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Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health
 | This article possibly contains original research. (April 2010) |
 Cover of the first edition | |
| Author | L. Ron Hubbard |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Dianetics |
| Publisher | Hermitage House |
Publication date | May 9, 1950 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hard and paperback) |
| Pages | 452 |
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, sometimes abbreviated as DMSMH, is a book by L. Ron Hubbard describing a pseudoscientific set of ideas, Dianetics, that would later become part of Scientology. Hubbard claimed to have developed it from a combination of personal experience, basic principles of Eastern philosophy and the work of Sigmund Freud.[1]: 87 The book is considered part of Scientology's canon.[2]: 21 It is colloquially referred to by Scientologists as Book One.[3] The book launched the movement, which Hubbard later characterised as a religion, in 1950. As of 2013, the Scientology organization's publishing arm, New Era Publications, sells the book in English and in 50 other languages.
In the book,[4][5] Hubbard wrote that he had isolated the "dynamic principle of existence", which he states as the basic command Survive!, and presents his description of the human mind. He identified the source of human aberration as the "reactive mind", a normally hidden but always conscious area of the mind, and certain traumatic memories (engrams) stored in it. Dianetics describes counseling (or auditing) techniques which Hubbard claimed would get rid of engrams and bring major therapeutic benefits.[6]
The work was criticized by scientists and medical professionals, who note that the work has no scientific basis and that the claims presented in the book are written in superficially scientific language but without evidence. Despite this, Dianetics proved a major commercial success on its publication, although B. Dalton employees have stated these figures were inflated by Hubbard's Scientologist-controlled publisher, who had groups of Scientologists each purchase dozens or even hundreds of copies of Hubbard's books and then sold these back to the same retailers.[7] Adam Clymer, a New York Times executive and journalist, said the newspaper examined the sales patterns of Hubbard's books and uncovered no instances in which vast quantities of books were being sold to single individuals.[7]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
lewis-ch4was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
rothsteinwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lewis, James R. (2009). Scientology. Oxford University Press US. p. 417. ISBN 978-0-19-533149-3.
Book One, contains all basic principles on Dianetics in its original form.
- ^ Friaglia, Lindsay; Yeransian, Leslie (June 6, 2006). "Scientology Goes NASCAR With Dianetics Race Car". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
- ^ Ruth Marvin Webster (February 8, 2008). "A religion for the 21st century: Scientology". The North County Times, Escondido, CA. nctimes.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
- ^ Hubbard, L. Ron (2007). Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Bridge Publications, Inc. pp. i, vi. ISBN 978-1-4031-4446-1.
- ^ a b Sappell, Joel; Welkos, Robert W. (June 28, 1990). "Costly Strategy Continues to Turn Out Bestsellers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
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