New Boy: Life and Death at the World Headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses

by Keith Casarona

Keith Casarona’s story, is a story of one person’s fifty-year journey as a member of the Watch tower Bible and Tract society. Otherwise known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Indoctrinated as an infant, Keith would become a fanatical worshiper and raised to believe that this organization known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses was the only organization that was directly ruled by the only true God of the universe, Jehovah. This zeal led to Keith serving as a fulltime minister for two years in Salina Kansas. Because of his dedication, he was invited to serve at the world headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brooklyn New York. The headquarters also known as Bethel or the “The House of God.” After serving for four years at the world headquarters, Keith was exposed to the under belly of this organization. Soon it was apparent that this religion was anything but God directed. The corruption of power, politics, favoritism and cruelty would even lead to suicide for some serving there. All these things had started with its founder Charles Russell. He and his followers known as “The Bible Students” determined Charles to be the “faithful and wise servant” in the basement of a church in Pennsylvania in the 1870’s. However, even Charles who had dreamt up this new religion and proclaimed the world would be destroyed in 1878 and then again 1914, had no idea what his organization would evolve into after his death in 1916. Keith would stay in the religion for another twenty-six years after leaving “The House of god.” He spent those years trying to rationalize the cruelty, false prophecies and the many discrepancies seen at the world headquarters and even in his local congregations. However, the biggest thing that motivated his compliance was knowing that if he ever left the church, it would cost him everything that he held dear in his life, his wife of twenty-seven years, all his family and friends and even his business. When he did leave his fear would become a reality.

Genres: Memoir

426 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2019

Reviews

[Frank Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful

Powerful, insightful, captivating. The storytelling of the author lets you feel you are right there in the belly of the beast that is known as Watchtower. If you are a JW or exJW there are parts of this book that will make you laugh and smile because you’ve experienced the same. Other parts will make your blood boil at the hypocrisy and lies and horrors that Watchtower has caused. Either way I consider this a must read for anyone doubting their faith as a JW, any exJWs on their path outside of this cult and anyone interested in how cults in general operate.

[Natalie Grand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Keith, Your book was amazing! And written so well. Very entertaining about the inner workings of bethel. I tell so many exJW friends and make post to read your book. You written it in away that take control of your life is empowering. I spoke on the phone with you a couple years ago to talk about your book and I wish I saved your number. I messaged you on Facebook and it must of went to FB spam. But my comedic graphic novel just released a few days ago called CULT GIRLS.

[Aimee Kathleen Aldrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow....... Speechless.

Absolutely fantastic book. To anyone who wants to know what Bethel was really like and to anyone who is curious about Jehovah's Witnesses, this is an eye-opener.... So easy to read, too. You can feel the emotion in every word. My story is your story, Keith. Thank you for writing it.

[Rob Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for exJWs

I am an exJW. Waking up and coming out of this cult is very difficult. It takes years to recover, if that's even possible. I'm glad to have read this book. It has helped in my healing process by letting me know that I'm not alone, now that I'm being shunned, but have a new big family in the real world.

[Darren Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough about this book! More information and content needs to be exposed about the white priveledge at Watchtower. There was shares people bought in Russell's time, you can find the watchtower shares in the JWs own publication called the proclaimers book. There is very rich families off the watchtower shares and they got honey contracts with the organisation such as Dale Baker (google him).

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Compelling Look Behind the JW Curtain

The author bravely wrote his testimony and included specific details with an earnest desire to protect the unknowing people from getting trapped in this awful, mind-warping cult. He told his story with passion, enthusiasm, humor, and style. His story about getting out is heartbreaking.

I congratulate him on telling so difficult and tragic a story with such dedication and courage.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an insightful tale of his time in the organization and just how tough and rough it can be. How spiteful some can be even at the House of God! A good read for everyone no matter what the religious background was or is.

[Dulce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Keith’s story of waking up. Very interesting read. Read it fast because I couldn’t put
It down! Thanks for sharing your story!

I would say the one thing that bugged me were that toward the end there were a bunch of spelling errors overlooked that the publisher should have caught.

[Lara Sparkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great rwad

Well done and very accurate portrayal of life as a JW. Informative and factual. Unfortunately so true and sad how they treat anyone who decides to leave. I’ve been out 22 years. 5th generation exJW.

[Pamela Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me remember things I forgot.

I knew Keith when some the events happened. My aunt married Roy Baty. It was hard being a kid back then worried about 1975. Very good book.

[Riley Gonsalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

DANG GOOD BOOK! Every witness in it and out of it needs to read this. I remember hearing about this kidnapping at the headquarters. But just as the cult policies are YOU CAN'T talk about anything negative of God's paradise or you get kicked and disfellowshipped. Unfortunately the wrong people get kicked out. If you speak or question the injustices or know of an admitted predator, that is considered speaking against the spirit and you are out and lose your job, family and whole foundation. Many are only in this religion because they are being held hostage. But with men and women using their voices the public is being made aware of their harmful policies. Just like in Norway on March 2022 the Jehovah's Witnesses was defunded by government. I guess JWs was getting tax dollars, lol. They still get to keep their tax exempt status, but the government said you can't hold your members hostage. Then the JW headquarters in Norway lied to the government in open forum and said WE DON'T SHUN which was a huge lie. Many victims came out to show evidence of their shun and the dum dums in headquarters forgot that there was a norweigan translated elder flock book (suppose to be a secret) and government got a copy. Many, many Jehovah's Witnesses in Norway left immediately and realized they were slaving for a lying sack of poo.

[Dalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH AN AMAZING EXPOSE of bethel, the international headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in New York. I visited a couple times and I saw resentment for the happy secular JW to visits. Sadly they are overworked, abused and basically peddlers (waiting for a handout from bethel tourism). Keith didn't cover that the low level labor camp people have to purchase their own napkins and learn to shut their mouth to advance. Meanwhile if you are an attorney or medical doctor, you can practice on the side, use their free building in fact to make additional money, have luxury condos, medical insurance for you and your family, house keepers and not pay a penny for rent or food with a contract with salary even. PLEASE RESEARCH the Monica Hines versus Watchtower case right now. The poor girl was work and sex trafficked at the headquarters and her abuser Bill Briggs admitted sodomizing her, but the Governing Body forgave him in house, did not report to the police and she continued to get abused. Now Bill (still in good standing) was moved to Equador with access to beautiful children and a JW elite (film/ photographer) used for this cult. I wish Keith was on podcasts like alot of the other of these ex-Jehovah's Witness authors. I did appreciate him exposing the racism at headquarters.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a 3rd generation JW, but have been out for 30 years now. This book extremely interesting for me as I haven't read much about Bethel. As a kid, it seemed like some magical and important place. People would brag if they were able to go on tour on vacation. I remember someone in the congregation was going to work at Bethel and we were in awe. To hear the inner workings and all the hypocrisy, the doomsday dates, the history of the organization - so much hidden from us at that time. I can see it for what it is now, but sad that others can't and are still trapped in the belief of this cult. Most of my family are JW. Hello black sheep! :-)

[Rashid Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth about the “truth”

This book gives a detailed look into the history and practices of the JW Organization like no other way. Written by a former member who spent over 50 years in the cult, reveals details that no current JW publication or member would dare to talk about. It’s a good read for anyone who has questions about the true history of the organization. Much much detail.

[Steven Eads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

This story is a good one, a great and well written book. It does need proofreading and editing.
Parallels my own experience. I was an elder for many years before I left.

[Diane M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. I liked the stories within the story.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opening account of life at Bethel, and the experience of the author while a JW.

[Bruce Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

It rang true.