May 08, 2020 jonestown, location of the mass murdersuicide of the californiabased peoples temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, jim jones, in jonestown agricultural commune, guyana, on november 18, 1978. This is a scarily relevant book about the jonestown massacre jeff guinns new biography of jim jones, the road to jonestown, is a salient look at how a demagogue is made. The jonestown massacre was horrendous event that led to the deaths of almost a thousand people. This book tells the jim jones story better than anything i have read to date.
His congregation was racially integrated, and he was a muchlauded leader in the contemporary civil rights movement. So, people opposed paying for the consequences of the jonestown massacre. Jones followers originally came to the guyanese community, known as jonestown, seeking paradise and an escape from racism and persecution in the united states. Jim jones and peoples temple reprint by jeff guinn. Jim jones, the peoples temple, and the murderous ordeal at jonestown in 1978. James warren jim jones was a notorious american cult leader. Jan 22, 2019 stephan, jim jones son who was 19 at the time, says the warning signs that went unnoticed at jonestown can be seen in the world today. He started and led the peoples temple in indiana in the 1950s, and later moved it to california in the 1960s. Jonestown, guyana was the scene of one of the most harrowing tragedies in american history. Tim carters brotherinlaw lew jones, who was the adopted son of peoples temple leader jim jones, is pictured with his son chaeoke jones at jonestown in 1977.
Thirty years before he stood in front of a vat of poisoned punch and urged his followers to end it all, jim jones was a wellliked, respected figure in the. How jim jones led massacre victims to drink the koolaid. Deborah layton had been a member of the peoples temple for seven years when she departed for jonestown, guyana, the promised land nestled deep in the south american jungle. The jonestown massacre opened eyes wide to the nihilism of cults and, perhaps, to the limits of charisma. The black hole of guyanathe untold story of the jonestown. He became involved in electoral politics and soon was. Excult member imagines terrifying end game to trumps presidency.
An audio recording made on november 18, 1978, at the peoples temple compound in jonestown, guyana immediately preceding and during the mass suicide and. Jul 18, 2019 jim jones was the cult leader of the peoples temple who led more than 900 followers in a mass suicide known as the jonestown massacre. He remarried and has three sons from this marriage, 111 including rob jones, a highschool basketball star who went on to play for the university of san diego before transferring to saint marys college of california. Jim jones and his people by tim reiterman with john jacobs. Instead, they found something that resembled a concentration camp in which they worked long hours with little food and much abuse, those who escaped jonestown have reported. The death toll exceeded 900, making it one of the largest mass deaths in american history.
Forty years on from americas most infamous massacre, this harrowing documentary traces the rev jim joness suicide sect and hears from the handful who made it out alive. Jim jones, the religious cult leader and civil rights activist, hinted at things to come. Jim jones throne in the jonestown pavilion surrounded by bodies in the massacre aftermath. Nearly 40 years later, jonestown offers a lesson in. Infamous for leading the 1978 mass murdersuicide in jonestown, guyana, where 918. This is a scarily relevant book about the jonestown massacre gq. The consequences of julius jones and the jonestown massacre 1034 words 5 pages. Born in crete, indiana, in 1931, jim jones grew up an outcast and underdog. Jim jones died of a gunshot wound to the head in jonestown, guyana, on november 18, 1978. In the 1950s, a young indianapolis minister named jim jones preached a. The story of the jonestown massacre, historys largest mass. Jan 07, 2020 forty years on from americas most infamous massacre, this harrowing documentary traces the rev jim joness suicide sect and hears from the handful who made it out alive. Unlike other more selfserving books written on this subject, this one is not only well.
