The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple

by Jeff Guinn
The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Technical
  • ID: 2607
  • Added: 2025-10-15
  • Updated: 2025-10-15
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
The Storygraph · 2025-10-15
engaging 4.25

The book is a well-written exploration of Jim Jones' rise to power and his descent into infamy. It provides a detailed and chilling account of his life and actions.

The Storygraph review praises the book as a really well-written exploration of how Jim Jones rose to power as a religious, social, and political figure. The reviewer finds the account of his slow descent from a man known for his charisma to a figure of infamy to be both detailed and chilling. They appreciate the thorough research and the engaging narrative style. The reviewer finds the book to be a valuable addition to the literature on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple.

Quick quotes

    This is a really well written exploration of how Jim Jones came to power as a religious, social, and political figure.

    The book provides a detailed and chilling account of his life and actions.

    The narrative is engaging and well-researched, offering a comprehensive look into the tragic events.

Project MUSE · EV Gallagher · 2018-01-01
informative 3.75

The book is a helpful addition to the literature on Jim Jones and Peoples Temple. It adds substantial detail but does not break new interpretive ground.

EV Gallagher from Project MUSE finds the book to be a helpful addition to the existing literature on Jim Jones and Peoples Temple. They appreciate the substantial detail provided but note that it does not break any new interpretive ground. The reviewer acknowledges the book's value in adding to the understanding of Jim Jones and his followers. They find it to be a well-researched and detailed account, though not groundbreaking in its interpretations.

Quick quotes

    This is a helpful addition to the literature on Jim Jones and Peoples Temple.

    While it does not break any new interpretive ground, it does add substantial detail.

    The book is a well-researched and detailed account of Jim Jones and his followers.

San Francisco Chronicle · 2017-04-05
chilling 4.50

The book provides a comprehensive and chilling account of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. The narrative is well-researched and offers a detailed look into the tragic events.

The San Francisco Chronicle review highlights that Jeff Guinn's book offers what might be the most complete picture to date of Jim Jones and the tragic saga of Peoples Temple. The reviewer appreciates the thorough research and the chilling account of Jones' life and actions. They note that the book is a thorough and chilling account of a brilliant con man and his followers. The reviewer finds the book to be a valuable addition to the literature on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple.

Quick quotes

    In 'The Road to Jonestown,' Jeff Guinn offers what might be the most complete picture to date of this tragic saga, and of the man who engineered it.

    A thoroughly readable, thoroughly chilling account of a brilliant con man and his followers.

    The book is a warning about cult leaders that will leave you feeling queasy in these Trumpian times.

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