He promised them a socialist paradise, all the while planning to kill them. In the 1950s, a young indianapolis minister named jim jones preached a curious blend of the gospel and marxism. Feb 05, 2018 the jonestown massacre was horrendous event that led to the deaths of almost a thousand people. The road to jonestown book by jeff guinn official publisher. Jim jones and his wife, marceline, taken from a photo album left behind in jonestown, guyana. I have read a couple of books and seen three or four other documentaries about jim jones and his temple, so i feel like i have a certain grasp on the details of the story. 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. Steven hassan interviews vernon gosney, a survivor of the jonestown massacre, and discusses the mind control cult of jim jones. Mar 20, 2020 the jonestown massacre was the most deadly single nonnatural disaster in u. Born in 1931, he was just 23 when he opened one of the the first. 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. Dateline nbc takes an indepth look at jim jones and jonestown massacre retro indy. In his new book, the road to jonestown, journalist jeff guinn details.
Flynn guyana jim jones jonestown massacre peoples temple revolutionary. Jim jones, right, with an unidentified man at jonestown on november 18, 1978. An excellent, thoroughly researched book on 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 northwestern guyana. 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. 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. Bettmann archive the peoples temple was, as david talbot notes in salon, successful in. Its interesting that the dust jacket for the road to jonestown, jeff guinns biography jim jones, features a photograph of the infamous preacher without his signature, nearly ubiquitous sunglasses. On november 18, 1978, 909 people died in what was known as revolutionary suicide.
Since 1975, jones had conducted suicide drills in which participants always emerged alive. How jim jones led massacre victims to drink the koolaid. A texas author travels to jonestowns heart of darkness. The deaths were the result of poisoning with toxic substances, such as potassium cyanide, valium, chloral hydrate. This was a quote in the book from jim jones that gave me chills. Forty years after the jonestown massacre, a new book. Dateline nbc takes an indepth look at jim jones and the jonestown massacre. Tim reitermans raven provides the seminal history of the rev. 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 it became internationally known when, on november 18, 1978, a total of 918 people died at the settlement, at the nearby. Jones borrowed that strange phrase, and stranger concept, from black panther leader huey newton, who, like angela davis, had addressed peoples temple over jonestown s loudspeakers. The 918 deaths in guyana under cult leader jim jones were more mass murder than suicide.
The transcript of the reverend jim jones last speech, guyana, 1978 by jones, jim isbn. The jonestown massacre revisited the new york times. Nov 12, 2008 onethird of the dead at jonestown were children. The 1978 massacre at jonestown, guyana, was the largest mass suicide in recorded history and the largest singleday mass killing of american civilians prior to the 911 attacks. Jim jones throne in the jonestown pavilion surrounded by bodies in the massacre aftermath. Son of jonestown saved by basketball game the globe and mail. In all, 918 people died that day, nearly a third of whom were children. The events leading up to the tragic jonestown massacre began when the charismatic cult leader jim jones founded the peoples temple, a cult with religious overtones. 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. The jonestown massacre was the most deadly single nonnatural disaster in u. On november 18, 1978, peoples temple leader jim jones instructed all members living in the jonestown, guyana compound to commit an act of revolutionary suicide, by drinking poisoned punch. On november 18, 1978, 909 members of the peoples temple living in the jonestown settlement in guyana consumed a deadly, cyanidelaced drink.
The jonestown conspiracy theories are conspiracy theories centering on the peoples temple agricultural project and the jonestown massacre. How 918 people followed a cult leader to guyana, drank the koolaid. 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. Jones was ordained in 1957 by the independent assemblies of god and in 1964 by the. A texas author travels to jonestown s heart of darkness for his new book. Leslie wagnerwilson was 19 when she moved to guyana with her family. This is a scarily relevant book about the jonestown massacre gq. The inside story of the peoples temple sect and the massacre in guyana.
Believers of the peoples temple of the disciples of christ followed reverend. The jonestown massacre also remains the only time in history in which a u. I was fascinated by the story, and hoped to learn more about it and the memoirs of the intelligent exmember deborah layton, interviewed in the documentary, seemed to be the best place to start. Eerie audio recordings of the jonestown massacre show jim. A thoroughly readable, thoroughly chilling account of a brilliant con man and his alltoo vulnerable prey the boston globethe definitive story of preacher jim jones, who was responsible for the jonestown massacre, the largest murdersuicide in american history, by the new york times bestselling author of manson. Jim jones was who charlie manson wanted to be, says author of new book on 1978 tragedy it wasnt really koolaid and author jeff guinn says the jonestown. This book is available as an audiobook as well as on kindle. 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. The massacre happened on a piece of land in guyana that the peoples temple, run by james jones, had bought. Today we tell the story that led up to that most horrendous of days. Steve helling people may 6, 2017 audio looking back on the jonestown massacre today, the horror is almost unfathomable. The road to jonestown jim jones and peoples temple is among the best comprehensive and authoritative books written covering the jonestown massacre. He launched the peoples temple in indiana during the 1950s.
The widelyacclaimed first book ever on the brian jonestown massacre is available now. Many proponents of such conspiracy theories contend that outside forces were involved in what occurred at the commune, including the massacre. How the victims and survivors of the jonestown massacre were treated by the media immediately after the events was another tragedy, on top. Jim joness sons speak out in 40th anniversary jonestown. Jim jones, the charismatic cult leader of the peoples temple, ordered his loyal followers to drink a cocktail mixed with deadly cyanide and sedatives. The black hole of guyanathe untold story of the jonestown. Jim jones had wanted his son and friends to cut short their stay and return to jonestown where a group. Mar 06, 2007 son of jonestown saved by basketball game. Sunday 18 november is the 40th anniversary of the notorious jonestown massacre where more than 900 people died at a settlement run by christian cult leader jim jones. The rev jim jones and his wife, marceline, taken from a photo album found in jonestown, guyana. Christine miller presents alternatives to suicide, arguments contrary to the focus of jones commands. View full size the republican don treeger teri buford oshea of northampton holds the cover of the book she has written about her experiences as a survivor of the jonestown massacre in guyana.
Nearly 40 years later, jonestown offers a lesson in demagoguery in 1978, more than 900 followers of the rev. Laura elizabeth woolletts new book is based on jim jones and the jonestown massacre. It has been claimed by some jonestown researchers that leo ryan, who had been a vocal critic of the cia for years, had discovered the community was not being run by jim jones, but by the cia. Nearly 40 years later, jonestown offers a lesson in. In a recording from november 18, 1978, known as the death tape, jones explains to a crowd in jonestown how peoples temple members are following the congressman back to his plane.
The death toll exceeded 900, making it one of the largest mass deaths in american history. The power and the myth of alan jones is a 2006 biography of radio personality alan jones by chris masters. The long division of jonestown survivors east bay express. From waco to heavens gate, the past decade has seen its share of cult tragedies. More then 900 people were killed in the massacre, 232 of which were children. The list below is of all published books about jonestown and peoples. The jonestown massacre happened on november 18th 1978. 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. Oct 09, 2011 in jonestown, jim jones was the demonic almighty. Nearly 1,000 men, women, and children died at jonestown, in guyana, on november 18, 1978.
Ballad of jim jones by the brian jonestown massacre, available on thank. The road to jonestown jim jones and peoples temple is among the best comprehensive and authoritative books written covering the jonestown massacre that claimed the lives of 918 people in guyana, south america on november 18, 1978. This is a scarily relevant book about the jonestown. Jonestown massmurder suicide prior to the 911 attack, the tragedy at jonestown marked the single largest loss of u. Jim jones, the religious cult leader and civil rights activist, hinted at things to come. Neverbeforeseen historical shots of the jonestown massacre an exclusive historical tour revisiting the biggest single mass suicide in modern history. The worst mass murder suicide in history was the jonestown massacre. Jeff guinn, author of the road to jonestown shares insight and little known facts about jim jones and the jonestown massacre the largest murdersuicide in american history.
Apr 11, 2017 2018 edgar award finalistbest fact crime by the new york times bestselling author of manson, the comprehensive, authoritative, and tragic story of preacher jim jones, who was responsible for the jonestown massacrethe largest murdersuicide in american history. It was the biggest mass murdersuicide in modern history and was masterminded by jim jones, the leader of the peoples temple. They did so on the orders of the cults leader, jim jones. Jake gyllenhaal to explore jonestown in cult anthology series. Jim jones and the peoples temple, released in bookstores on tuesday, most of the people involved had a. 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. Jim jones used his peoples temple church for his madness and greed ending in mass suicide at jonestown. Nov 18, 1979 tim jones, an adopted son of jim jones, and johnny cobb, a member of the basketball team, flew into jonestown sunday with a group of guyanese soldiers to identify bodies. Jonestown massacre victims remains found in delaware funeral home. Much of the footage on jim jones and jonestown massacre has been assembled into a compilation reel at nbc news archives.
This documentary does a nice job laying things out for a beginner. Despite the scale of the jonestown tragedy where more than 900 people died, willingly or not, on november 18, 1978 the man behind the shades and his. In the 1978 jonestown massacre, more than 900 americans drank a poisonous cocktailnot actual koolaidlaced with deadly cyanide. Dateline nbc looks at jim jones and the jonestown massacre. Neverbeforeseen historical shots of the jonestown massacre. This photo collection originally appeared in behind the tape photobook.
Yet its easily forgotten that initially he was considered a force for good. Jeff guinns new biography of jim jones, the road to jonestown, is a salient look at how a demagogue is made. News corp australia jim jones in trademark sunglasses as land is cleared in guyana for. Its based on thejeff guinness book about the massacre, and guinness is perhaps the most prominent talking. Even before they left for the jonestown site, the peoples temple members were subjects of local scandal in the news.
The list below is of all published books about jonestown and peoples temple. A texas author travels to jonestowns heart of darkness for his new book nobody follows a madman simply out of boredom. Seductive poison 0385489846 i purchased seductive poison after watching the intense jonestown documentary. Originally compiled by denice stephenson of the california historical society, it is now updated by the editors of this site. It became internationally known when, on november 18, 1978, a total of 918 people died in the settlement, at the nearby airstrip in. Yet, of the many books about jonestown published by peoples temple attorneys, defectors, survivors, members, or their relatives, in no case was the author an african american. The road to jonestown npr coverage of the road to jonestown.
Nonfiction books on peoples temple by year of publication. Jim jones, the cult leader behind the mass suicide. The transcript of reverend jim jones last speech, guyana 1978 by. The exchange between jim jones and christine miller is crucial to comprehending the tragic events that followed. Nov, 20 the long division of jonestown survivors thirtyfive years after the horrific mass suicide in guyana, former peoples temple members and relatives of the deceased are conflicted on the best way to. Jim jones, harvey milk, and 10 days that shook san francisco isi books, 2018. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Survivors wrestle with guilt, shame jim jones of the peoples temple ordered followers to drink poison koolaid. Jonestown was a community located in the northern part of guyana which was formed by peoples temple led by their cult leader, jim jones.
His 1973 book, revolutionary suicide, gave a name to the carnage. Jones, as heartless as he was, did not even spare the lives of the 300 children living in the community. As guinn found out while researching and writing the road to jonestown. Masters asserts that jones is homosexual, something that jones does not selfidentify as. Jim jones, the peoples temple, and the murderous ordeal at jonestown in 1978.
A portrait of the influential cult leader behind the jonestown massacre examines his. Only one member of the jonestown community speaks out at any length against him. He remarried and has three sons from this marriage, 110 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. The visit poured fuel on jones already heightened sense of paranoia and erratic thinking. Rare footage of jonestown used by jim jones to lure his followers to guyana. Shortly after taking the picture, the photographer was killed during the ambush at the airport. The jonestown massacre was the biggest single mass suicide in modern history.