.
Like so many things in Scientology, the books--whether DMSMH or the entire set of "BASICS"--is a talisman.
talisman -noun: an object that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.
Convincing a person to buy one of Hubbard's books is supposed to magically:
-- connect the "being" to "source"
-- prove to them that the tech can handle their "ruin"
-- make them reach for and become a Scientologist
Despite the fact that the tech contained in the book has never once worked, the book can nonetheless achieve its intended results by giving "the being" fully unwarranted and false
hope that all their worldly troubles can be easily, quickly and very inexpensively solved!
I know of one example where an Ideal Org gave an entire set of basics (for free) to a gay wog who was influential in the area the org was trying to operate. He told me (never suspecting that I knew more about the cult than he could ever possibly imagine) LOL.
GAY WOG
...so they gave me all these huge boxes of books,
what's up with that?!
HH
They are trying to make you into a friendly ally
and trick you into thinking they are good people, LOL.
GAY WOG
You know something I don't? LOL
HH
Yeah, a lot. Listen let me help you understand
Scientology in 20 seconds, okay?
GAY WOG
OMG, how are you going to do that?
HH
Okay, do you know how much Scientology costs to do?
Can you even make a guess?
GAY WOG
No idea. I don't know. Two thousand dollars?
HH
LOL LOL LOL
GAY WOG
Higher? Um, $5,000?
HH
LOL LOL LOL
GAY WOG
No way! LOL. $10,000?
HH
LOL LOL LOL, Keep goin' buddy. . .
GAY WOG
Okay what? $50,000?
HH
No, higher. Way higher.
$500,000
GAY WOG
WTF, are you serious?! No way.
Are you serious?
HH
Yup. And then it takes several decades
to do it. And the secret you learn at the
end is that there are aliens inside your
body that are causing all the problems.
75,000,000 year old aliens.
GAY WOG
WTF!!!! You're fucking with me right?
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
OMG, you're serious
LOL LOL LOL
HH
So how about those boxes of books?
You can't wait to study them, right?
GAY WOG
Hellllllll no, I am throwing those
out as soon as I get home!
Well anyways, the "BASICS" books were supposed to magically convert that clueless wog to a cheerleader for Scientology. Nobody told him they would help him study the books, they were just supposed to GIVE IT TO HIM and that would solve all the problems.
Cults do really really really strange and stupid things, thinking that it will magically work.
They do this............because they are a cult.
.