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The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple Hardcover – 4 May 2017
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Jeff Guinn
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Jeff Guinn
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ISBN-101476763828
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ISBN-13978-1476763828
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PublisherSimon & Schuster
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Publication date4 May 2017
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LanguageEnglish
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Dimensions15.24 x 3.3 x 22.86 cm
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Print length544 pages
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Product details
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster (4 May 2017)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 544 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1476763828
- ISBN-13 : 978-1476763828
- Dimensions : 15.24 x 3.3 x 22.86 cm
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Best Sellers Rank:
840,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 13 in History of Guyana
- 207 in Criminal Investigation
- 289 in Central & South American Historical Biographies
- Customer reviews:
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Product description
Review
“I have to say that it is weird to find out the background of things that I grew up hearing about around the dinner table. The level of research and detail in The Road to Jonestown is the best ever, and really lets readers understand not only what happened, but how and why. This book tells the Jim Jones story better than anything I have read to date.” -- Jim Jones, Jr.
“Jeff Guinn offers what might be the most complete picture to date of this tragic saga, and of the man who engineered it. . . . The result is a disturbing portrait of evil — and a compassionate memorial to those taken in by Jones’ malign charisma.” -- Kevin Canfield ― The San Francisco Chronicle
"A thoroughly readable, thoroughly chilling account of a brilliant con man and his all-too vulnerable prey. . . . Generates a bizarre — dare I say Manson-like? — magnetic force that pulls the reader through its many pages. Noir thriller morphs into horror story."
-- Dan Cryer ― The Boston Globe
"Magisterial. . . . Guinn's exhaustive research, shrewd analysis, and engaging prose illuminate a monstrous yet tragic figure--and the motives of those who lost their souls to him." ― Publishers Weekly
“Guinn is a master storyteller with a unique expertise in murderous psychotics. The book reads like a thriller, each page forcing your attention to the next as the Peoples Temple slowly slides from groundbreaking progressivism toward madness.” -- Kevin J. Hamilton ― Seattle Times
"A vivid, fascinating revisitation of a time and series of episodes fast receding into history even as their forgotten survivors still walk among us." ― Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Guinn paints a fascinating and even-handed portrait of Jones.” -- Jill Johnson ― Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"A powerful account of Jones's life. . . . Guinn's blow-by-blow account of Jonestown's final days in the book's last chapters is riveting." ― BookPage
“Jeff Guinn offers what might be the most complete picture to date of this tragic saga, and of the man who engineered it. . . . The result is a disturbing portrait of evil — and a compassionate memorial to those taken in by Jones’ malign charisma.” -- Kevin Canfield ― The San Francisco Chronicle
"A thoroughly readable, thoroughly chilling account of a brilliant con man and his all-too vulnerable prey. . . . Generates a bizarre — dare I say Manson-like? — magnetic force that pulls the reader through its many pages. Noir thriller morphs into horror story."
-- Dan Cryer ― The Boston Globe
"Magisterial. . . . Guinn's exhaustive research, shrewd analysis, and engaging prose illuminate a monstrous yet tragic figure--and the motives of those who lost their souls to him." ― Publishers Weekly
“Guinn is a master storyteller with a unique expertise in murderous psychotics. The book reads like a thriller, each page forcing your attention to the next as the Peoples Temple slowly slides from groundbreaking progressivism toward madness.” -- Kevin J. Hamilton ― Seattle Times
"A vivid, fascinating revisitation of a time and series of episodes fast receding into history even as their forgotten survivors still walk among us." ― Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Guinn paints a fascinating and even-handed portrait of Jones.” -- Jill Johnson ― Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"A powerful account of Jones's life. . . . Guinn's blow-by-blow account of Jonestown's final days in the book's last chapters is riveting." ― BookPage
About the Author
Jeff Guinn, bestselling author of the three books in 'The Christmas Chronicles,' is an award-winning journalist and writer
Customer reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
716 global ratings
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5.0 out of 5 stars
What can happens when people follow charismatic and flawed leaders and why people follow them
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2020Verified Purchase
