30 Years a Watchtower Slave: The Confessions of a Converted Jehovahs Witness

30 Years a Watchtower Slave: The Confessions of a Converted Jehovahs Witness
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MADE A LOT OF SENSE!

A LEGACY NOT JUST A BOOK

Christian Biography

stop the cult

Still One of the Best in this Genre
30 Years a Watchtower Slave: The Confessions of a Converted Jehovahs Witness
William J. Schnell
Manufacturer: Baker Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Crisis of Conscience

Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness: Escape from the Watchtower Society

The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Jehovah's Witness (The 10 Most Important Things)

20 Questions Jehovah's Witnesses Cannot Answer

Out of the Cocoon: A Young Woman's Courageous Flight from the Grip of a Religious Cult

ASIN: 0801063841
Release Date: 2002-01-01

Book Description

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 was enslaved by one of the most totalitarian religions of our day, and his story of finally becoming free is riveting. Readers will be alerted to the inner machinations, methods, and doctrines of the Watchtower Society, arming them to forewarn others and witness to their Jehovah's Witness friends, relatives, neighbors, and the stranger at the door. With more than 300,000 copies sold, 30 Years a Watchtower Slave is truly one of the classic testimonies of freedom from a powerful cult.

Customer Reviews:

MADE A LOT OF SENSE!.......2007-03-17

Perhaps to some who were never involved with the "Witnesses" much of what is written in this book will seem a bit far-fetched. But as one who was also in the "organization" for about 30 years I can say that this man's story made a lot of sense.

A number of books have been written about the Watchtower organization. I have not been very well impressed with most that I have read; I do not feel that they are very accurate. Although this book predates most of those others, with a few exceptions, I feel that most things covered in this book really "hit the nail on the head." Schnell goes into the history of the society after "Judge" Rutherford's hostile takeover (which is about the time Schnell became involved) and describes the Society's tactics in Germany during this time and in the U.S. immediately afterwards. The "modus operandus" that Schnell suggests fits everything I experienced and witnessed personally while in there.

My only exceptions would be to some disparaging suggestions directed towards Bible Students, prior to the "Jehovah's Witnesses". These seem a bit self-contradictory and I would not be surprised that they were added after the original publication, although I cannot confirm this.

A LEGACY NOT JUST A BOOK.......2006-12-12

The late William Schnell has left a valuable and lasting legacy in this work. He lived through some of the most turbulent and interesting times in the history of Jehovah's Witnesses. He gives the reader an excellent overall "feel" of what it was like to be a JW under "Judge" Rutherford, the second president of the Watchtower Society.

This was the first book of it's kind that I read when I left the Jehovah's Witnesses nearly thirty-five years ago. It was helpful to me then, and it would still be helpful today. Even if you have never been involved with the JW's this is a very engrossing read.

An excellent companion volume is JEHOVAH UNMASKED, an investigation into hidden mysteries in the Bible. JEHOVAH UNMASKED is a fascinating five-star look at the identity of the god Jehovah. Is Jehovah the real Almighty God or just a pretender? Is God an insane murdering lunatic as the Old Testament says, or is that just a pretender god? Did the first Christians believe in God the Mother? What and where is the Kingdom of God? Who told the First Lie in the Garden of Eden, Jehovah or the Serpent? Are you SURE? Who or what was it that gave us the list of New Testament books as we have them now? The answers to these questions will shock you.

Christian Biography.......2006-11-16

This was interesting and informative reading. It took one man's story of his life and how he and his family became JW, then how the religion changed during his lifetime, and how he finally got out of the religion.
I learned a lot about this religion from this man's experiences.

stop the cult.......2006-02-18

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

Still One of the Best in this Genre.......2005-09-26

The late William Schnell has left a valuable and lasting legacy in this work. He lived through some of the most turbulent and interesting times in the history of Jehovah's Witnesses. He gives the reader an excellent overall "feel" of what it was like to be a JW under "Judge" Rutherford, the second president of the Watchtower Society.

This was the first book of it's kind that I read when I left the Jehovah's Witnesses thirty three years ago. It was helpful to me then, and it would still be helpful today. Even if you have never been involved with the JW's this is a very engrossing read.

