30 Years a Watchtower Slave: The Confessions of a Converted Jehovah's Witness

by William J. Schnell

Book Overview

At first, the Watchtower Society seemed harmless to William J. Schnell, even valuable as a way to develop his faith in God and pass it on to others. This book is Schnell's fascinating account of his involvement with the cult, which effectively enticed him in the 1920s and continues to lure countless individuals today. Readers will learn, as Schnell did, that the Jehovah's Witness religion he had joined was anything but innocent. For thirty years he...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801063841
• ISBN13: 9780801063848
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

stop the cult

The Jehovah Witness Watchtower cult is a big money life destroyer. The cult causes children to die due to its bogus blood ban. The cult also causes suicide among the members of the cult. Protect your family and community by warning people about this big money mind control operation. Christian Peper

Great history and personal story

This book gives a good background and history of the JW's and what is really behind their organization. The author jumps forward and then comes back from time to time but everything eventually fits togather. His style of English represents some one that grew up in another culture (ie. Germany) so it reads a bit different than comporary English. I'm 58 so readers younger than me might need to rewiew some general history if they need some reference points for the time period of WWI, the 20's, 30's, and 40's. Overall a good book; I'm hoping to get a younger person, that is contemplating joining the JW organization, to read it so she knows about what they really are!

Suberb insights into early Watchtower Society strategies

A candid self-evaluation and evaluation of the Watchtower Society history from 1917 to 1952, written by a former Jehovah's Witness. Schnell tells a fascinating story of a developing religion. He uncovers the Watchtower Society's sales methodologies developed in Europe and the USA. He also reveals the use of demonstrations and the court system in the US to benefit the Watchtower Society through the influence of public perceptions.With Schnell's help, you can begin to understand how idealistic youths ended up as dedicated, underpaid promoters of a belief system which Schnell compares to totalitarianism.I gave the book 4 stars, because I think it has its greatest value as a historical document which may give insight into the origins of the current Watchtower Society. It may be less relevant to the concerns of those who love the JW's of today. Still, a great read!

I was almost fooled by Jehovahs Witnesses

I had been studying with Jehovahs Witnesses for almost 2 years. It seems I did not progress as fast as they would like. This book showed me how I was almost tricked. They had made an announcement that in the 70's that Armageddon would come BUT it didnt. Thousands of JW's made enormous debts because they thought in the new earth they wouldnt have to pay up. This IS documented in one of the yearly books they put out.

read for yourself

This book is worth reading simply because it tells the truth. Knowing the truth will set you free, and he who has been set free is free indeed.