Description

One of the highestranking 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 Rinders parents began taking him to their local Scientology center when he was five years old After high school he signed a billionyear contract and was admitted into Scientologys elite inner circle the Sea Organization Brought to founder L Ron Hubbards yacht and promised training in Hubbards 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 Hubbards worldsaving mission swiftly rising through the ranks In the 1980s Rinder became Scientologys international spokesperson and the head of its powerful Office of Special Affairs He helped negotiate Scientologys pivotal tax exemption from the IRS and engaged with the organizations prominent celebrity members including Tom Cruise Lisa Marie Presley and John Travolta

Yet Rinder couldnt shake a nagging feeling that something was amissHubbards 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 fiftytwo Rinder finally escaped Scientology Overnight he became one of the organizations 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