An excellent companion volume is JEHOVAH UNMASKED, an investigation into hidden mysteries in the Bible. JEHOVAH UNMASKED is a fascinating five-star look at the identity of the god Jehovah. Is Jehovah the real Almighty God or just a pretender? Is God an insane murdering lunatic as the Old Testament says, or is that just a pretender god? Did the first Christians believe in God the Mother? What and where is the Kingdom of God? Who told the First Lie in the Garden of Eden, Jehovah or the Serpent? Are you SURE? Who or what was it that gave us the list of New Testament books as we have them now? The answers to these questions will shock you.

How to Rescue Your Loved One from the Watchtower

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Practical Advice
The best available as far as I know

How to Rescue Your Loved One from the Watchtower
David A. Reed
Manufacturer: Baker Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Other Denominations & Sects | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Jehovahs Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse
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Crisis of Conscience
20 Questions Jehovah's Witnesses Cannot Answer
Index of Watchtower Errors 1879 to 1989

ASIN: 0801077524

Customer Reviews:

Practical Advice.......2000-04-08

As an ex JW, David knows the mental states that a person goes through when getting involved with this cult. Practical insight into how a person thinks at each stage of involvement helps to tailor the approach you take.

The best available as far as I know.......1998-02-16

David Reed has written a book that's really a revelation to every person who is genuinly interested in saving a loved one from the Watchtower, or is really interested in the subject. Not the Bible is authoritive for Jehovah's Witnesses, but the teachings of this organization, no matter how contrary they are to the doctrines found in the Holy Scriptures. Usefull strategies are in detail outlined in this book to rescue someone from the Watchtower. Very much worth reading and studying.

Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness: Escape from the Watchtower Society

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Review from a JW
Must read for all ex-JWs
AN OUTSTANDING ENTRY IN THIS GENRE!
Eyes Wide Open Now!
One Of THE VERY BEST Books By A Former JW!

Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness: Escape from the Watchtower Society
Diane Wilson
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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30 Years a Watchtower Slave: The Confessions of a Converted Jehovahs Witness
The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Jehovah's Witness (The 10 Most Important Things)
20 Questions Jehovah's Witnesses Cannot Answer
Out of the Cocoon: A Young Woman's Courageous Flight from the Grip of a Religious Cult

ASIN: 1573929425

Book Description

What Diane Wilson reveals about the inner workings of the closed Watchtower Society will shock the average person who assumes the polite, well-dressed people who pass out leaflets are much like any other conservative religious group. Wilson contends that membership in the Jehovah's Witnesses demands obedience bordering on psychological enslavement and complete suppression of individuality--yet prohibits the questioning of the teachings of the Watchtower Society.

Her engrossing first-hand account will be of great interest to former Witnesses, students of cult phenomena, anyone who has ever experienced an abusive relationship, those who want to learn more about what compels people to enter this group, and all who have ever had contact with Jehovah's Witnesses.

Customer Reviews:

