A Billion Years
My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology
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A Billion Years
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Narrated by:
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Mike Rinder
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By:
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Mike Rinder
About this listen
Mike Rinder's parents began taking him to their local Scientology centre 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, Mike 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.
In A Billion Years, the dark, dystopian truth about Scientology is revealed as never before. Rinder offers insights into the religion that only someone of his former high rank could provide and tells a harrowing but fulfilling story of personal resilience.
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“Few people understand Scientology like Mike Rinder does. In A Billion Years, he tells the gripping, harrowing account of growing up in Scientology, serving founder L. Ron Hubbard, and rising to the top of its ranks. Mike has found purpose in his pain and his book offers not only a cautionary tale but also an inspiring story of resilience.”—LEAH REMINI, New York Times bestselling author of Troublemaker
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2022 Mike Rinder (P)2022 Simon & SchusterWhat listeners say about A Billion Years
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-01-2024
Mind blowing
Shock horror, total manipulation, brain washing and sadistic abuse. Struggle to understand how individuals could be brainwashed by the whole craziness that is the CULT of Scientology. Every chapter a shocking page turner. Everyone should read this , be informed and enlightened about the dangers of this criminal , evil “ organisation” They call it a religion, can’t believe they are still in “business” today after such revelations
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kylie
- 12-04-2024
What an incredible story!
Amazing story, beautifully written, spoken with honesty, emotion and integrity. Thanks for everything you do Mike ♥️
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Rachael M
- 25-01-2024
Loved.
Thank you for sharing.
It’s heartbreaking to hear all of the awful things that happened but so important that this story is shared.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 01-03-2023
Crazy!
Truly compelling and gut wrenching. Hopefully action can be built on the momentum of books like this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Alice
- 08-04-2023
Incredible story
Love that you have spoken out, told your story and you are so sincere in this entire book.
Well done.
Loved it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jamie Roberts
- 02-05-2023
Insightful and gripping.
Well written and narrated by the author. Can’t wait for a sequel. Well done. Couldn’t put it down.
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- Joe
- 13-09-2023
Amazing!
This was an amazing journey. Mike Rinder is an amazing human being. Bless 🙏
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- Anonymous User
- 15-01-2024
Inner Workings of Scientology
It is difficult to understand that people are so compelled to live in these conditions. And how they have to leave with very little. The conditions of the hole and details of the abuse were depictions of the lengths people go to, to control others.
I found myself wanting to know and understand more in detail how people stayed. It was a really interesting story and is insightful of what Mike went through. Thank you for sharing your experience.
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- Greg Mewkill
- 09-07-2024
A billion years of suffering
Emotionally intense recollections and revelations. And clearly the tip of a hideous iceberg of delusion and manipulation.
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- Anonymous User
- 28-02-2023
Incredible
An incredible true story written and narrated by the man himself who was a part of the highest echelon, innermost workings and horror of the cult of scientology.
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this absolute legend of a bloke tell his amazing life story.
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