Project in the Works

I recently purchased a copy of L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics from a used bookstore. My goal is to present a chapter-by-chapter synopsis/analysis of the book. For those of you who do not know, Dianetics is the book behind Scientology. If you don't know what Scientology is, go ask Tom Cruise. Anyway, as I opened the book, an "Important Note" caught my intention. I will quote it in full as it is quite interesting (these are pages viii and ix in my edition).

Important Note

In reading this book, be very certain you never go past a word you do not understand.

The only reason a person gives up a study or becomes confused or unable to learn is because he or she has gone past a word that was not understood.[emphasis Hubbard's]

The confusion or inability to grasp comes after [emphasis Hubbard's] a word was not understood. Have you ever had the experience of coming to the end of a page and realizing that you didn't know what you had read? Somewhere earlier on that page, you passed a word that you didn't understand.

Here's an example. "It was found that when the crepuscule arrived the children were quieter and when it was not present, they were much livelier." You see what happens. You think you don't understand the whole idea, but the inability to understand came entirely from one word you could not define, crepuscle [emphasis Hubbard's], which means twilight or darkness.

If, in reading this book, the materials become confusing or you can't seem to grasp it, there will be a word just earlier that you haven't understood. Don't go any further, but go back to before [emphasis Hubbard's] you got into difficulty. Find the misunderstood word and get it defined.

And on the opposite page...

Footnotes and Glossary

As an aid to the reader, words that are sometimes misunderstood have been defined in footnotes where they occur in the text. Words sometimes have several meanings. The footnote definitions give in this book only give the meaning that the word has as it is used in the text. A glossary including all the footnoted definitions is included at the back of this book. Other definitions can be found in various dictionaries.

I found it interesting that the Hubbard expects the book to confuse me. Personally, I would think that it is not a fault of the readers for a fault of the book if it is incomprehensible. I guess we will see if it is as bad as the introductory note suggests.

What stood out to me, besides L. Ron's desire to provide me with about 200 definitions (just a quick estimate from looking at the glossary,) was the phrase " The only reason a person gives up a study or becomes confused or unable to learn is because he or she has gone past a word that was not understood." That is NOT the only reason a person becomes confused. Sometimes what the person is reading is nonsensical or poorly reasoned. People are unable to learn because their teachers are unable to present material in an intelligible manner, and sometimes people give up because what they are doing is no longer worth their time or effort. If life were so easy that a dictionary could cure all confusion, I would carry a copy of Webster's Dictionary in my pocket.

Personally, I think it is insulting to insist that any confusion I may arrive at in the text is because of some lack of vocabulary. I think that if I included that segment in a physics paper, I would be laughed at and rightfully so. The book begins by making sure the reader blames himself/herself for all confusion. I look forward to seeing what else is my fault.

I should note that I do not promise to be entirely unbiased while critiquing this book. After all the recent publicity revolving Scientology and especially the South Park episode, it's hard to think of L. Ron Hubbard or Scientology without going into a little bit of a laughing fit. I will try my best to maintain my composure and consider Dianetics on its own.

Next: How to Read This Book

Note: All quotes are from
Hubbard, L. Ron. Dianetics. Los Angeles, CA: Bridge Publications, Inc, 1986, unless noted otherwise.