ah, so you started with scientology and not dianetics.I think I partially answered that already.
My first books were Scientology 8-8008 and, then, the now out of print Phoenix Lectures.
These two links to old threads hopefully will answer your question as to how I became involved:
Link to the What I liked in Scientology thread
Link to the The Master Game thread
Edit: One additional link added.
For me I started with dianetics but the organization switched me to scientology. I too read Scientology 8-8008 and the Phoenix Lectures and many lectures. I thought at the time they were great and I was on the road to freedom. Those books and lectures persuaded me to think I was on the road to total freedom, metaphysical wise.
Here is the original Scientology 8-8008.
If you don't look at his Scientology 8-8008 from a rhetorical analysis, you will never get the con. Just say'in.
6.3 What is Rhetorical Analysis? – A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing
pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu
Rhetorical Analysis
miamioh.edu