Troublemaker

Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

By: Leah Remini

Narrated by: Leah Remini

The outspoken actress, talk show host, and reality television star offers up a no-holds-barred memoir, including an eye-opening insider account of her tumultuous and heart-wrenching 30-year-plus association with the Church of Scientology.

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 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....

©2015 Leah Remini (P)2015 Random House Audio

She is amazing!

Definitely an interesting listen. It was remarkably frustrating and disgusting to hear all of the manipulative behavior occurring in a "religious" organization.

How do people get into cults?

Any additional comments?

If you have ever wondered how people get into cults and why they stay, this is the book for you. Leah Remini does an excellent job explaining what so many others have failed to explain, namely, how do smart or aware or strong-willed people get suckered into joining cults? This is a great book. It is real and raw and honest, and Leah does a wonderful job bringing it to life. Sometimes, you will want to be her best friend. In the end, you will feel like you finally learned something about why people join cults.

Troublemaker

Kudos to Leah for standing up to this cult! Loved every minute of the book. Awesome read.

I LOVED every minute of this book!!!

What did you love best about Troublemaker?

Leah Remini is so relatable, and very funny.

What did you like best about this story?

Her story is interesting from start to finish, and is written in such a way as to bring the reader into the story.

What does Leah Remini bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her narration of the book is priceless. I literally laughed out loud many times while listening.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Troublemaker: Surviving and Leaving Scientology

Any additional comments?

Raised as an Independent Baptist, I can relate to the extremes of Scientology. I am glad Leah found her way out and I truly hope she finds or has found Jesus.

Gripping Storytelling in Ms. Remini's Own Voice

Would you consider the audio edition of Troublemaker to be better than the print version?

Yes, because of the depth and range of soul and emotion in Ms. Remini's voice.

What about Leah Remini’s performance did you like?

These stories are confessional, stories of faith and faith broken. The raw, grittiness of her stories would never have the same effect without the author's own voice. Great performance, because raw and real.

Captivating

This was a great book by Leah. Hearing her story in her voice made this hard to put down. I finished this book in record time. I knew nothing of Scientology until I saw Leah's show on TV and then to hear her back story...she is so brave to leave and continue to stand up for others who also left that belief system. Everyone should read this book.

love!

this was such an easy listen! laughed out loud and loved every minute of it!

Keith Morrison voice= O M G

originally bought for my wife to hear, she said she already read the book. I'm a longtime fan, but I wasn't interested in this, but started it and could not stop it, how? crazy? what? So entertaining and worth it to hear this story.

This book was the therapy I needed

I recently left Scientology after 16 years. Leah so brilliantly articulates so many of the things that were going on in my head, but that the church always made me wrong for thinking. It was very therapeutic to hear from someone who had similar experiences to my own. I am so glad that I read this, and that Leah Remini took the time to write it all out.

Light - shedder

Wow – Leah sheds light on a very troubling corner of our country/world. I can only imagine that her transparent story has put her at risk on many levels. Thank you Leah, for taking that risk and speaking out. You have given us all a beautiful gift.
Welcome to “world of Christmas“ and may all 7 doors fling open widely inviting you into Love joy peace gentleness kindness goodness and faith all the days of your life! God bless you!