He gained notoriety when the temple moved to san francisco in the early 1970s. Apr 11, 2017 in 1978, more than 900 followers of the rev. But none has been quite so dramatic or compelling as the jonestown massacre of 1978, in which the reverend jim jones and 9 of his disciples perished. The book seductive poison written by deborah layton, a top financial advisor and member, offered great insight into the inner workings of peoples temple, jim jones, and her eventual escape from jonestown. On november 18, 1978, at the direction of charismatic cult leader jim jones, 909 members of the peoples temple died, all but two from apparent cyanide poisoning, in a revolutionary suicide. Excult member imagines terrifying end game to trumps.
Apr, 2017 this is a scarily relevant book about the jonestown massacre jeff guinns new biography of jim jones, the road to jonestown, is a salient look at how a demagogue is made. Jim jones killed himself with a gunshot to the head. Jim jones realized he was losing control over the peoples temple, leading to the jonestown massacre. Irreverent and disarming, the name reflects the new trend in punk rock, to take social issues head on. Jonestown cult survivor recalls horrifying massacre in new. Congresswoman left for dead at jonestown recalls the massacre, 37 years later. Before the jonestown massacre, jim jones was a civil rights activist bettmann archives getty images reverend jim jones raises his fist in a salute while preaching at an unknown location. Forty years after the jonestown massacre, a new book chronicles the deep ties between the depraved cult leader and prominent democratic politicians. April 11, 2017 in 1978, more than 900 followers of the rev. An excellent, thoroughly researched book on the jonestown massacre. His death occurred during the jonestown massacre, when he ordered the mass murdersuicide of more than 900 members of his peoples temple religious group.
In the 1950s, a young indianapolis minister named jim jones preached a curious blend of the gospel and marxism. Since 1975, jones had conducted suicide drills in which participants always emerged alive. More than 900 people, many of them children, died in a mass murdersuicide in 1978 by drinking cyanidelaced punch at the order of cult leader jim jones. Rare footage of jonestown used by jim jones to lure his followers to guyana.
Jonestown, location of the mass murdersuicide of the californiabased peoples temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, jim jones, in jonestown agricultural commune, guyana, on november 18, 1978. Nov 17, 2018 more than 900 people, many of them children, died in a mass murdersuicide in 1978 by drinking cyanidelaced punch at the order of cult leader jim jones. Mar 20, 2020 the jonestown massacre was the most deadly single nonnatural disaster in u. He says that to understand how a thing like that can happen, you have to do what leaders like jim jones and his successors dont want us to do to read. In his new book, the road to jonestown, journalist jeff guinn details how jones captivated so many.
Founder jim jones 193178 preached racial and economic justice, establishing the cult in 1955 as an indianapolisbased spinoff of evangelical christianity mixed with communism. Congresswoman left for dead at jonestown recalls the massacre. He launched the peoples temple in indiana during the 1950s. File this november 1978 file photo shows the peoples temple compound, led by jim jones, after bodies were removed, in jonestown, guyana. Jim jones and the history of peoples temple alternative. For those who have read both, how does this book compare to raven, by tim. Nov 18, 2015 congresswoman left for dead at jonestown recalls the massacre, 37 years later. Jim jones of the peoples temple took 1,000 americans to guyana for a utopian society, but the commune became a prison and 919 died, most in the largest mass suicide in. Jeff guinns new biography of jim jones, the road to jonestown, is a salient look at how a demagogue is made. Probably the best definitive source for how and why the jonestown massacre.
Free uk delivery on book orders dispatched by amazon over. Tim reitermans raven provides the seminal history of the rev. Nearly 40 years later, speier still remembers why she decided to get. Sep 28, 2018 tim carters brotherinlaw lew jones, who was the adopted son of peoples temple leader jim jones, is pictured with his son chaeoke jones at jonestown in 1977. Jim jones and peoples temple by jeff guinn, a thousand lives. This is a scarily relevant book about the jonestown massacre.
