Reviews of L Ron Hubbard's DIANETICS: The Modern Science of Mental Health from Scientific American, CalTech, Mt. Sinai Hospital, The American Scientist, The Journal of Clinical medicine, and many more, in short

I have concluded that Hubbard wrote Dianetics with a copy of William Sargant's book "Battle for the Mind" in his right hand says Arnie Lerma see article Scientology and Communism

"There is always a well-known solution to every human problem -- neat, plausible, and wrong."
H.L. Mencken

Scientology's Religious Cloaking

What Ex-members face:
The Scientology Matrix

Conspiracy for Silence

Above, Cover of Astounding Science Fiction Magazine
containing the original announcement of the arrival of Hubbard's "Dianetics"

From the 50 Years Ago section of Scientific American

Scientific American, January 1951
By Isaac Isidor Rabi

DIANETICS: THE MODERN SCIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH, BY L. RON HUBBARD. Hermitage House ($4.00).

This volume probably contains more promises and less evidence per page than has any publication since the invention of printing. Briefly, its thesis is that man is intrinsically good, has a perfect memory for every event of his life, and is a good deal more intelligent than he appears to be.
However, something called the engram prevents these characteristics from being realized in man's behavior. During moments of unconsciousness and pain and at any time from conception onward, the "reactive mind" can still record experience, but experiences so recorded -engrams- are a major source of man's misery, his psychosomatic ills, his neuroses and psychoses, his poor memory, and his generally inefficient functioning. By a process called dianetic reverie, which resembles hypnosis and which may apparently be practiced by anyone trained in dianetics, these engrams may be recalled.

Once thoroughly recalled, they are "refiled," and the patient becomes a "clear," who is not handicapped by encumbering engrams and who can thenceforth function at a level of intellect, efficiency and goodness seldom if ever realized before in the history of man. The system is presented without qualification and without evidence. It has borrowed from psychoanalysis, Pavlovian conditioning, hypnosis and folk beliefs, but, except for the last, these debts are fulsomely denied.
The huge sale of the book to date is distressing evidence of the frustrated ambitions, hopes, ideals, anxieties and worries of the many persons who through it have sought succor.

I.I. Rabi, winner of the Nobel prize in physics in 1944, is professor of
physics at Columbia University.
Quote from: http://www.nobel.se/physics/laureates/1944/

His early work was concerned with the magnetic properties of crystals. In 1930 he began studying the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei, developing Stern's molecular beam method to great precision, as a tool for measuring these properties. His apparatus was based on the production of ordinary electromagnetic oscillations of the same frequency as that of the Larmor precession of atomic systems in a magnetic field. By an ingenious application of the resonance principle he succeeded in detecting and measuring single states of rotation of atoms and molecules, and in determining the mechanical and magnetic moments of the nuclei.

Prof. Rabi has published his most important papers in The Physical Review, of which he was an Associate Editor for two periods. In 1939 he received the Prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and, in 1942, the Elliott Cresson Medal of the Franklin Institute. He was awarded the Medal for Merit, the highest civilian award in World War II, in 1948, the King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom the same year, and is an Officer of the Legion of Honour.

Introduction to Dianetics and Scientology 1995

Because the terms dianetics and scientology may be unfamiliar, it is useful to provide definitions. These definitions are drawn from Harper's Dictionary of Modern Thought, by Alan Bullock, Oliver Stallybrass, and Stephen Trombley (new and revised edition, Harper and Row, 1988). I trust these extracts come under fair use doctrine.

Dianetics

A mechanistic technique of therapy developed in 1948 by L. Ron Hubbard. It is based upon the belief that memories reach back before the moment of conception to previous lives or existences even in non-human forms or on planets elsewhere in the universe, and that if these memories can be recalled without pain or emotion an individual will be freed to develop his personality and 'beingness'. Dianetics later developed into scientology.

