Title: A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown
Author: Julia Scheeres
First published October 11, 2011
307 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781416596394 (ISBN10: 1416596399)
Rating: 3.99
Overview
A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres is an eye-opening account of the Peoples Temple and the horrific events that took place in Jonestown, Guyana. Jim Jones, the leader of the church, promised his followers a better life and a society free from oppression.
However, his message became more ominous, and his followers found it increasingly difficult to break away from the church. Drawing from thousands of recently declassified FBI documents and audiotapes, as well as rare videos and interviews, Scheeres follows the experiences of five People’s Temple members who went to Jonestown.
The book tells the story of the doomed camp, focusing on the people who lived there and their fight for survival. It is a story of blind loyalty and daring escapes, of corrupted ideals and senseless loss that is impossible to forget.
Scheeres, with her unique insight into this story, has crafted a vividly written, compelling history of Jonestown that will leave readers stunned.
About the Author
I hail from Lafayette, Indiana, but now call the Bay Area my home. As a writer, I’m proud to have authored “Jesus Land,” a memoir that reached bestseller status on both the New York Times and London Times lists.
Another one of my works, “A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Jonestown,” has received critical acclaim and is being adapted into a feature film. I love teaching memoir and creative nonfiction, both online and in San Francisco, and I also collaborate with individual clients on their book projects.
To learn more about me and my work, please visit my website at www.juliascheeres.com.
Editoral Review
A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres is a non-fiction book that tells the harrowing story of the Jonestown massacre in 1978, which resulted in the deaths of over 900 people. The book was first published on October 11, 2011, and it has since received critical acclaim for its powerful storytelling and insightful analysis of the events that led up to the tragedy.
Julia Scheeres is a journalist and author who has written extensively about issues related to race, religion, and social justice. In A Thousand Lives, she draws on her expertise to provide a comprehensive account of the Jonestown massacre, which had a profound impact on American society and the world at large.
The book begins with a brief history of the People’s Temple, a religious organization led by Jim Jones that started in Indiana in the 1950s and eventually moved to California. Scheeres traces the evolution of the group and its leader, who was known for his charismatic personality and progressive politics.
However, as the group grew in size, it became more cult-like, with Jones exerting increasing control over its members.
The book then goes on to describe the events that led up to the fateful day in November 1978 when over 900 members of the People’s Temple died in a mass suicide in the jungles of Guyana. Scheeres provides a vivid account of the living conditions in Jonestown, the isolation of its members from the outside world, and the psychological manipulation used by Jones to maintain his hold over them.
Throughout the book, Scheeres interweaves the stories of individual members of the People’s Temple, highlighting their hopes, fears, and struggles. She also explores the broader social and political context of the time, including the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the rise of cults in America.
One of the strengths of A Thousand Lives is Scheeres’ ability to humanize the victims of the tragedy, who are often portrayed in the media as mindless followers of a cult leader. By giving voice to their experiences and emotions, she helps the reader to understand the complex factors that led to their involvement in the People’s Temple.
Another strength of the book is its meticulous research and attention to detail. Scheeres draws on a wide range of sources, including interviews with survivors, historical documents, and recordings of Jim Jones’ speeches.
This allows her to paint a nuanced and comprehensive picture of the events that led up to the tragedy.
However, one limitation of the book is its occasionally dry and academic tone. While Scheeres’ writing is always clear and precise, there are moments when the reader may wish for a more engaging narrative style.
Overall, A Thousand Lives is a powerful and important book that sheds light on a little-understood chapter of American history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the psychology of cults, the dangers of charismatic leadership, and the human capacity for both hope and deception.
Rating: 4/5. While the book is not without its flaws, its strengths far outweigh its limitations.
It is a compelling and insightful work of non-fiction that deserves a wide readership.
