The Founder and Dianetics Summary and Analysis

In "The Founder," Reitman discusses Lafayette Ron Hubbard, the inventor of Dianetics and Scientology. Born in Tilden Nebraska, Hubbard was an imaginative son of a navy officer. He longed for adventure and often embellished his real life with fantastical tales of his achievements. At twenty-seven, Hubbard began writing western and adventure novels, but by 1939, Hubbard, now married with children, began writing science fiction and with the help of John W. Campbell, editor of Astounding Science Fiction magazine, he became a huge success. In his private life, Hubbard continued to dream of joining the military, and eventually convinced them to accept him. At the end of WWII, Hubbard followed other science fiction writers to the home of Jack Parsons, leader of the rocket program at CalTech. Parsons was an occultist, with a strong belief in the...