the Scientology practice of auditing, as partner to actor Tom Cruise,[5][8][9]: 209 [a] who had recently finished the film Days of Thunder.

[8][10] Cruise was paired with the author because, according to Headley, he was relatively low on the scale of Scientology courses and young at the time (17), so he would not be viewed as a risk to speak to the press about his experiences with the celebrity.

[5] According to the Headley, he worked with Cruise on Scientology exercises called Training Routines for hours at a time each day.

[8] He recounts a 2004 incident where Miscavige instructed his management to participate in a game of musical chairs to the Queen song "Bohemian Rhapsody".

[5] According to Headley, the Scientology leader ordered 70 executives to fight for chairs while the music was playing, and said that only the last person remaining would be allowed to stay at Gold Base.

[5] The author describes a 2004 event where Tom Cruise was awarded the organization's Freedom Medal of Valor from David Miscavige, the video of which was leaked to the Internet in January 2008.

[5] Initially, the video intended for the event featured Cruise and other celebrities including Will Smith appearing on camera and praising the actor.

[5] Headley states he gained approval to sell old Scientology materials on eBay to recoup money for the organization – he was later accused of embezzlement for doing this.

[5] Headley recounts how on a rainy day in early January 2005 he left Gold Base on his motorcycle, was chased by Scientology security guards who ran him off the road and then started an argument with him.

A passing motorist had phoned 911 after seeing the incident and an officer from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department arrived, discovered Headley was from the nearby Scientology compound and escorted him into town and safety.

[21] They noted, "Headley's book follows a year in which Scientology has been plagued by unwelcome revelations from high-profile defectors and fresh media investigation into its practices.

[24] The Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium, De Standaard, noted the book discusses "remarkable experiences" the author underwent as a Scientology staff member.

[8] In a 2010 article in New Humanist, Paul Sims noted, "Since its release at the end of last year, Blown for Good has made the kind of impact its author hoped.

Having built up an online buzz courtesy of Anonymous, and sold thousands of copies in the US, Headley says he has been receiving letters and emails from Scientologists, many of whom have said the revelations in his book have confirmed their suspicions about the inner workings of the Church.

[26] In 2008, Headley spoke in Hamburg, Germany, at a conference discussing abuses within Scientology, alongside actor and former Scientologist Jason Beghe.