Review from a JW.......2007-09-25

I read some of this book a while back for only one reason. My mom knew Diane, because SHE was in OUR Santa Clara South congregation. Do you know where ALL those people that Diane talks about in her book are? They are out of the truth! Yes, ironic as it may seem, most of the witnesses in the congregation that Diane was in are not even Jehovah's witnesses anymore! It just goes to show that Jehovah takes care of his organization when there are bad seeds in the congregation, hyprocritical and demanding, unreasonable people as are mentioned in her book. Well they are all gone. I'm in that same congregation today and if anyone was to compare them to the one back then, they would see a dramatic transformation. The utter opposite.
It is a shame to cut off ones relationship with Jehovah God because of imperfect people that may seep into the congregation. But Jehovah always makes sure to cleanse his organization from such ones. My mom suffered an ulcer from these people pressuring her but she trusted in Jehovah, not allowing them to tear her relationship with God. Today she has so much blessings and has experienced proof of God's spirit.
Diane goes and blames the society because of these people's problems, people that were unable themselves to stay in the truth. No man has a right to judge but Jehovah--time and time again I have heard this all my life in meetings and articles by the Watchtower. These people who judged are no longer there.
Also Jehovah's witnesses don't even believe in hell, pergertory, which other people of religions may be in constant fear of; and they dont ever bear arms like Christendom. There have been more wars in the name of religion, and none of these wars did Jehovahs witnesses ever partake in.
This organization is not a cult because they dont follow a man leader, they follow the teachings of Jesus only. Cults generally don't survive either, but this organization has been growing year by year. They don't "control minds," they reccommend you read the bible on your own everyday, and they offer evidence from the scriptures and allow you to ask questions, unlike some churches where people can't even ask the pastors question, let alone get to know them. The witnesses are against self-condemning thoughts and feeling guilty when their is already repentance, their main concern is to encourage and build up. Ask the majority of Jehovah's witnesses who have not allowed a couple of self-righteous individuals to tear them down. You need to see Jehovahs witnesses as a whole, not for a tiny handful of bad seeds. The majority spent hours across the entire globe preaching the good news of the kingdom (which is fulfilling the prophecy at Mattew 24:14, the only religion who have) only because of love for neighbor and God and nothing else. They don't get paid, their not controlled, they really want to. I should know as I have been a Jehovah's witness all my life and the last thing I know they would do is try and manipulate. This book is just an emotional spew and she just let irrational people make her irrational.

I know my review will not be 'helpful' to those anti-JWs out there but among all other reviews for this book this is the most helpful regardless, because i know the facts.

Must read for all ex-JWs.......2007-06-12

Would be great if all JWs would read this, but that's not going to happen. A great validation for an ex-JW!

AN OUTSTANDING ENTRY IN THIS GENRE!.......2006-12-12

The publishers of this book are well named, for they bring to us the Sacred Fire, just as the Prometheus of Myth did. I've read every book written by former Jehovah's Witnesses, but this one is the most engrossing and well-written. It's also the most challenging to the world-view of all Biblical literalists. Only one other book, Jehovah Unmasked, has done as good a job. That's a tremendous compliment to this book! Prometheus does not give us yet another "My life moved inexorably toward Jesus once I left the JW sect" book. Very refreshing. An excellent read.

Read I WAS A TEENAGE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS and JEHOVAH UNMASKED for two of the wildest rides ever!

Eyes Wide Open Now!.......2006-08-14

I have a publication from the Watchtower Society called "The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life". On pg. 13 it counsels, "We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination." So I decided to put the Watchtower Society itself to this test. Jehovah's Witnesses seem to be so fearful of Ms. Wilson's book, that I read it to see what the stir was all about. And I am so glad I did! I think JWs are so against Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness because it reveals shocking information about the Watchtower that JWs would prefer to ignore. This book is not a book of allegations--it is a book of facts. It is also the author's personal experiences while a JW for 25 years. And it backs up its statements about the Watchtower with quotes (including page numbers)from the Watchtower's own publications. Like for example the Watchtower's instruction to its women to act respectfully to one's own rapist! And the book makes clear how crazy-making the Society's doctrinal contradictions are. I am grateful for this well-written book, which has opened my eyes so I can at last see this religious organization for the manmade cult that it is.

One Of THE VERY BEST Books By A Former JW!.......2006-03-08

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Vital Source for Researching JW History
Today is a Friday.A fool borns every minute in the World
cults steal lives, get informed
Great if you're looking for original Watch Tower quotes
A book that fails

Index of Watchtower Errors 1879 to 1989

Manufacturer: Baker Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Jehovahs Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse
20 Questions Jehovah's Witnesses Cannot Answer
The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Jehovah's Witness (The 10 Most Important Things)
Answering Jehovahs Witnesses: Subject by Subject
Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses

ASIN: 0801077567
Release Date: 1990-06-01

Customer Reviews:

