First published 2016
Ron Miscavige watches his son David climb the ranks of the Church of Scientology from childhood through his eventual ascension to its leadership. As David transforms from a young boy into the organization's most powerful figure, Ron witnesses firsthand the personal cost of absolute authority within the controversial religious movement. The father chronicles his son's journey while navigating his own complex relationship with both David and Scientology itself. Ron's account exposes the inner workings of an insular world few outsiders ever see. This intimate portrait captures the painful collision between family loyalty and institutional power. The story reveals how David Miscavige became Scientology's leader through his father's eyes, offering an unprecedented view into their fractured relationship and the organization that shaped them both.
Genres: biography, abuse, cults, non-fiction, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fractured-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Church of Scientology
Period: 21st Century
244 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Content warnings: abuse