Tom Cruise: All the World's a Stage author chronicles Cruise's film career, including his first role in "Endless Love" in 1981, his breakthrough in "Risky Business", and other popular films such as "Top Gun", "Jerry Maguire" and the "" films. He cites Cruise's role as "Frank Mackey" in the film "Magnolia" as one of his best performances. Johnstone also writes about Cruise's relationships with Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman, and the luxurious lifestyle maintained by Cruise and Kidman during their relationship. Johnstone puts Kidman in a sympathetic light regarding their 2001 divorce. The book discusses Cruise's relationship with Scientology, and controversy in the media, including his public
Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography has known for a matter of days? ... What was going on? I wanted to know more." In an interview with the "Associated Press", Morton stated that he asked Cruise for an interview, but was turned down: "I asked Tom for an interview and he declined. The Church of Scientology has got a very controversial reputation and that is what he is linked with. An unauthorized biography would essentially be a compromise … I want to investigate it without any kind of fetters." Morton consulted with private investigator and former adult film actor Paul Baressi, who investigated Cruise's private life.