Vital Source for Researching JW History.......2007-07-26

In May of 1943, at the New York Supreme Court, former Watchtower attorney Olin Moyle, successfully sued The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society for slander. While under oath, the then President of the WTBTS, Nathan Knorr, testified that the JW magazine (The Watchtower) is presented to the public as "God's Word...without qualification." (Court Transcript, Moyle vs. WTBTS, p.1474) In the same case, Frederick Franz, who succeeded Knorr as President of the WTBTS, testified that "Jehovah God" was the Editor of the Watchtower magazine "since its inception." (Court Transcript, pp.795, 866)

In addition, The Watchtower magazine claims to be the ONLY channel through which God communicates His truth to the world. (WT, 4/1/1919, p.6414; WT, 1/15/1917, p.6033) Emphasizing that it does not interpret what God's truth is, but merely puts in writing the truth that God delivers to the world through them, and only them! (WT, 1 July, 1943, p.203; WT11/1/1931, p.327; WT, 1/1/ 1994, p.6) Fortunately, God gives us a few tests to apply to anyone making claims as radical as the WTBTS and The Watchtower magazine.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 and 13:1-4 give two tests for distinguishing between genuine Prophets of God and False Prophets. (1) If one prophesies in God's name and what they predict does not come to pass - they are a False Prophet. (2) If they're prediction does come to pass, BUT they teach you to follow after false gods - they are a False Prophet. Thus, recognizing False Prophets is achieved by simply applying these tests to the teachings ans prophecies of the WTBTS.

Tragically, everything they have ever predicted has FAILED to come to pass. "Judge" Rutherford (2nd leader of WTBTS) wrote a booklet in 1920 entitled "Millions Now Living Will Never Die." On pp.89-90 Rutherford predicted that in 1925 Old Testament Saints and those listed in the New Testament book of Hebrews chapter 11 would return bodily to live once again on the earth to rule over the New Kingdom of God they would inaugerate, stating, "...Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter eleven, to the condition of human perfection." Needless to say, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are still dead and did not return in 1925.

"Judge" Rutherford taught that in 1914, 1918, and 1925 all governments of the world would be removed and God's Kingdom would replace them as the governing body. (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol.2, early editions, pp.76-78; 98-99; Studies in the Scriptures, Vol.7. p.62; WT, 7/15/1924, p.211)When each year came and went without fulfilling Rutherford's prediction, he had the temerity to write in his book "Vindication" that "God's faithful people" (NOT Rutherford himself) made false predictions that did not come true, stating, "God's faithful people on the earth emphasized the importance of the dates 1914 and 1918 and 1925. They had much to say about these dates and what would come to pass, BUT ALL THEY PREDICTED DID NOT COME TO PASS." (Vindication, Vol.1, p.146) Furthermore, in his book "Light," he wrote that making false predictions is proof positive that someone is a FALSE PROPHET, Rutherford stating, "...their prophecies to date have not come to pass; and that alone is strong evidence that they are false prophets." (Light, Vol.2, p.47) However, regarding all the previous false predictions he made in the official publications of the WTBTS, Rutherford conspicuously failed to apply this standard to himself! Such egregious false predictions, followed by equally egregious cover-ups, rewritings of history, ans misleading statements are common throughout the writings published by the WTBTS. Their entire history is characterized by one false prediction after another.

In addition, doctrines taught by WTBTS leaders as truth received from God, is contradicted by later leaders. Even though every leader involved claims to merely relay truth received from God. For instance, the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Charles Taze Russell, taught for years that the Great Pyramid in Gizeh was designed, engineered, and supervised by God in its construction. In addition, he claimed that by deciphering its dimensions and passage-ways, one could unlock deep secret doctrines taught in the Bible. So much so that Russell called the Great Pyramid in Gizeh "The Bible in Stone." (WT, 3/15/1911, p.4790) In direct contradiction to Russell, the next JW leader, "Judge" Rutherford, taught that the Great Pyramid in Gizeh was not from God but instead was directly designed by Satan himself saying it was Satan's Bible, and not God's stone witness." In the same article, after some detailed explanation of some the Pyramid's dimensions, Rutherford states that, "If the above calculations are correct, then such is further corroborative proof that the Devil himself superintended the building of the pyramid if Gizeh." (WT, Nov.15, 1928, p.344)

Given the events above, it is abundantly clear that the Jehovah's Witnesses organization (WTBTS) is not the ONLY CHANNEL of truth used by God to communicate to the world. In reality, it is a FALSE PROPHET. Anyone can read and study the Watchtower Magazines from 1879 to the present and discover for themselves how deceptive thay have been to their followers.