Scientology
An organization of a quasi-religious character founded in the U.S.A. in 1952 by the late L. Ron Hubbard and purporting to bring its members complete mental health. It has been widely accused of authoritarian attitudes and of indoctrinating, hypnotizing, and brainwashing its members so as to destroy their social links with non-members, including even close relatives. Several Australian states, New Zealand, Canada, and Great Britain have held official inquiries into its practices, and measures aimed at adversely publicizing its activities or drastically reducing their scope have been adopted in number of them.

Bibl: J. G. Foster, Enquiry into the Practice and Effects of Scientology (London, 1971).

There is a view that scientology is a symtom of the social decay and growth of irrationalism associated with late capitalist society and therefore shares some of the features of fascism.

And this tidbit from the APA

"Psychologists act against Dianetics", by Lucy Freeman, New York
Times, 9/9/50

The American Psychological Association today called on psychologists, "in the public interest," not to use in therapy the techniques "peculiar" to a new approach in mental health called Dianetics. It is outlined in a book of the same name. The action was taken in a resolution adopted by the Council of Representatives, governing body of the association, at its closing season.

The association stated that "in view of the sweeping generalizations and claims regarding psychology and psychotherapy made by L. Ron Hubbard in his recent book "Dianetics," the American Psychological Association adopts the following resolution: "'While suspending judgment concerning the eventual validity of the claims made by the author of "Dianetics," the association calls attention to the fact that these claims are not supported by empirical evidence of the sort required for the establishment of scientific generalizations. In the public interest, the association, in the absence of such evidence, recommends to its members that the use of the techniques peculiar to Dianetics be limited to scientific investigations designed to test the validity of its claims.'." The book, now a best-seller since its publication several months ago, has been the subject of discussion in psychological and psychiatric circles. The psychologists represent the first scientific group to take official action against it and did so only after long deliberations.

In explaining the action of the council, Dr. E. Lowell Kelly, a member of it and of the board of directors, said, "what we have here is a man who claims he has discovered an exact science of the mind and developed a technique of therapy which goes far beyond that known to psychology, psychiatry, and psychoanalysis." He described the technique advanced in the book as "as a hodge-podge of accepted therapeutic techniques with new names." One of the main objections to the book made by psychologists is its contention that anyone, having read it, may practice therapy successfully without danger to the patient.

There is no evidence in support of this view and "considerable evidence against it," Dr. Kelley declared.

Mr. Hubbard is described by his publishers as "a mathematician and theoretical philosopher." The book is titled "Dianetics, the Modern Science of Mental Health, a Handbook of Dianetic Thereapy." The preface states that the author has discovered a technique "which will invariably cure all psychosomatic ills and human aberrations." In another recommendation, the council "strongly urged" the 8,000 members of the association, as individuals, to offer "tangible support, in all possible ways, financial and otherwise, to their collegues whose connections with the University of California at Berkeley have been severed by recent action of the Regents." In New York, neither Mr. Hubbard nor a spokesman for his publisher could be reached last night for comment

From United States Federal Judge Gesell

"An individual processed with the aid of the E-meter was said to reach the intended goal of "clear" and was led to believe there was reliable scientific proof that once cleared many, indeed most illnesses would automatically be cured. Auditing was guaranteed to be successful. All this was and is false -- in short, a fraud. " Federal District Judge Gesell 333 F. Supp. 357; 1971 U.S. Dist

Related:
Now hat you see what Dianetics is, take a look at what Scientology is!

August 30, 1981 - Clearwater Sun Sect courses resemble science fiction By RICHARD LEIBY Sun staff writer "At the Fort Harrison Hotel in downtown Clearwater, Scientologists are learning to leave their bodies, control other people's thoughts and communicate with plant life. They learn this by reliving a galactic holocaust carried out by space creatures millions of years ago. So say top-secret Scientology documents spelling out the highest level of training available to church members. It is training that costs thousands of dollars and, according to church defectors who provided the documents, amounts to nothing but a swindle dreamed up by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. " -
August 19, 1995 - Washington Post Church in Cyberspace; Its Sacred Writ Is on the Net. Its Lawyers Are on the Case.
L Ron Hubbard convicted of FRAUD in France:
Catholic Sentinel - Scientology Leaders Convicted of Fraud
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