
A Billion Years
My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology
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Narrated by:
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Mike Rinder
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By:
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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.Listeners also enjoyed...




















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Loved the book!
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Excellent book!
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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!!!
Brilliant
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Thank you for your courage, Mr. Rinder. Absolutely recommend!
A Must-Read (Listen)
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Well done!
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excellent, very informative
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Great!
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Excellent
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Catharsis and Truth
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Mike Rinder gives an incredible reading here. Highly recommend this book!
Simply WOW
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