This book catalogues the false predictions and contradictory doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses (WTBTS) from a former JW Elder.

Other recommendations on www.Amazon.com (1) Jehovah's Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse by Daivid A. Reed (2) Jehovah's Witnesses: Their Doctrinal Changes and Prophetics Speculation - What Does the Record Show? by Edmund Gruss (3) Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah's Witnesses by Ron Rhodes (4) 20 Questions Jehovah's Witnesses Cannot Answer by Dr. Charles Love.

Today is a Friday.A fool borns every minute in the World.......2007-07-13

In late XIX Century, a then famous american called P. T. Basrnum told:"A fool borns every minute, in the World".The watchtower is a despicable american cult, who gets money from fools.
This book is about the enormous mistakes maden by watchtower, between 1879 and 1989.About this subject, this book is excellent.Why I won't give 5 stars for this book?Because this book covers until 1989 year.We are in 2007 and since 1989, watchtower made terribles failures again.
Even so, about watchtower's errors, no other book I know is so good as this book.I hate all cults and watchtower is among the worst of them.

cults steal lives, get informed .......2006-02-18

Great if you're looking for original Watch Tower quotes.......2005-06-26

This book is made up entirely of JW quotes from authoritative works, especially the Watchtower magazines. If you are doing research and want to look some things up, this work is very handy. It would not be a good book just to pick up and read, but it does offer a variety of quotes on everything from the predictions of Christ's return to blood, birthdays, and salvation. I like having the quotes...yet I only wish there was a way to see these quotes in their context (photocopies?). Also, some quotes were not in quotation marks, making me wonder if some of them were paraphrases rather than word-for-word quotes. But otherwise, a good resource to keep on hand.

A book that fails.......2003-12-21

I try and keep an open mind, but the authors of this book clearly already had their mind made up long before they wrote this book. I guess the thing that strikes me most about this book is that the authors could not find one positive thing to say about these Jehovah's Witnesses in their entire publication.

While some may have different beliefs, a more balanced viewpoint is definitely needed. These authors were not balanced, they were out to discredit the witnesses at all costs.

Don't buy this book if you want to hear both sides, but feel free to buy it if you are interested in a one-sided view.

God's Channel of Truth... Is It the Watchtower?
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A Real Eye Opener
God's Channel of Truth... Is It the Watchtower?
E.B. Price
Manufacturer: TEACH Services, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1572581638

Book Description

Perhaps you also, along with many others, have asked the question, "Is God's channel of truth the Watchtower?" This little volume is a beautiful true story of a woman who searched for truth and found the answer from God's Holy Word.

Customer Reviews:

A Real Eye Opener.......2007-04-18

For years a classic true story from Australia, of one woman's search for truth. It wasn't the Watchtower(Jehovah's Witness) movement she had belonged to all her life. Very revealing Bible truths no matter what your background. Good easy reading.

Average customer rating:

Path book for your Mage game
Generally good, with one glaring exception
Highly Variable
Mage the Awakening's "Big Book of Occult Correspondences"

Tome of Watchtowers (Mage)
Kraig Blackwelder , Jackie Cassada , Sam Inabinet , Steve Kenson , Matthew McFarland , and Nicky Rea
Manufacturer: White Wolf Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Secrets of The Ruined Temple (Mage the Awakening)
Guardians of the Veil (Mage the Awakening)
Legacies: The Sublime (Mage the Awakening)
Sanctum And Sigil (World of Darkness (White Wolf Hardcover))
Tome of the Mysteries (Mage)

ASIN: 158846427X

Customer Reviews:

Path book for your Mage game.......2007-10-09

All the pentacle paths of the Mage the Awakening game are here: Obrimos, Thyrsus, Acanthus, Moros and Mastigos. Each of the supernal watchtowers are described along with their corresponding supernal Realms. Each path is given decent treatment and details the common practices, outlooks and perceptions of these mages. I use it regularly when I storytell my Mage games and have lent it to my players to detail and flesh out their characters. Also includes sample rotes and other pertinent rules, sample nimbi, magical tools and practices for the various magical paths and how each of the mage Orders views them.

