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The Road to Jonestown
The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple | Jeff Guinn
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 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 Joness life, from his extramarital affairs, drug use, and fraudulent faith healing to the fraught decision to move almost a thousand 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 nine hundred people diedincluding almost three hundred infants and childrenafter 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 Joness 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 Joness orders. The Road to Jonestown is the definitive book about Jim Jones and the events that led to the tragedy at Jonestown.
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SallySlater52
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Currently starting. We‘ll see how it goes.
#Weekendreads

Kaylamburson Welcome to Litsy!! 4mo
sblbooks Welcome!📚📖 4mo
UwannaPublishme Welcome to all the Litsy fun! 😊👋🏻📚 4mo
See All 21 Comments
Amor4Libros Welcome to Litsy!! 4mo
TheBookHippie Oh I want to know how it reads!!! Welcome to Litsy!! 4mo
bthegood Welcome to Litsy! 4mo
CarolynM Welcome to Litsy 🌸 4mo
GinaKButler Welcome to Litsy! 4mo
Cortg Welcome! This is a crazy story, just don‘t drink the kool-aid kids 😫 4mo
TheBookgeekFrau Welcome to Litsy! 😊 4mo
GondorGirl Welcome to Litsy! This was a fascinating (and horrifying) read. I look forward to seeing what you think of it. 4mo
CampbellTaraL Hello and welcome! Creepy read you got going on there 4mo
BookmarkTavern Welcome to Litsy! 🎉🎉🎉 4mo
CaliforniaCay Welcome to Litsy! 💚📚💙 4mo
Bklover Welcome to Litsy! 4mo
julieclair Welcome to Litsy! 4mo
PaperbackPirate Welcome to Litsy! Visit @LitsyWelcomeWagon for some helpful links. 4mo
Aimeesue Welcome to Litsy! 4mo
AmandaBlaze Welcome to Litsy! 4mo
DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉 Hope you enjoy it here! 4mo
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Welcome to Litsy! ❤️ It‘s my favorite little corner of social media. Hope you have fun here! 3mo
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jenniferw88
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A couple of weeks late with this, but I've only just discovered that I've completed #almostachunkster for #chunksterchallenge2023 @Amiable .

One left to do and I'm 17 issues away from completing The Count of Monte Cristo! 😁😂

Amiable Oh, I remember reading that book —it was a good one! So interesting. Good job! 9mo
JuniperWilde The Count is on my list. But it‘s been on their for 3 decades. Good for you. 9mo
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jenniferw88
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Panpan

This should probably be a DNF, but it gets #guyana done for #readingtheamericas2023 done. @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB .

Changing books for #14books14weeks23 @TheHeartlandBookFairy - this is book #1

jenniferw88 Cw: suicide 10mo
Librarybelle At least it does complete a prompt 10mo
BarbaraBB I was on the fence about this one but now I think I‘ll take a pass! 10mo
41 likes3 comments
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jenniferw88
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#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

Continue Count and A History of Treason
Finish tagged
Start The Mistress and The Bandit Queens

Cinfhen Hope you enjoy your reads ☺️ 10mo
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jenniferw88
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paper.reveries How are you enjoying this so far? I used to devour anything I could about Jonestown on YouTube about a decade ago. Never got around to reading any books on the topic. 10mo
jenniferw88 @paper.reveries It's OK. I have to stop and start as I know the ending, but I can't believe some of the stuff he did beforehand! 10mo
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OrangeMooseReads
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Pickpick

Cults fascinate me, this one especially. I can 100% see the original appeal of The Peoples Temple, they did some good things and fought for good things. In the beginning Jim Jones did good work, then he went off the rails.
What happened is horrific and heartbreaking.
There were some details in this that I hadn‘t realized or caught in any of the things I‘ve seen or read previously.
4.5 ⭐️
Recommend

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OrangeMooseReads
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Listening to this while I work today. I know most of the information and history. There are details of this things that I was not as aware of.

TheBookHippie 🤯 it still just 🤯 11mo
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ElizaMarie
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@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks - So so good! I mean, the Johnstown and just the numbers involved! it's intense!

