Ironically, it was my being an avid reader that first drew me to the Witnesses. Later, though, when doubts began to develop, it was reading that helped draw me away - as in the case of Giordano.
This was prior to the Internet, so very little was available - even in the public libraries. Fortunately, the job I had involved a considerable amount of travelling. Wherever I went, I always made a point of checking out the public library, and reading anything they had on Jehovahs Witnesses.
No that there was a lot!
- Schnell's 30 Years a Watchtower Slave. Hardly an unbiased work, but the author was highly disgusted with the WTS, and took no pains to conceal that fact!
- Stevenson's 1975 -Year of Doom? was a revealing work, written by somebody who had served at all levels up to "Circuit Servant" - and whose perspective was greatly altered once he was able to view "the organisation" from the outside.
- Penton's Apocalypse Postponed was another informative read.
(At that stage, I had never heard of Raymond Franz's Crisis of Conscience).
Apart from being an avid reader, the only other characteristic that may have helped is my stubborn streak that comes out when I feel I have been unfairly treated, messed around - or just generally been taken for a ride!
Bill.