Andrew Morton's Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography is a fascinating peek into the life of the actor. Although it is a bit slow at the beginning, starting with more geneology than most people would care to know, it later delves into matters closer to Cruise, particularly how he went from being a heartthrob to the controversial figure he is today.

As an unauthorized biography, it is difficult to tell how much of the book is fact, and how much is one-sided information taken from sources who agreed to speak to Morton. Notably, only former members of the Church of Scientology were interviewed, perhaps skewing some information on the cult.

No matter, Morton provides readers with an engaging view of the charismatic actor. He portrays Cruise as someone who is always "on." Even his real life is an act. Morton describes Cruise as a multi-faceted individual: a troublemaker as a boy who turned to acting only after an injury ruined his sports career; a man who enjoys showering his girlfriends with flowers, but once the relationship is over, will leave without a backwards glance; a devoted actor whose success was practically instantaneous.

But the most interesting aspect of Cruise's personality that Morton describes is undoubtedly his involvement in the Church of Scientology. Morton describes the start of the cult, its roots in science fiction and its illicit history, including wiretapping, blackmail and even attempted murder that led to its being banned in several countries. Morton gathers information from many sources who left the folds of the cult, and describes Cruise's close relationship to Scientology leader David Miscavige and the way the cult particularly sought out and wooed celebrities to join the fold and help proselytize and spread founder L. Ron Hubbard's beliefs.

Morton expands on how Scientology took over Cruise's life, the way his involvement made him a so-called expert in politics, psychiatry, education and several other areas of interest. "The man who had already claimed to be an authority on education, human rights, religious freedom, detoxification, and drug rehabilitation added another arrow to his quiver. Cruise unveiled himself on national TV as an expert on postpartum depression," Morton writes.

Morton's description of Cruise's very public recent behavior is also particularly interesting. Notable are his interview with Matt Lauer and condemnation of Brooke Shields for taking medication to allieve her postpartum depression. His "interviews" of several upcoming actresses to become his wife is also included, as is information on how Katie Holmes went from being a bubbly, family-centered girl to being whisked away and turned into Mrs. Tom Cruise, a lifeless, dead-eyed woman whose childhood dream of marrying the actor had been fulfilled after a whirlwind courtship.

Numerous biographies have been written about Cruise, and while Morton does not necessarily provide any new information, he does capture the essence of the larger-than-life actor. A charismatic man who is quick to file lawsuits for defamation, particularly when the claim is made that he is gay, everything about Cruise is up for display here: his childhood, his acting career, his marriage and other relationships and particularly his religion. Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography is an interesting read for those who have watched Cruise in the public eye and wondered what makes him tick and what caused his behavior of late.

- Ashley