Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: September 2022
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, 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.
Scientology has always fascinated me as does any cult. I really enjoyed Leah Remini's book about her experience. I have also read other books about the subject. So, I of course had to check out A Billion Years. Who wouldn't want a glimpse into the upper echelon of the Sea Org?
I enjoyed this one. The audiobook is narrated by Rinder himself. I thought he did a thorough job of explaining his experiences. The things he went through are mind blowing. I think one of the saddest things about this whole thing is that he has no relationship with his adult children. Also imagine being 52 and having to completely start out in the world. I just found that really sad. I'm glad that people like Rinder and Remini are exposing this cult. I highly recommend this one.
No comments:
Post a Comment