A very useful reference and players guide book to Mage!

Generally good, with one glaring exception.......2007-06-05

The purpose of this book is to expand on the descriptions of the Paths in the Mage: the Awakening rulebook. It gives their histories, expands their character concepts and oblations, and generally explains their outlook on life, their Supernal Realms, and other Mages. The history sections look at the real world and what areas would have been appropriate for the influence of a particular Path, or would have been a real setback for that Path. They are sometimes quite imaginative in how they fit things in, and make use of some intriguing real world examples, such as King Solomon's reputation for binding demons. The Acanthus and Mastigos chapters were the best for me. They really give one a deep feeling for what it can be like to be a Mage on one of these Paths, and they gave a lot of options and ideas for Mages that might depart quite a lot from the standard images of these Paths. The Moros and Obrimos are good and quite useful but not inspiring. In the Moros chapter, they were described as spending a lot of time thinking about how events shape the sympathy between the material world and Stygia, which did not make that much sense and really differentiated them from the other Paths. That said, it did describe how and why Moros Mages want to return to Stygia, whereas Mastigos for instance never want to return to Pandemonium and are extremely wary of its inhabitants. In the Obrimos section, there just wasn't enough information to see how an atheist, or even anyone not obsessively devout, would Awaken on that Path, or how they would follow it. That is somewhat surprising, as at one point it says that even the devout actually have their faith somewhat shaken by Awakening on this Path. Overall, well according to another reviewer each chapter was written by a different author, and they all made false assumptions about how and about what the others would right. It is amusing and doesn't hurt, but it doesn't add much either. On the editing, it is like the editing for every other World of Darkness book: hopeless. There are wrong words, missing words, hanging sentences and basic bad grammar.

Then we come to the Thyrsus chapter. Here the writer just lost the plot. All the other chapters expand on the views and character ranges of their Paths. The Thyrsus here are actually even more one-dimensional than they are in the Mage rulebook. The best way to encapsulate it is to picture the 19 th Century attitude to women: incapable of logic or reason, creatures of impulse without thought. The Realm of the Primal Wild is not one of nature, it is one of predation, and somehow it supposedly turns those who Awaken to its Watchtower into beasts. NOT people that behave like animals. By that, I mean animals do not behave like that in relation to others of their type. This is the human fantasy of bestiality: to be free of all the constructs of human society, the social standards, the ethics, the morality, the capacity for pity, all the things that keep us from hurting and killing other human beings. The Mage presented in this chapter has nothing to do with any type of real-world Shaman that I have heard of. None of the Thyrsus characters presented in the Mage rulebook, the free demo, the two Legacy books, or Chicago act like this, except the Nemean of Boston, who is deliberately letting his Wisdom fall, and the cannibal from the demo. The cannibal is specifically used as an example of a deeply corrupted Mage, but apart from the flesh-eating, in this chapter he's pretty standard.

I almost forgot about the Legacies. That says something in itself, as Legacies are one of my favourite things in Mage. The Mastigos Legacy seems quite noble and good, but way too restrictive of membership. The Moros Legacy is great but seriously Left-Handed. The Acanthus Legacy has attaintments too powerful and too vague, and the Obrimos Legacy is nothing special. The Thyrsus Legacy is only great in sort of summarising just how bad and useless the description of the Thyrsus is.

For serious role-players, this is a great book. More casual types probably won't find much to interest them, there are few merits and no spells, and the Legacies are either too vague or too restricted. The example characters aren't good examples and the wrong types were chosen to be fully statted out. Finally, the Thyrsus chapter is a total write-off. This only gets three stars.