Cortg Just don‘t drink the kook-aid. This book was fascinating for sure! 14mo
24 likes1 comment
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ElizaMarie
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I can't believe this book! This is my #April 2022 Pick

@12BooksOf2022
@Andrew65

Andrew65 Good choice. 1y
13 likes1 comment
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Lizpixie
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To my endless frustration, I‘m still struggling with post-Covid brain fog, which means I have a foot high stack of books I‘ve tried to force myself to read. What do you do when reading is your life & the ability disappears? Here‘s to hoping it‘s not permanent🙏 Trying #audioknitting tonight to the tagged NF audiobook. We‘ll see if I can keep interest in this one. And maybe I‘ll finish Jaxons baby blanket in time for his 1st birthday in September!

CarolynM Sending love, Liz💕 Hope you get some improvement soon. 2y
DivineDiana Be gentle on yourself. ❤️ 2y
JackOBotts Wishing you continued recovery. The blanket looks beautiful. 💚🧡💚🧡 2y
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TheLudicReader Hope things improve soon. ❤️ 2y
sblbooks When I'm not feeling well, reading juvenile fiction is easier. Try reading a middle grade novel. 2y
Soubhiville I‘m sorry you‘re struggling. It‘s ok to listen to a podcast or watch some cheesy television for a bit instead of reading. I know you miss it but the books will be there when you‘re ready to go back. 2y
MaureenMc I‘m so sorry. 😞 FWIW, I found that book to be a super engaging audio. Hope it works for you, too! 2y
Dragon Sorry the brain fog is hanging on. Hope you find something you can enjoy listening to. Take care and be kind to yourself 💚🐉 2y
TheAromaofBooks I honestly can't imagine!!! Hopefully you feel better soon!!! When I don't feel like reading, I tend to go to comfort rereads and low-stress fluff 😂 But sometimes I think our brains just need some time off!! The books will be there for you whenever you feel like reading again ❤ 2y
ElizaMarie I found this audio very captivating. I hope you are able to enjoy it 2y
AmyG Maybe it‘s just audiobooks for a bit. I hope the fog goes away soon. 😘 2y
robinb I love that you‘re turning to something beautiful and soothing (just like books). 😊 Hope the fog dissipates soon. 2y
SamAnne I‘m coming out of a big life transition and bit of depression. It has been my worst reading year ever. Inability to concentrate. 22 books behind on my Goodreads challenge, LOL. I feel like I‘m coming out of it. Reading more thrillers and faster reads and not beating myself up about the 10 more literary fiction and non-fiction I‘ve been unable to finish. Is what it it. Hope it gets better for,you! (edited) 2y
Lizpixie @CarolynM @DivineDiana @JackOBotts @TheLudicReader @sblbooks @Soubhiville @MaureenMc @Dragon @TheAromaofBooks @ElizaMarie @AmyG @robinb @SamAnne Thank you all sooo much for your love & support! I‘ll definitely be trying some of your tips to get my reading self back on track & I‘ll try to take it easier on myself & let go of the frustration & despair. What would I do without you marvelous Littens! #LitsyLoveBomb #Gratitude #Positivity 2y
Tamra I only just discovered knitting and it‘s soothing in the repetition. I hope you get your reading powers back soon! How about audio knitting? 2y
54 likes15 comments
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ElizaMarie
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Pickpick
Leftcoastzen Awwww!🐶 2y
AmyG Cutie! 2y
DieAReader Such a cutie♥️♥️ 2y
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ElizaMarie
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DieAReader @ElizaMarie I found it to be addictive lol. I just couldn‘t make myself put it down for long🤣♥️ I hope you continue to enjoy it straight through to the end.♥️ 2y
jessinikkip Ive read this and Loved it myself 2y
ElizaMarie @DieAReader I am already on Chapter 8! And I don't want to do anything else than to listen to this! 2y
DieAReader @ElizaMarie 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️Same thing happened to me🤣 2y
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DieAReader
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Pickpick

#WeekendReading #20in4 #BookNookBuddies2022 #KickTheSlump #BookSpinBingo

So very hard to put this one down! Extremely well written imo. I was enthralled/addicted right from the get go. Definitely a recommended read📚

CoverToCoverGirl My TBR list just grew. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
DieAReader @CoverToCoverGirl So worth it though!😉🤓 2y
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MidnightBookGirl
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Pickpick

No, it's not a particularly Christmasy book, and I don't know what it says about me that I can go from reading Hallmark like books to True Crime cult books, but I can. This made for a super engaged book club discussion, and even though the book was chunky as hell, we all ended up deep diving into documentaries and blogs to learn even more. #WinterGames #MistletoeManiacs #TBRread @Clwojick

Christy2318 There‘s a meme for this - “We‘re either sleighin‘ or slayin‘” 😆 2y
H_SQUARED The Ashes of Waco is another good book about cults. It shows another side to the story. 2y
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Eggbeater
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Pickpick

After reading this book, I felt I came away with a better understanding of how this tragedy could have happened. It was the insidious grain of truth in Jim Jones's message that killed them. Most of these people meant to do good in the world and found themselves in the thrall of a demagogue.

The book was well written. I think the author could have used a sensitivity reader when he wrote about race.

2nd bk
#dashingdecember #readathon @Andrew65

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 2y
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kimmypete1
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Pickpick

An in depth look at Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. It was a wild ride, especially once they start in Guyana.

#WinterGames2021 #TeamGameSleighers

#AVeryMerryReadathon #Wintercosy #WrapItUpReadathon @TheSpineView @puddlejumper @keys_on_fire #DecemberChill @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

TheSpineView Excellant 2y
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

Other than wishing that this book was a tad bit shorter, I found myself caught up in the crazy world Jim Jones created.

I only new the highlights of this cult, but this book has a ton of information on Jim Jones and his followers. I liked that it started before he formed Peoples Temple and went all the way to the mass suicide.

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LibraryCin
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Pickpick

Audio. I actually didn‘t know much about Jim Jones or his followers, so this was new to me except the “Kool Aid” suicide. I can see where he would have been very charismatic and appealing with his outlook on life, initially, at least. I would have liked to know more of the aftermath and the people left behind. The narrator was good. It was long, so yes, I did lose interest occasionally, but not often and overall, I thought it was well done

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GloVerdino
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Am I the only one who feels like most non-fiction books can really just be summed up in an hour long podcast?? I‘m about half way through and getting bored with this one, I just wanna know why they drank the kool-aid already!

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paulareadsallthetime
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book covers the very beginning of The Temple up until the mass suicide. The author also gives us background information on many of the members and leaders. Such a sad part of history. Hard to believe so many so willingly followed this man.

britt_brooke The year this came out, it was my top read of the year. Jeff Guinn is amazing! 3y
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BeansPage
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Pickpick

In summary, this is a great book with a lot of very incredible information that I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in the subject.

You can read my full review here:
https://sumisbooks.weebly.com/book-reviews/the-road-to-jonestown-by-jeff-guinn

Sleepswithbooks I second that @SumisBooks!! 🤗😘 4y
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goodbyefrancie
Pickpick

I'm old enough to remember this event, but didn't know the whole story. This book details so much. It really gives a good example of the blind devotion people have for some "leaders", as well as how power can drive someone to do horrible things. I swore I would read lighter fare this year, but it hasn't happened yet. Good book, interesting and tragic story, but definitely heavy.

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Sleepswithbooks
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Gissy Ok😂🤣 4y
48 likes1 comment
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goodbyefrancie
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#audiopuzzling on my rainy day off. The puzzle looks fun, but this book is disturbing.

#Audible

TheSpineView Great puzzle! 4y
Lesanne I read this book, truly stranger than fiction. Love the puzzle, btw! 4y
91 likes2 comments
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goodbyefrancie
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1. Tagged (audio), and Grace (Eventually) by Anne Lamott
2. When All is Said by Anne Griffin - staff pick at my favorite indie bookstore
3. The Girls of Atomic City was pretty good.

#weekendreads
@rachelsbrittain

RamsFan1963 The Road to Jonestown is such an amazing book!! 4y
goodbyefrancie @RamsFan1963 I just started, but good so far. I swore I would read lighter books this year, but keep gravitating to heavier subjects. 4y
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Sleepswithbooks
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Chapter 14: “Jones interrupted his own sermons to hawk photos of himself for $5 each. Having such a photo- the picture blessed, of course, by Jones - guaranteed the owner immunity from disasters such as assault, fire, or cancer. Since each photo was good for protection from only one potential catastrophe, it was sensible to buy several.”

