A Billion Years

My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology

By: Mike Rinder

Narrated by: Mike Rinder

One of the highest-ranking defectors from Scientology exposes the secret inner workings of the powerful organization in this remarkable memoir that is “not only a cautionary tale but also an inspiring story of resilience” (Leah Remini, New York Times bestselling author).

Mike Rinder’s parents began taking him to their local Scientology center when he was five years old. After high school, he signed a billion-year contract and was admitted into Scientology’s elite inner circle, the Sea Organization. Brought to founder L. Ron Hubbard’s yacht and promised training in Hubbard’s most advanced techniques, Rinder was instead put to work swabbing the decks.

Still, Rinder bought into the doctrine that his personal comfort was secondary to the higher purpose of Hubbard’s world-saving mission, swiftly rising through the ranks. In the 1980s, Rinder became Scientology’s international spokesperson and the head of its powerful Office of Special Affairs. He helped negotiate Scientology’s pivotal tax exemption from the IRS and engaged with the organization’s prominent celebrity members, including Tom Cruise, Lisa Marie Presley, and John Travolta.

Yet Rinder couldn’t shake a nagging feeling that something was amiss—Hubbard’s promises remained unfulfilled at his death, and his successor, David Miscavige, was a ruthless and vindictive man who did not hesitate to confine many top Scientologists, Mike among them, to a makeshift prison known as the Hole.

In 2007, at the age of fifty-two, Rinder finally escaped Scientology. Overnight, he became one of the organization’s biggest public enemies. He was followed, hacked, spied on, and tracked. But he refused to be intimidated and today helps people break free of Scientology.

“An intensely personal, cathartic memoir of blind allegiance, betrayal, and liberation” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), A Billion Years reveals the dark, dystopian truth about Scientology as never before.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Michael Rinder. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Loved the book!

I just about inhaled this book! Finished in 2 days. This book is a bomb and Scientology has good reason to freak out. I enjoyed the narration, not all authors are good at narrating. Well done Mike!

Excellent book!

I wasn't sure what to expect from Mike Rinder's book since so much has already been told about this cult. But I was thoroughly surprised by all the additional info Mike shared with us through the book. Mike did an excellent job narrating and I was always anxious to read the next chapter. I highly recommend it.

Brilliant

I was very sad when this came to an end. I have held an interest in Mike Rinder ever since I saw him on the BBC Panorama series in 2007 and 2010. I followed his blog donated money and enjoyed his HBO series so I was delighted to see he was releasing his own book.
The book is superb and grabs your attention from the first pages, it was truly fascinating to hear the insight of someone who spent so long in Scientology and one who reached the top and ultimately the bottom. Mike diligently narrates well, especially for his first time. To end, I personally am having some major changes in my life, something that he given me lots of reflection, heart ache and worry. This book really helped my mindset and made me realise I don’t have it so bad, look how difficult it must have been for Mike Rinder walking out of Scientology in 2007 at the age of 52 losing everything and slowly coming to the realisation of what Scientology really was. The stress and emotions must have been damaging . This book has my highest recommendation!!!

A Must-Read (Listen)

Whether you're morbidly interested in the sheer horrors of $cientology's inner workings and tactics of truly sadistic sociopaths, or just want to be awed by the unbelievable strength of Mr. Rinder as he overcomes the evils he was subjected to, this is an amazing book. Doesn't drag, never boring, difficult not to binge. (The one thought I kept having from midway on was wondering in all seriousness how that little runt still manages to be alive. *smh*)
Thank you for your courage, Mr. Rinder. Absolutely recommend!

Well done!

Even after watching all of the Aftermath episodes and documentaries I found this book filled with so much more of Mr. Rinder’s personal story. A very interesting and thoughtful read.

excellent, very informative

Very insightful, Mike's done a wonderful job performing as well, got me some moments

Great!

Probably not best suited for those with absolutely no knowledge of Scientology, as it has a fair amount of inside baseball terms and characters, but amazing overall! If you’ve watched any of the documentaries or read and books on Scientology, you will be well-prepared for this memoir.

Excellent

Just one of the many sourced provided to educate people on the truth going on behind those prison walls. David Miscavige will get caught one day and serve a rest of his time behind bars, then gets to goto HELL.

Catharsis and Truth

Mike, the abuse you suffered at the hands of Scientology, Muskavitch and his minions is so hard to listen to. But I am glad you were able to tell this story as I know your experiences have helped many people:: Ex-Scientologists, and others who suffered at the hands of cults, gurus, and charismatic leaders. You show that it is never too late to awake from the mind control and abuse of these entities. I think that even the mainstream religions have their “cult-like “ fringes, and I agree with you that morality has to be a result of our humanity, not because someone says “you must believe what I say is right or wrong”. It is religion that sprang from the idea of morality, not the other way around. I am so happy to hear that you are focusing on protecting children from cults and extreme religions that exploit children and do irrevocable harm. Keep speaking out against the abuses of Scientology and other cults. I do hope you have found catharsis and peace in what you are doing now to make the world a better place.

Simply WOW

What an incredible first-hand account of life within one of the world's biggest cults.

Mike Rinder gives an incredible reading here. Highly recommend this book!