Highly Variable.......2006-09-26

A very uneven book with each section written by a different person and of different quality and format. The Mastigos and Moros are very good, the Obrimos is alright, and the Thyrsus and Acanthus sections are lackluster. These better ones do an excellent job of giving cultural grounding for the Path, describing the Supernal Realm and its effects, and offering interesting practices and traditions. The worst offer only cliches, unbalanced effects, and limiting interpretations that offer more of a charicature than a creatively fleshed out portrait of the Path.

Mage the Awakening's "Big Book of Occult Correspondences".......2006-09-18

This is essentially Mage the Awakening's answer to the question of "Where are my Path books?" It goes over the Paths, what their Supernal realms are like, sample sanctums, sample nimbii, their roles (generally) in each Order, and their relations (again, generally) to other Paths.

Some people have a pretty big problem with this book's views on the Paths, that they're too stereotypical, which I agree with to a degree.... which is why I gave this only four stars instead of five. I also dropped the rating down one because the Legacies in the book aren't really that great- the Stormweavers or whatever the name of the Acanthus Legacy is comes to mind.

Overall, though, I'd suggest this book, and if you were to buy supplements for Mage in order, this would be second after Sanctum and Sigil (absoultely essential.)

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom Total Year 1975 Bound

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The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom Total Year 1975 Bound

Manufacturer: Watch Tower bible and tract society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BKABJ4

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Fascinating Window

The Watchtower (1920-1929)
Research Applications
Manufacturer: Research Applications International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM
Similar Items:

Rutherford's Rainbow
Watchtower Newsletters: Kingdom News, Director, Informant
Watchtower Yearbooks (1927-1942)
Studies in the Scriptures (7 Volumes)
Millions Now Living Will Never Die!

ASIN: 0972465057

Book Description

First published in July of 1879, The Watchtower magazine continues to be the primary doctrinal publication of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. During the 1920's, the magazine was published on the 1st and the 15th of each month. Every issue spanned 16 pages, except for the November 1, 1922 issue, which expanded to 32 pages.

The average print run today exceeds 26.4 million copies of each issue, and by comparison, in 1925, the Society mailed out a total of 1.4 million issues for the entire year. Furthermore, in 1925, The Watchtower was published in 23 languages worldwide; today it's published in 146.

Very few issues remain in circulation today and as a result they have become extremely rare. For example, a recent quote for a quality set of the entire decade exceeded $10,000. Therefore, we are pleased to offer the complete decade on CD-ROM for a fraction of the price. In other words, you can own the entire decade for less than a penny per page.

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating Window.......2007-06-25

I read this as part of research on an article, and it provides a fascinating window into a religious world that is mostly misunderstood.

God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached

Average customer rating:

God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached

Manufacturer: Watchtower Tract and Bible Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OZNWME

Product Description

An examination of much evidence in the Holy Bible and Twentieth-Century World History on whether God's Millennial Kingdom will begin its blessings within our own generation.

Average customer rating:

Unimpressive
Stilted and Choppy
A little below the line
Rich, Quiet Beginning of Trilogy
I wanted to like it... but couldn't

Watchtower (Chronicles of Tornor)
Elizabeth A. Lynn
Manufacturer: Ace Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Dancers of Arun: Chronicles of Tornor 2 (Chronicles of Tornor)
Chronicles of Tornor 3: The Northern Girl (Chronicles of Tornor)
Dragon's Winter
Dragon's Treasure
A Different Light

ASIN: 0441006477

Book Description

"A marvelous blend of fantasy...and realism in the characters and the social interactions."--Marion Zimmer Bradley

Elizabeth A. Lynn won the World Fantasy Award for Watchtower, volume one in a breathtaking trilogy that would establish her as one of speculative fiction's most exciting voices. Now, Ace brings this classic back to fans and first-time readers alike--in a beautifully repackaged trade edition.

Tornor Keep is the legendary tower that guards the winter end of a summer land. But when Tornor is overrun by raiders, a young prince is the tower's last hope in an enchanting story of a time far removed from ours and of a land alive with warriors, lovers, war, and honor.

