What do you think?
Rate this book
I, Witness
For David Clark – a family man, devout member of the watchtower Society and bringer of "The Good News" – life had lost all meaning. Disillusioned with church teachings, he decided to leave the faith but had to find the strength to throw off the teachings programmed into him since birth and rebuild his life.
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
1 person is currently reading
35 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 12, 2025
I read this book and it's a heartwarming story, very telling and honest. It's also truly shocking at times. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I found this Kirkus Review that says it all for me:
“A page-turning glimpse into the lifestyle of a Jehovah’s Witness. In sharing his memoir, Clark seeks catharsis and closure. Born and raised a Jehovah’s Witness in a particularly dysfunctional family, he describes his upbringing in a filthy, sometimes violent home with a mentally ill mother and often-absent father. His early experiences ranged from shameful visits to the Kingdom Hall, where his family sat at the periphery of the faith due to neglect, to visiting his mother in a mental hospital, a scarry experience. Reaching adulthood ill-equipped for the world, Clark entered a brief, failed marriage, turned back to the Kingdom Hall, married again, then began a spiritual and emotional roller-coaster ride. After a lengthy struggle with hypocrisy he perceived in the leadership and doctrine of his faith, Clark’s family finally left the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a jarring change that was part of the cause of the breakup of his second marriage. More ups and downs followed as he suffered through depression, financial ruin and other failures - an obviously painful and raw period, only briefly explored here. At last, Clark discovers peace in a new faith tradition, and comfort through a third marriage. The story is engrossing, and the writing solid. Clark’s portrayal of the life of a Jehovah’s Witness is necessarily subjective, but it’s grounded in a lifelong experience with this often-mysterious faith; anyone who has received a Witness at their door will find Clark’s perspective intriguing. The tradition Clark presents is troubling at best, frightening at worst. Though an imperfect character in many respects, his ability to change course and seek out a truer relationship with God is inspiring. One man’s successful return from a spiritual hell.”
--Kirkus Discoveries
“A page-turning glimpse into the lifestyle of a Jehovah’s Witness. In sharing his memoir, Clark seeks catharsis and closure. Born and raised a Jehovah’s Witness in a particularly dysfunctional family, he describes his upbringing in a filthy, sometimes violent home with a mentally ill mother and often-absent father. His early experiences ranged from shameful visits to the Kingdom Hall, where his family sat at the periphery of the faith due to neglect, to visiting his mother in a mental hospital, a scarry experience. Reaching adulthood ill-equipped for the world, Clark entered a brief, failed marriage, turned back to the Kingdom Hall, married again, then began a spiritual and emotional roller-coaster ride. After a lengthy struggle with hypocrisy he perceived in the leadership and doctrine of his faith, Clark’s family finally left the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a jarring change that was part of the cause of the breakup of his second marriage. More ups and downs followed as he suffered through depression, financial ruin and other failures - an obviously painful and raw period, only briefly explored here. At last, Clark discovers peace in a new faith tradition, and comfort through a third marriage. The story is engrossing, and the writing solid. Clark’s portrayal of the life of a Jehovah’s Witness is necessarily subjective, but it’s grounded in a lifelong experience with this often-mysterious faith; anyone who has received a Witness at their door will find Clark’s perspective intriguing. The tradition Clark presents is troubling at best, frightening at worst. Though an imperfect character in many respects, his ability to change course and seek out a truer relationship with God is inspiring. One man’s successful return from a spiritual hell.”
--Kirkus Discoveries
June 20, 2013
the author's story was interesting, but he's a terrible person. He meets a woman with two children who lives in a rent controlled apartment and convinces her to come away with him and live, so that she loses her financial security. Then, when he loses his job for being irresponsible, he has her sell her body to support him. Then he leaves her and her kids high and dry.. Later, when he becomes wealthy, he never looks for her or makes any attempt to help her after she sacrificed so much for him. It's disgusting – this man is a professional victim, all he cares about is himself. I had trouble finishing the book – it was interesting to learn about the Jehovah witnesses utter and complete control over people, but the author never claims responsibility for anything he does and blames it all on his upbringing and doesn't seem to care about the people he abandons the leaves behind.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews