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  • Road to Jonestown

  • Jim Jones and Peoples Temple
  • By: Jeff Guinn
  • Narrated by: George Newbern
  • Length: 17 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (76 ratings)

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Road to Jonestown

By: Jeff Guinn
Narrated by: George Newbern
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Publisher's Summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of Manson comes the comprehensive, authoritative, and tragic story of preacher Jim Jones, who was responsible for the Jonestown Massacre - the largest murder-suicide in American history.

In the 1950s a young Indianapolis minister named Jim Jones preached a curious blend of the Gospel and Marxism. His congregation was racially integrated, and he was a much-lauded leader in the contemporary civil rights movement. Eventually Jones moved his church, Peoples Temple, to Northern California. He became involved in electoral politics and soon was a prominent Bay Area leader.

In this riveting narrative, Jeff Guinn examines Jones' life, from his extramarital affairs, drug use, and fraudulent faith healing to the fraught decision to move almost 1,000 of his followers to a settlement in the jungles of Guyana in South America. Guinn provides stunning new details of the events leading to the fatal day in November 1978 when more than 900 people died - including almost 300 infants and children - after being ordered to swallow a cyanide-laced drink.

Guinn examined thousands of pages of FBI files on the case, including material released during the course of his research. He traveled to Jones' Indiana hometown, where he spoke to people never previously interviewed and uncovered fresh information from Jonestown survivors. He even visited the Jonestown site with the same pilot who flew there the day that Congressman Leo Ryan was murdered on Jones' orders. The Road to Jonestown is the definitive book about Jim Jones and the events that led to the tragedy at Jonestown.

©2017 Jeff Guinn (P)2017 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about Road to Jonestown

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

very long

I (like most people) are aware of Jonestown and the absolute horrific loss of life that occurred there, but this book goes deeper. Maybe too deep.

My motivation for listening to this book was mainly for the brainwashing/cult story I had been led to believe was the truth and how that led to the events of what occurred in Jonestown. However this book details Jim Jones life practically from birth. I appreciate the in depth research that has clearly gone into this book, but I feel some parts could have been left out or shortened somewhat. It took me quite a while to finish this book, mainly due to the fact some of it seemed quite irrelevant/boring compared to the eventual mass death at Jonestown, which I think was actually glosssd over and not spoken about as much as some other aspects of the story which I felt was a strange choice. I have heard quite long recounts of the mass death, and stories of the big drums of poison that are visible in pictures from Jonestown which weren’t even really mentioned in this account.

It’s hard to say for sure when things started going downhill for the people’s temple. He was a man of considerable power but also had considerable wealth. I truly believe he ran himself into the ground trying to keep everyone happy, and when he turned to drugs that was the end of him. He could have ran away with his fortune and lived happily but he ended up in a delusional spiral.

Absolutely tragic story, and even though it was long and occasionally boring, I’m glad I listened and got to know the full story of the peoples temple and learnt that it wasn’t always a weird religious cult in the jungle and actually had humble beginnings where Jim Jones was actually doing the right thing and trying to create meaningful change. It’s a shame the events at Jonestown completely overshadow that.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

narcissistic religious maniac takes 900 lives

a classic example of a narcissistic sociopath. control up to the end. ignorant people get manipulated.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A wider view of Jim Jones and People's Temple

Detailed and thorough. Fascinating example of the best and worst of human nature manifest simultaneously. Such a complex picture of good intent, actual positive social change and lives changed for the better, shaded with selfish ambition, lust for power, paranoia, delusion and unthinkable tragedy.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Push Through the Early Part, the End is Worth it

The narration is good and the story does go a long way toward explaining the motivation of Jones's controlling of others.The end was a little disturbing but I never could understand how people get drawn into cults or being sucked into the orbit of those who are charismatic. The story is a little slow to begin, but when the outcome is reached, it is disturbingly tragic.
I can only hope this book may be a warning for those who are vulnerable, think for yourself.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Starts slow but by the final chapters you are hooked

The book starts off as a slow burn, by the middle of the book your in for the rose and by the end your hooked. A thoughtful and thorough book on one of the greatest tragic events of the 20th century.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A marvellous biography of Rev. Jim Jones

A haunting story narrated well by George Newbern. Easy to listen to the tales from Jim's early life up until that fateful day on November 18th 1978. A touch lengthy but definitely worth it.

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  • El
  • 05-01-2022

a hard slog but worth it

the narrator put me off at first but I quickly got used to it. it's a really long book and in some cases I found my mind drifting off. I've been trying to read the printed version for ages but it was a struggle so it was quite nice to have it read to me. it spoke about Jones' history and life as well as the rise and fall of People's Temple. definitely worth the read if you're interested in the subject.

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As I see it


Felt like a well balanced, factual story of what transpired in the jungle on that fateful day.
Reinforces my views on cult leaders etc.

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Supposed to be an optional headline ,,,,headline

Very poignant horrific story of human gullibility. Truth really is stranger than fiction. Extremely well put together and the narrative is excellent. I recommend everyone should listen to or read this book. It's a huge wakeup call to the extreme vulnerability of the human mind. To see people who are otherwise ( in some cases very) intelligent, fall under the spell of a religious mad man, preaching as God himself, to the point of taking the lives of your own children and then your own life is really really hard to understand.
Highly recommend this book.

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  • D20
  • 28-04-2020

Amazing... and heartbreaking

Despite the actual 'event' of jonestown being only one chapter, this book is absolutely gripping. Incredible research, it paints the whole picture from the beginning to it's tragic end. The journey is incredible, almost ludicrous at times in hindsight, how this man was able to do the things he did. It is disturbing and shocking, without being graphic or over the top. I will say it is a slow build, and goes over almost every detail, so if you are here for a quick overview and the sensationalized horror of the event then this is not the book for you. For that I recommend Jonestown: Paradise Lost, which is dramatised acting of the events of the last few days in Jonestown, it is quite interesting and gripping in its own way.
Back on track, this is one of the most amazing books I've ever listened to. If you are interested in modern history, true crime, cults or just the human psyche and how it can be corrupted and manipulated, then this is a must read. I shed a tear or two near the end. 10/10

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