Now I was the emperor of my own kingdom. It was intoxicating. It gave me a sense of invincibility." There’s something so unique about Mike Rinder: an empathy that doesn’t just “feel” for people, but that deftly pinpoints the source of another’s pain and swiftly responds with a skillful word or deed to kiss the hurt, and make it better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ROzm...), IRS, Actual Malice on Wright's behalf, ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OOw9...))

This was the pinnacle of achievement in the Sea Org-I had been selected to become one of the elite. I was thrilled. Since the day I arrived...I had been envious of peers who had been in the CMO and so it was as if I were finally being invited to sit at the cool kids' table." As much as he attempts to paint himself the adorable victim, Rinder continually betrays his barn-sized ego throughout his book. Never, in my thirty plus years in and around Scientology have I encountered a person so admittedly in it to satisfy his own vanity. Fortunately, his editors have 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.”I don't know where I heard about this book by Mike Rinder. It might have been a podcast about secret societies, or a magazine about it, but I immediately wanted to read it. Eventually I discovered it as an audio book and put it on top of my list. Somehow Scientology has always been an interesting topic, mostly because of what you hear about it through modern media, where it's talked about in relevance to actors and celebrities who are involved in this. Having an ex scientology member who used to be in a higher rank talk about his experience seemed extremely interesting, and man, I wasn't wrong. Mike Rinder opens up a book full of stories that are so mindblowing that some of them are even very hard to believe. Yet, having read and seen stuff in the past, I also couldn't not believe his story. Rinder’s] voice is crisp, urgent, and vividly impassioned, whether assessing his years as a compliant member, his breathless escape, or his promise to continue exposing Scientology as a ‘unique and vengeful monster.’ An intensely personal, cathartic memoir of blind allegiance, betrayal, and liberation.” Mike has a unique perspective on Scientology. He not only grew up in the “church” but rose to its highest ranks, working directly with self-appointed leader David Miscavige, Tom Cruise, and in his early years as a teen, founder L Ron Hubbard himself. More importantly though, Mike deserves his story to be heard as his story--not only as an example of David Miscavige's criminal abuses or of Hubbard's sociopathic con game. In the past, Mike has served as an interpreter of sorts, the events of his life discussed mainly when they will further the audience's understanding of the Scientology organization. Here he is finally able to speak as a protagonist.

Rinder travelled with the IRS negotiation team to D.C. on perhaps 2 or 3 occasions over that two-year span as a board member of Church of Scientology International (CSI). CSI was always required to participate in each meeting. Heber Jentzsch was the primary CSI participant, but could not attend on a couple occasions and so Rinder subbed from the bench. He never contributed a constructive thing to any meeting. I was at every meeting - which by conservative estimate numbered several dozen. I was in fact in charge of organizing the substantial data compilation evolutions required after each IRS meeting. I recall routinely dealing with the heads of Church litigation, corporate affairs, accountancy, finance, data, management and investigations throughout that period in the accomplishment of that task. And those folks sent me the tomes of information required. I never recall Rinder lifting a single pinky to help during that entire two-year period. He certainly was nowhere to be found during the investigative (with the exception of his colossal Armstrong failure), public relations, and litigation (involving literally thousands of lawsuits) efforts that for nearly a decade lead up to the negotiations and audits between 1991 and 1993. As for the content of the book itself, this was a massive undertaking by Mike Rinder to consolidate 42 years of Scientology plus the years of the aftermath after leaving into a single book, and do it well. I had brief feelings of disappointment in content that I know was omitted in this book, but I also understand that it would be an impossible task to include it all. His blog is an excellent source of extra information, especially the stories of other scientologists that are not really his to tell in his book anyways. I was originally going to give this book 3 stars. It was a good book, but did not really provide me with any new details. But then I saw this book: If you have any interest in cults and extreme religions, and specifically if you have interest in Scientology, Mike Rinder’s book A Billion Years is a MUST READ. Even better - listen to Mike narrate his own story on audio.

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I’ve witnessed him do this time and again (in the A&E series and on the podcast), and I… ugh… I just love him for it. Our most basic instinct to belong and to be accepted is our biggest weakness in the end. Our desire to connect convinces us that we will improve or enlighten ourselves. Or at least receive support and acceptance. There's nostalgia and remorse in Mike Rinder's case. And heartbreak. Helloooo?! ... wasn't that the aim of people such as Stalin, Karl Marx, most religions, and, oh dear, most politicians... well...basically... all -isms and whatnot? And look where they all ended up. Millions of people dead in horrific wars and revolutions and most of these game-changing rebels murdered or dead themselves. In L. Ron Hubbard's case, he did not die. He just left his body one day and aimed to return some day to continue his noble work. Apparently 21 years. But wait a minute: how many religions do indeed believe in reincarnation? Or an after-life? Mmm. It is always so sad to read about other people's negative experiences with religion. The truth is that there are terrible people with terrible power in this world, and religion can give some of these people the platform they crave to wreak as much havoc as possible on the lives of others. Mike Rinder's experience with scientology (I would call it a cult before I call it an actual religion) was terribly abusive, manipulative, and terror inducing, and reading his story made me so appreciative of the life I have led so far. I have freedom. Mike did not. Just reading about how he started sleeping 8 hours a night for the first time, and how he was able to visit a park and be able to take time to enjoy it for the first time after leaving scientology, was illuminating. I wish Mike Rinder and all other victims of abuse in scientology peace and comfort.