Reporters 1978 account of deadly ambush, jonestown tragedy. Nov 15, 2018 in a new book, daniel flynn brings to light a kind of secret history of california in the 1970s, showing how modern progressive politics intersected with depraved cult leader jim jones. Stephan, jim jones son who was 19 at the time, says the warning signs that went unnoticed at jonestown can be seen in the world today. A portrait of the influential cult leader behind the jonestown massacre examines his. In his new book, the road to jonestown, journalist jeff guinn details.
Feb 05, 2018 the jonestown massacre was horrendous event that led to the deaths of almost a thousand people. Sep 26, 2011 rare footage of jonestown used by jim jones to lure his followers to guyana. Julia scheeres describes her new book, a thousand lives, as the untold story of jonestown, the peoples temple settlement in the jungles of. Thoroughly chilling while i was only in my early teens in 1978, i still recall the news footage of the jonestown massacre. The peoples temple agricultural project, better known by its informal name jonestown, was a remote settlement established by the peoples temple, a cult under the leadership of jim jones, in guayana esequiba, a disputed territory in northwestern guyana claimed by venezuela.
Nov 14, 2018 file this november 1978 file photo shows the peoples temple compound, led by jim jones, after bodies were removed, in jonestown, guyana. Feb 20, 2020 the 918 deaths in guyana under cult leader jim jones were more mass murder than suicide. Congresswoman left for dead at jonestown recalls the. Oct 09, 2011 julia scheeres describes her new book, a thousand lives, as the untold story of jonestown, the peoples temple settlement in the jungles of guyana where on nov.
The jonestown massacre also remains the only time in history in which a u. I also conducted an interview through email with one of the only members still alive after the jonestown massacre, laura kohl. James warren jones may, 1931 november 18, 1978 was an american preacher and faith healer turned cult leader who conspired with his inner circle to direct a mass murdersuicide of his followers in his jungle commune at jonestown, guyana. As a young child, jones became a regular churchgoer, and, after graduating from butler university, he. Jonestown massacre took place under direction of cult leader jim jones, in which 909 members of the peoples temple died by murdersuicide in 1978. The jonestown massacre took place on november 18, 1978, after more than 900 members of an american cult called the peoples temple died in a mass suicidemurder under the direction of their. In 1978, i went to guyana on a factfinding mission. The jonestown massacre was the most deadly single nonnatural disaster in u.
In a new book, daniel flynn brings to light a kind of secret history of california in the 1970s, showing how modern progressive politics intersected with depraved cult leader jim jones. The messages are clear because we all know the story. Jones formed the peoples temple in indianapolis, and later moved to california. In his new book, the road to jonestown, journalist jeff guinn details how jones. Jim jones was the cult leader of the peoples temple who led more than 900 followers in a mass suicide known as the jonestown massacre. The most pervasive myth that almost everyone believes. Cynicism about the jonestown deaths and its social parallels abound in the lyrics of todays music.
Nov 18, 2018 his 1973 book, revolutionary suicide, gave a name to the carnage. The basis for the upcoming hbo miniseries and the definitive account of the jonestown massacre rolling stone now available for the first time in paperback. News corp australia jim jones in trademark sunglasses as land is cleared in guyana for. In the years leading up to jonestown, jones often referenced masada, the hilltop fortress in israel. He promised them a socialist paradise, all the while planning to kill them. Jones was ordained in 1957 by the independent assemblies of god and in 1964 by the. His 1973 book, revolutionary suicide, gave a name to the carnage. The life and death of peoples temple a film by stanley nelson. News corp australia jim jones in trademark sunglasses as land is. Eventually, jones moved his church, peoples temple, to northern california. Today we tell the story that led up to that most horrendous of days. Teri buford oshea fled jonestown just three weeks before all its inhabitants committed suicide. In jonestown, with gunmen and archers surrounding, nobody survived whom jim jones did not want to survive, save the four african american escapees.
1219 862 307 135 1384 1036 746 72 762 1175 1188 31 1547 738 253 620 1510 563 1428 901 478 1237 1329 251 764 149 659 1052 1580 1266 1378 1207 1199 579 479 1011 251