Crisis of Conscience did come out in the 1980s. When I was disfellowshipped in 1980 I became part of a "phone tree" of former JWs. That phone tree included notables such as James Penton; Richard Rawee; Randall Watters and Raymond Franz himself. Even with primitive technology I was never isolated.
I did go to Christian book stores to read anti-JW books but they didn't satisfy me. I also managed to find an exJW by the name of Edmond Gruss author of Apostles of Denial who had a complete, and I mean complete library of everything the Watchtower had printed since its inception. He graciously allowed me to visit his library were I saw and read the really old $h!t.