The Church of Scientology is the famous American-born religion created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and well-known for celebrity followers like Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

The church claims millions of members here in the United States and around the world. Scientology is famously litigious, with a phalanx of lawyers keeping an eye on journalists, writers and media companies who set out to cover the church.

But now that a number of high-profile members have left and are beginning to tell their stories, we're getting rare insight into the inner workings of the church, from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright. His new book is called, "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief."

The Church of Scientology says, "Lawrence Wright's book is so ludicrous it belongs in a supermarket tabloid. The book is an error-filled, unsubstantiated, bigoted anti-Scientology book."

In the video above you can watch CNN's Christiane Amanpour discuss the book with Wright.

The Church of Scientology's response is available in full here.