* Winner of the World Fantasy Award
* Beautifully repackaged in its first trade edition

Download Description

In a land brought to life by warriors and lovers, war and honor, the legendary tower, Tornor Keep, is invaded by raiders. No longer the watchtower at the winter end of a summer land, Tornor turns to a young prince with the hopes that he might protect the future of the enchanting land.

Customer Reviews:

Unimpressive.......2007-07-07

This starts out ok, but doesn't fufill the promise of the first few chapters. The flow of the narrative is so uneven that there are several places where it almost seems as if the publisher accidently left out several paragraphs. Read McKillip, Kerr, LeGuin, or McKinley if you want to read good fantasy by a female author. Especially read Monette if you're interested in fantasy with gay/lesbian themes.

Stilted and Choppy.......2007-01-14

While this book is certainly a far cry from 'traditional' when compared to most fantasy novels, the stilted and extremely choppy writing style, along with the rambling plot left me clueless as to how it could have possibly won the World Fantasy Award. There are far better books out there.

A little below the line.......2006-05-11

First of all, an important note before I begin (since this tends to be the biggest suspicion directed at a male reviewer grading a female author's book): I'm not a fantasy chauvinist. I rank Robin Hobb and Patricia McKillip among my favorite fantasy authors. With this disclaimer behind me, on to the review.

I'll start with the positive side. Lynn knows how to write. That's certain. Her action development is quite proper, her characters are pretty believable too. Major warning however: in Lynn's novels from the Tornor series, every character, be it male or female, is involved in a pretty explicit homosexual affair. I tend to find this a bit exaggerated at best, but since humankind has had cultures which exhibited this behavior too (ancient Greece), I'm not putting this as a con of her stories, just a warning.

The real downsides are much more important. The major one is... lack of action. This shows mostly in this part of the trilogy. The word "trilogy" is actually not really warranted here, since you'd tend to think about a trilogy as three _connected_ novels - if it were so here, I guess my mark would be at least one star higher, since this novel does quite good for a starter-of-three. The only problem is that... it isn't. There isn't really too much happenning here, the book is short and the action is virtually characters travelling from one location to another. Maybe there are fans of "descriptive fantasy", but I'm not one of them. I either need to have a good plot or a decent problem to think over when I read a book, this one has neither.

Actually, if you want a "soft" transformation from some slow-paced, non-fantasy literature to fantasy, you might want to ignore the above and just read this, it might be a good choice for you. Otherwise, if you want something more subtle than hack'n'slash, I'd recommend Robin Hobb. If you want good quality hack'n'slash, go for Salvatore. If you just want plain epic fantasy, go for Brooks. Lynn is not the way to go here.

Rich, Quiet Beginning of Trilogy.......2006-04-10

The first book of one of my favorite trilogies, it ranks with LeGuin's "Earthsea" works. I like my fantasy subtle, not full of
stock "beings", and set in interesting cultures, and this fills
those requirements entirely. If you're looking for action and
adventure, rather than exploration, look elsewhere. I only wish
Ms. Lynn had fulfilled the early promise of this work, rather than
publishing sporadically and parsimoniously. I especially like the
way that the society described in the trilogy evolves during the course of the three books.

I wanted to like it... but couldn't.......2006-03-13

The main character of Elizabeth Lynn's "Watchtower" is the compelling and stoic warrior, Ryke. Ryke is loyal, tough--a no-nonsense kind of man's man. He's a right-hand man, everything you'd want in a number two. But because he's a hero's sidekick in search of a hero, and he can't carry the book by himself.

He's loyal to Prince/lord Errel, who at first shows hints of having underlying steel when he is held captive and forced to play the role of a jester by the men who overtook his father's keep and murdered all his men. But Errel soon turns into a power-renouncing nancy-boy who would rather juggle and farm the rest of his life than take up his father's legacy.

Not exactly the stuff of epic fantasy.

And beyond that, the story fails to make you care. It has a host of shallow supporting characters, and a long middle-section which is more boring than watching hobbits walk and eat. It's also driven by a strong sense of 'why?' that never gets answered.

Quite simply, Lynn finds the sweet-spot that makes you _want_ to like her book, but can't ever quite actually make you like it.

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