In 'Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief', Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright employs extensive research and personal interviews to delve into the enigmatic world of Scientology. This penetrating study reveals the church's origins from L. Ron Hubbard's vision, its relentless pursuit of legitimacy and power, its treatment of dissidents, and its corporate-like wealth accumulation. Central to the narrative are profiles of Hubbard, whose vast imagination birthed a divisive belief system, and his successor David Miscavige, who inherited the complex task of shepherding the church through scandals and legal battles. Wright also discusses the controversial recruitment and treatment of celebrities, the secretive and often harsh reality for the Sea Org clergy, and the church's powerful influence over its members. With a journalist's eye for detail and a historian's breadth of context, 'Going Clear' provides an exhaustive exploration of what defines a religion and the legitimacy of Scientology's claim to this title.