😂😂😂 Everything about that quote is “sensible.” 😂😂😂

Tracyantoon That guy was a piece of work! This book blew my mind. 4y
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BeansPage
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Up to Ch. 14 now.
I don't understand how a man who did such wonderful things went so very wrong. I mean, he fed the hungry, clothed the poor, cared for the elderly, did TONS of community outreach and even adopted needy children. For lack of a better way to put it, the man was a saint. Where did it all go so terribly wrong? I'm kind of in shock right now reading this.
Thoughts? 😃

#JonestownBuddyRead @Stacypatrice

LauraJ That surprised me too because I had never heard about the good stuff. 4y
Sleepswithbooks @SumisBooks I just started Chapter 14 and although his manipulative tendencies show in some areas, in others he seems like a good person. Remember.... Ted Bundy worked on a suicide crisis hotline. This is why we hear so many people claim, “But he is such a good boy, (or girl)” when someone is on the news for murder. 4y
BeansPage @Stacypatrice so very true 4y
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Sleepswithbooks
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Started “Schizo” from the wonderful @TorieStorieS this afternoon and joining the amazing @SumisBooks in a buddy read of The Road to Jonestown.”

Thank you #Litsylove for bringing the gift of these women and so many others folks into my life!! I‘m feeling grateful.

BeansPage ❤️🤗❤️ 4y
AmyG 💕 4y
TorieStorieS You are really emptying out your TBR basket!! 🥳🥳🥳 4y
Sleepswithbooks @TorieStorieS I am!! But I made another one to work through when I get to the bottom of this one!! 4y
59 likes4 comments
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BeansPage
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This passage really got to me when I read it. I kept thinking what would poor Max be thinking after everything was said and done? Would he feel like he was responsible for everything that happened simply because he encouraged his friend? What a terrible thought. I can't help but feel sympathy for Max for that reason.

What are your thoughts hun? 😃
#JonestownBuddyRead @Stacypatrice

Sleepswithbooks @SumisBooks - I would hope Max realized his friend didn‘t encourage his friend to be the sick person he was - a manipulator of the people. Max had nothing to do with what Jim was already becoming from an early age (e.g. telling people he suffered terribly at the hands of his physically abusive father, who was in fact, too sick for that to be true). He wanted to encourage his childhood friend to be anything that he wanted to be. I hope he saw that. 4y
Sleepswithbooks I just started chapter 7 😃 4y
BeansPage @Stacypatrice I sincerely hope that he saw that too. It's just so sad 😢 And yay! I'm on chapter 14 now. 4y
9 likes3 comments
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BeansPage
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Starting this one today. Just read the prologue... DAMN!!!
😱😱😱

Sleepswithbooks I just got this in the mail from Book Outlet! 4y
RamsFan1963 Fantastic book!! One of my favorite reads of 2019. 4y
BeansPage @Stacypatrice OMG girl! Wanna do a buddy read??? 4y
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BeansPage @RamsFan1963 I'm liking it so far. I love that it's written like a biography and not a true crime with all the police procedure & jargon. 4y
BeansPage @Stacypatrice okay awesome! I have already started and I am on chapter 7 I believe. 😊 Have you started reading yet? 4y
Sleepswithbooks @SumisBooks ... Not yet 😃 I can start today. 4y
BeansPage @Stacypatrice yay! 🎉🎉 4y
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Tracyantoon
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Pickpick

Soooo I thought reading a book about a cult would be a good idea right now. 😳 This is an exhaustive account of the man behind the massacre at Jonestown. It is very thorough and honestly if it wasn‘t on audio I don‘t think I could have made it through the whole thing. Well written and researched but utterly heartbreaking.
“On Jones‘ instruction Larry Schacht ordered 1 pound of sodium cyanide, enough for 1800 lethal doses. It cost $8.85.”

