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Review Detail

 
The Way to Happiness
Scientology Books
October 13, 2012    
Although this book contains the basic tenets of how to be decent, it is used as a marketing tool for corporate Scientology, an organization that fails to adhere to most of the tenets outlined in the book.

In addition, the Way to Happiness recommends, as Precept 19, "try not to do things to others that you would not like them to do with you", and Precept 20, "Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you." Sounds good, and not in conflict with most spiritual ethical guidelines.

However, this conflicts with the Code of Honor for Scientologists, specifically Precept 12, namely "Never fear to hurt another in a just cause". The ethical and philosophical problems with the possibility for margin of error in determining what a "just" cause is aside, this is a part of the Code of Honor of a Scientologist. The Way to Happiness is thus misleading if one takes it to represent all Scientology values.

Corporate Scientology violates many of the common sense precepts in the Way to Happiness.

For this reason, I would not recommend it.
Overall rating 
 
3.5
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3.0
Informative 
 
3.0
Easy to understand 
 
5.0
Usefulness 
 
3.0
Reviewed by eagle November 12, 2012
Top 10 Reviewer  -   View all my reviews (23)

Common sense guide

Although this book contains the basic tenets of how to be decent, it is used as a marketing tool for corporate Scientology, an organization that fails to adhere to most of the tenets outlined in the book.

In addition, the Way to Happiness recommends, as Precept 19, "try not to do things to others that you would not like them to do with you", and Precept 20, "Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you." Sounds good, and not in conflict with most spiritual ethical guidelines.

However, this conflicts with the Code of Honor for Scientologists, specifically Precept 12, namely "Never fear to hurt another in a just cause". The ethical and philosophical problems with the possibility for margin of error in determining what a "just" cause is aside, this is a part of the Code of Honor of a Scientologist. The Way to Happiness is thus misleading if one takes it to represent all Scientology values.

Corporate Scientology violates many of the common sense precepts in the Way to Happiness.

For this reason, I would not recommend it.

Where I stand

I am a...
ex-Scientologist

Pros and Cons (optional)

Pros
No-one can argue with the basic truth in this simple guide to living, which is easy to understand by anyone who has basic literacy skills
Cons
Conflicts in part with the Code of Honor in Scientology.

Bottom line...

Recommend it to a friend?
No
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self-analysis

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Self  Analysis (August 1951):  Possibly the best introduction to the subjects of Dianetics and Scientology. Self Analysis contains both a series of essays on the basic discoveries Ron had made up to this point in his research as well as an extensive auditing section that a person can do by themselves right at home. The book contains a special version of the Hubbard Chart of Human Evaluation and a series of tests one can do to discover where you're really at. Then, by applying the processes from the second half of the book, one is guided through a path of self-discovery. At the end, you will re-do the tests to confirm your improvement. How good can you get? These techniques have been in use for more than six decades and Ron referred to them again and again throughout his research, stating that the processes here were capable of curing any neurosis.

This is the starting point for anyone wanting auditing. You will be audited by L. Ron Hubbard himself through the pages of this book.

Find a copy in used bookstores or at Alibris.com, Amazon.com, eBay. Or you can buy a new copy from these Church of Scientology organizations (but once you give them your address they may continue to send you junk mail) Bridge Publications or New Era Publications.