May 18, 2014
Going Clear Recommended If You’re NOT on Vacation
Novelist Emma Straub ranks Going Clear as the #3 book to read if you’re NOT going on vacation this summer. Something about how creepy Florida religious compounds can be, apparently.
Publisher’s Weekly: 10 Books to Read If You’re Not Traveling This Summer ⟶
April 03, 2014
‘Going Clear’ Wins IRE Award for Best Investigative Journalism
A Note from Lawrence Wright
What a wonderful honor by my colleagues in the investigative press.
From the judges:
Wright's investigation of the Church of Scientology is groundbreaking in its examination of one of the most well known, but secretive, religion organizations in the world. He draws on previously secret documents—including internal works of the church's founder L. Ron Hubbard—interviews with former and current members of the church and hundreds of court records to present a hard-hitting, but balanced view of church and its followers. The book shines a light on the church's harsh treatment of those who try to leave, but also highlights those, including some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, who have benefited from its teachings. The book also explores the complicated biography of the church’s founder and its relationship with its most famous member, actor Tom Cruise. Despite threats from the church, which is known for its aggressive defense of its works and members, this work provides the best understanding of Scientology to date.
2013 IRE Award winners: Honoring the best in investigative journalism ⟶
March 12, 2014
LISTEN: Longform.org Interview at SXSW
Longform.org features Wright on their podcast, during their visit to Austin for SXSW. Features quotes like this gem:
"If I had the chance to interview Osama Bin Laden, should I kill him? It’s a fair question. Suppose we’re having dinner — should I stab him with the bread knife? Do I have a moral obligation to kill him? Or do I have a moral obligation as a reporter to simply hear him?"
You can download the episode [MP3] or visit Longform’s website to hear the interview.
- [6:00] Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief (Knopf • Jan 2013)
- [6:00] The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (Knopf • Aug 2006)
- [7:45] The Siege (Twentieth Century Fox • 1998)
- [14:45] "The Apostate" (The New Yorker • Feb 2011)
- [30:15] My Trip to Al-Qaeda (Jigsaw Productions • Apr 2010)
March 12, 2014
National Book Critics Circle Praises ‘Going Clear’
In the weeks leading up to the March 13 announcement of the 2013 NBCC award winners, the National Book Critics Circle’s blog is highlighting the thirty finalists. NBCC board member Alex Abramovich offered an appreciation of Lawrence Wright's nonfiction finalist, Going Clear.
February 20, 2014
Finalist for L.A. Times Book Prize
Going Clear is a finalist for the 2013 L.A. Times Book Prize, in the “Current Interest” category. The winners will be announed on April 11, 2014.
January 16, 2014
Wright on Oregon Public Radio
Wright is interviewed about Going Clear and Scientology by Dave Miller on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Thinking Out Loud.
January 14, 2014
Wright in The Oregonian
Wright shares his fascination with religious fervor and what led him to write Going Clear with The Oregonian's Steve Duin.
Steve Duin: Lawrence Wright goes clear on Scientology and religious fervor ⟶
January 13, 2014
‘Going Clear’ Nominated for National Book Critics 2013 Circle Award
Going Clear is one of five nominations in the 2014 award’s nonfiction category.
December 05, 2013
TIME’s Top 10 Includes “Going Clear”
TIME magazine ranks Going Clear at number 7 on its list of the top ten nonfiction books of 2013. Reviewer Lev Grossman calls the book a “relentlessly researched, skillfully presented work.”
September 18, 2013
Some Great Books Omitted by National Book Award
A Note from Lawrence Wright
I can think of some other fine books that weren't on this list, either!
AP: Lawrence Wright, George Packer among authors on nonfiction long-list for National Book Awards ⟶
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