Trashcanman It's easy to make, well Hydrogen Cyanide anyhow. 4y
mollyrotondo This was a very exhausting book. I read it a few months ago and it took me pretty much a whole month to get through. I‘m glad I read it though 4y
Tracyantoon @Trashcanman I found that quote so profound because in the end over 900 people lost their lives to a concoction that was under $10 total. 4y
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Tracyantoon @mollyrotondo I am also glad I made it through this book but most definitely need a light and fluffy read now! 4y
Trashcanman @Tracyantoon Yes it's pretty unbelievable. 4y
TerriGreen Wow! I had no idea. This one has been on my TBR for a while. Sounds heartbreaking. 4y
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Centique
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#hiselderliness #bookreport #weeklyforecast

I‘m either early for this week @Cinfhen or late for last week! 😂😂 As you predicted Dad bailed on the Jonestown book #greatmindsthinkalike
He enjoyed Journeys in the Wild but reckons “men with children should stick around and not take up dangerous jobs far away from them”. He loved and highly recommends Buried in the Sky.
Just added the two books on the bottom right to his pile.

LeahBergen I‘m enjoying his book reviews. 😆 4y
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Centique @LeahBergen thanks Leah 😘 He has a unique take on things that‘s for sure. 4y
Rissreads You are so lucky to have this connection with books with your Dad. 💚 4y
TrishB Great post 👍🏻 I love your dads take on books too. 4y
Centique @Rissreads thank you! And it‘s so weird because I never saw him read a book until he grew too frail to do his usual physical outdoors and motorcycle stuff. So this is a new thing since he turned 80 😊 4y
72 likes8 comments
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kyraleseberg
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This has been on my TBR for a long time and I finally picked it up after noticing it on countless lists recently for past decade favorites.

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abookishbutterfly
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Cult life dynamics
and abduction stories
Ghosts that will haunt you
and dogs in their glory
Books that embrace
the myth of changelings
These are a few
of my favorite things

These books DO represent some of my favorite themes in books! What themes and tropes do you gravitate towards?

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britt_brooke
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#Top10oftheDecade #NonfictionEdition | Here are my top 10 nonfiction reads from the last 10 years. This was TOUGH. Thanks for starting this, Cindy!

Share your NF picks, too, and be sure to tag @Cinfhen !

BarbaraBB Oh I remember your review about Jonestown! And I would have chosen The Banner of Heaven, I couldn‘t get into Missoula. 4y
britt_brooke @BarbaraBB Under the Banner of Heaven is so good. I didn‘t choose it because I read it in 2009. 😉 Missoula is a really tough read. 4y
Suet624 Really great picks. 4y
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MrBook Wow!!! How the heck did you narrow down?! It‘ll take me days. 😆👏🏻🙌🏻 4y
britt_brooke @MrBook I read about 50% NF, so it was tough! But a few clear favorites popped into my head right away. Have you read any of these? 4y
MrBook Not yet. I shall. Oh, I shall! 4y
Cinfhen This is an awesome list!!!! I need to revisit Road To Jonestown and I really have to check out 4y
Cinfhen Sedaris definitely earns a spot too!!! 4y
Mdargusch Great list! The tagged book was fascinating! 4y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Beastie Boys Book is so good on audio. And I just really adore Rick Bragg. He writes so beautiful about his family and the south. 4y
britt_brooke @Mdargusch Thanks! Yes, that book blew my mind!! Jeff Guinn is such an engaging NF author. 4y
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parasolofdoom
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My top 5 books of the decade (by genre) -- History and Biography

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Heatherfeather
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Pickpick

An exhaustive and rich account of human tragedy. Cults fascinate me. (As an aside, I found a great number of similarities between the Peoples Temple and Scientology)

britt_brooke LOVED this book. Jeff Guinn is fantastic. I‘m a cult fanatic, too. And I definitely agree that Scientology fits the bill. Have you read Zealot by Jo Thornely yet? She covers a few of the most well-known cults around the world, but is very snarky and funny, too. It‘s great on audio. 4y
Heatherfeather @britt_brooke I have not but now I TOTALLY WILL. and yay another cult fanatic (hahahaha that sounds weird) 4y
britt_brooke @Heatherfeather 🤣 We are fascinated, but we don‘t want to join so it‘s okay, I think. 🤣🤞🏻 Jo Thornely also has a podcast but I didn‘t find out about it until after I read her book. 4y
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howjessicareads
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This book is crazy. I didn‘t realize that Jones was instrumental in integrating Indianapolis, partly as a result of the death of his daughter. The Joneses had adopted some Korean kids, and some African American ones. One Korean daughter died in a car accident, and she wasn‘t allowed to be buried in a regular cemetery bc of her race — it was against Indiana law. She had to be buried in a “Negro cemetery”. This was in the late 1950s. 😱😑

