A Thousand Lives

This was such a thorough telling of this horrific true story. I liked that it was told from the perspective of several of the survivors. This gave it a more personal feel.

My friend, a Bay Area author, recommended I read this book. I was a young man when the tragedy at Jonestown occurred, and every year I notice in the local newspaper the gathering at the Oakland cemetary where many are burried. However, it was not until I read "A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Jonestown" that I began to understand how almost 1,000 people would take their lives. I had always assumed that it was religious fervor. I now understand that it more closely resembled the Nazi extermination camps.

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the organization left me puzzled--a lot. This book screams for a section that lists brief biographical sketches of the 20-30 major persons followed in this story. There were so many characters that I lost track, often had to look them up in the index, and then return to the story. Still, the story is compelling. We all know the end result--or at least we think we do--until we reach the end of the book itself, which describes the lives of the survivors.

Some of the odd items in this book include the connection between one of the long-time Jim Jones followers to two of President Reagan's Cabinet members, how easy it was to purchase poison in massive quantities in the 1970s (from a company still in operation), and how San Francisco's slain elected officials, Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, were supporters of Jim Jones when he was based in San Francisco.

I recommend this book to anyone with the slightest interest in Jonestown. I just wish it were organized differently or included a road map for us to follow the (sometimes intertwining lives of) characters.

Her riveting stories along with the way Scheeres makes it seem as if you are in jonestown yourself is phenomenal. Its an up close and personal sort of memoir telling the story of people who relized too late that there was no way out of Jonestown and no way to avoid the mass suicide.

I also recommend jesus land. The tear jerking, emotion provoking tale of julia scheeres and her brother as they face the struggles of society.

I was shocked and amazed by this account of the Jim Jones massacre. It is a worthwhile read for anyone who is curious about the depth of human depravity. It's too bad the book wasn't better written. It was choppy, and it was difficult to follow the roles of the of the cast of characters. The author made an odd moralizing statement at the end which was annoying and unnecessary.

I have read, watched and listened to everything Jonestown I could find, so I thought I pretty much knew it all. I was wrong. Not only is this book well written, it is chock full of details I never knew. Definitely a must-read!