Author, humanitarian and Founder of Dianetics and Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard is one of the most acclaimed figures of the modern age.

In a writing career spanning more than half a century, he was both a leading light of American fiction and the author of more than 35 million words of nonfiction—the single most embracive statement on the human mind and spirit, providing the only road to total spiritual freedom.

To date, more than 250 million copies of his works are in circulation worldwide, in 71 languages. All told, those works comprise over 3,000 recorded lectures and some 5,000 writings, including nineteen New York Times bestsellers.

Accordingly, and in testament to the magnitude of his literary legacy, there are his four Guinness World Records: most published author, most translated author, the author with the most audiobook titles and the single most translated non-religious work.

Yet the essence of L. Ron Hubbard’s legacy is perhaps best expressed in his simple declaration:

“I like to help others and count it as my greatest pleasure in life to see a person free himself of the shadows which darken his days.

“These shadows look so thick to him and weigh him down so that when he finds they are shadows and that he can see through them, walk through them and be again in the sun, he is enormously delighted. And I am afraid I am just as delighted as he is.”