Megabooks It‘s a fascinating book! 5y
TheDaysGoBy Yeah a lot stuff in that book blew my mind 5y
Reecaspieces This is a crazy book!! 5y
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jessinikkip
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Pickpick

This was a really informative book. Well written. I wished though there were more pictures and spaced through the book instead of on a photo spread of 6 pages or so just past the middle.

#BFCr2 #BookSix

RamsFan1963 Excellent book!! One my favorite reads of 2019 5y
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jessinikkip
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Google Fit says I passed 25,000 steps yesterday at work. Ive been home since midnight. Its 330AM. Little Man is asleep on my foot. My wife @anewton91 isnt in bed doing God knows what, and I cant sleep. Why not read about Jonestown?

#BFCr2 #DogsofLitsy @wanderinglynn @Laughterhp

Megabooks It‘s a good book! 5y
TheDaysGoBy I listened to the audiobook. It was good 5y
Laughterhp That‘s a late night! Hopefully you were able to sleep! 5y
wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 Awesome step count! But I hope you were able to get some sleep. 5y
jessinikkip I made it about 100 pages in. It is really good, informative but not like an info dump. I finally slept about 4:00 5y
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FlowerFairy
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Audiobooking during the work commute. Anyone else find it makes the drive better?

PurpleyPumpkin Absolutely! I do it everyday. At this point, I‘m not sure how I ever did without audiobooks!👍🏽 5y
Hoopiefoot I switch between podcasts and audiobooks 5y
Geeklet I go through phases where I love audiobooks then I won‘t be able to stand them for about six months. I‘m in an audiobook phase right now and they‘re great! 5y
55 likes3 comments
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Nute
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This is what I might read next, but I‘m not sure if I can get through it.😬

Ashley_Nicoletto This one is super interesting and it has tons and tons of backstory. Definitely worth giving it a shot, but obviously the ending is horrible. 5y
cathysaid I second @Ashley_Nicoletto here. The book covers a lot of material I had never heard or read, particularly about the various players. And for whatever reason, after reading this one, I can finally understand how a cult might appeal to just the right person. 5y
Ashley_Nicoletto @cathysaid YES! This was the first time that I really felt like I understood how someone could be talked into a cult. Or what would lead others to make that choice. 5y
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BridgetteM I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. Be prepared to learn a lot about Jim Jones 5y
Aseleener I have not read this one but I loved Guinn's book about Bonnie and Clyde. 5y
RamsFan1963 This is one of my favorite reads of 2019. It's so engrossing, but you come away really understanding the rise and fall of Jim Jones and his ministry. 5y
Nute @Ashley_Nicoletto @cathysaid @BridgetteM @Aseleener @RamsFan1963 First admission: I decided against reading it. At least for now. Second admission: I‘m easily unsettled by the grim truth of certain realities. I don‘t think that I‘m ready for this book yet and I don‘t know when I will feel differently about that. I hope soon because...Third admission: I want to learn about the real Jim Jones and his ministry. Thanks for the encouragement & support! 5y
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monalyisha
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Pickpick