This book has left a very profound effect on myself. I suppose I began to read it to try and make sense of why over 900 people would make a journey from San Francisco to Guyana in South America to form their own Shangri-La or utopia in a place called Jonestown, named after the charismatic demagogue of a leader called Jim Jones. And when they got to the promised land to escape the threat of American government forces and Jim Jones visions of a nuclear Armageddon, after a couple of years would then embark on a mass suicide which included mothers killing their own children with cyanide (something that robs the oxygen in the blood and leads to a horrific death of wanting to breathe and having the life sucked out of you). What is equally remarkable is how much of the socialist Jim Jones was who wanted people to live in equality whether they were black or white and was driven to help, care and preach to all. However, he was also a complex man who along with his vision and well thought out goals was also full of contradictions and hypocrisy. He carried out the healings and pretended to cure people of cancer in an almost theatre like show of false hoods, misdirection and lies. The author tells a story without sensationalism which begins in his childhood and that he has some examples of how he was driven but also rather odd behaviours and a rather sad background before becoming a pastor. I was never less than riveted to how people followed and fell in love with such a man like Jones - including his wife who seemed kind and good but also stood by him even as he took lovers and by the end was lost in cocktails of drugs. And when the final days occur and are told, it is an utterly gripping account that has haunted me ever since it’s read. A remarkable story that I felt was well told although perhaps I still do not know why so many people chose to commit suicide and kill their own children (although many were obviously murdered also as some choose not to commit suicide and had to be forced). I found it an interesting parable to some of the stories going on at this moment in time where people follow charismatic demigods or other types of lunatic, believe in their dreams and wish to find some promise land which will probably end up in some futile horror show. Perhaps history doesn’t repeat itself but people do. An excellent book that I will recommend highly and works on many levels.
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2018
Verified Purchase
This is a captivating story. I knew some of the detail of the Jonestown incident before I bought the book so was a bit apprehensive that I might be going over stuff I already knew. I was wrong.
The author provides a huge amount of detail about the earlier part of the Peoples Temple and Jim Jones and at no point does it get boring. I've read biographies about infamous individuals tied to events and the author has had to pad out the book with boring irrelevant details. Not in this case, at no point does it feel padded out and it's an absolute page turner.
In the era where Netflix and others are creating some fantastic true crime dramas, this feels like the written word equivalent. A factual event told by a brilliant story teller, as good as any made up story.
The author provides a huge amount of detail about the earlier part of the Peoples Temple and Jim Jones and at no point does it get boring. I've read biographies about infamous individuals tied to events and the author has had to pad out the book with boring irrelevant details. Not in this case, at no point does it feel padded out and it's an absolute page turner.
In the era where Netflix and others are creating some fantastic true crime dramas, this feels like the written word equivalent. A factual event told by a brilliant story teller, as good as any made up story.
10 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 March 2020
Verified Purchase
This is the first book I have read about the Jonestown tragedy. I didn't know about it before, as it took place before I was born. I am still reading it but wanted to share my thoughts.
I can honestly say that this is one of the best books I have ever read. I was initially daunted by how large the book is, but the chapters are quite short, which makes the book easy to read. I was hooked from the first page. The book sort of pulled me in and pulled me along as I kept reading it. I am actually finding it hard to put the book down, and everything else in my life has been put on hold as I keep reading. It is very well written, but also quite chilling and disturbing. I am unable to stop thinking about the content. I honestly don't think any other book has had such an impact on me.
The book is very well researched, with extensive notes at the back where the author references his sources. There are also some photos included. I can't compare this to other books on the same subject, since this is the only one I have read so far, but if you are interested in what happened in the tragedy, and wanting to understand why, then I really recommend this book. It stays with you long after you put the book down.
I can honestly say that this is one of the best books I have ever read. I was initially daunted by how large the book is, but the chapters are quite short, which makes the book easy to read. I was hooked from the first page. The book sort of pulled me in and pulled me along as I kept reading it. I am actually finding it hard to put the book down, and everything else in my life has been put on hold as I keep reading. It is very well written, but also quite chilling and disturbing. I am unable to stop thinking about the content. I honestly don't think any other book has had such an impact on me.
The book is very well researched, with extensive notes at the back where the author references his sources. There are also some photos included. I can't compare this to other books on the same subject, since this is the only one I have read so far, but if you are interested in what happened in the tragedy, and wanting to understand why, then I really recommend this book. It stays with you long after you put the book down.
4 people found this helpful
Report abuse
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