When I told a coworker what I was reading, she said, “I just don‘t understand how people would follow someone like that.” The thing is? After listening to this book, I DO. I get it. I don‘t quite get how those in his inner circle *kept* following him, but I understand the initial draw. And it has nothing to do with “charisma,” or whatever BS you normally hear about cult leaders. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/4: Jim Jones actively fought for social change & racial equality & he was EFFECTIVE. He used the large numbers of his congregation to campaign for & get liberal politicians elected. He took office himself. He got big laws changed (such as improving housing laws in urban ghettos). 5y
monalyisha 2/4: He preached about self-sufficiency & getting back in touch with the land. He preached about “rainbow families.” His socialist messages were downright inspiring, especially for the times in which he preached (though this message never seemed to extend to rising above sex & gender biases). He really believed in what he fought for. 5y
monalyisha 3/4: Unfortunately, he was also narcissistic — & broken, in some fundamental way. And then he began using drugs. And his paranoia & delusions got stronger. This led to the degradation, humiliation, & physical beatings of individual “church”goers, culminating in the manipulation of more than 900 people in his care to take their own lives & the lives of their loved ones (including infants). 5y
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monalyisha 4/4: “The Road to Jonestown” is a fascinating story. I‘m so glad I finished it, despite the horrific/vile end. Thanks, @samplergal for encouraging me to keep going when I was unsure during the slow beginning! 5y
LibrarianRyan I swear I am going to read this book. It's only been in recent years I learned that my dad helped clean up Jonestown. He never really talked about his early years in the navy until the last 5 or so. 5y
wanderinglynn It does sound fascinating. 5y
wanderinglynn @LibrarianRyan That‘s so interesting. I didn‘t realize the Navy helped clean up Jonestown. 5y
TheSpineView Love this review! While history will always remember him for the horrific, I think it is important to acknowledge that it did not start that way. I think it is important to understand in order to prevent. 5y
LibrarianRyan @wanderinglynn My dad was a Seabee aka Land Lover. They go in before a conflict and set up, they go in after a conflict to rebuild. My dad was first stationed in Vietnam at the very tail end for clean up. I believe he was in Diego Garcia or Morocco when his crew got shipped out for a few weeks as emergency aid. His work was classified until about 10 years ago. 5y
LibrarianRyan @TheSpineView I agree. People always remember “drink the Kool-Aid“ but very few know what brought it about. 5y
LibrarianRyan @wandernglynn - it was not uncommon for my dad to be in mixed crews with marines. But he held a shovel instead of a gun (usually). 5y
wanderinglynn @LibrarianRyan Ah, I‘ve been learning all about the Seabees. (I started as an assistant counsel for the Navy in February.) 5y
wanderinglynn @TheSpineView You‘re absolutely right. Most folks only think of the end & how horrific it was. They fail to realize that it took years to build up to that point. 5y
monalyisha Omg @LibrarianRyan! That‘s incredibly interesting (& also not enviable)! Your dad sounds like a fascinating guy. 5y
monalyisha Thanks @TheSpineView The author did a great job getting that message across. While I didn‘t always *love* his writing, he laid out the events & psychological factors in a very compelling way. 5y
LibrarianRyan @wanderinglynn That is very cool. They have sent my dad some very interesting places. He spent a year in Antarctica when it was still just military and science. We have some awesome videos, that I really should get transferred to digital. Dad did a lot of “rescuing“ in his career. (edited) 5y
LibrarianRyan @monalyisha He is. I love when he gets to telling stories. Fun one. I was sitting in a special science symposium during HS. This professor was lecturing about Antarctica. He had pics and was talking about a trip gone haywire. His picture included one of my dad. At the end he took questions and I said, that's not what happened in the rescue video. How do I know. Well that's my dad. He yelled out “Your Dammit Dan's Daughter!“ Yep. 5y
Samplergal So Glad you liked it. I remember living in Indiana when this happened and was glued to my ( black and white ) tv all weekend. 5y
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Megabooks
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This #JourneysEnd is one of the most tragic that I‘ve read about and watched documentaries about. Jim Jones‘ decent into delusions and paranoia led to tragic consequences in the jungles of Guyana. Heartbreaking! Excellent #audiobook.

The episode is probably one of the worst of the series. It‘s basically to write Wesley off of all future (cannon) storylines. And Beverly giving him the blanket - lame! #StarTrekSummerMay

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Oliveldn
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Pickpick

Learning about cults can only ever be enhanced by the spring weather. Really brings out that commune vibe.

I‘m really enjoying this so far: detailed, well researched and quick paced. #SSDGM

#amreading #nonfiction #truecrime

Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🌸 5y
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NatalieR
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Pickpick

Very interesting story. I certainly learned a lot about Jim Jones. I like how Jeff Guin gives so much family background in his books. I was surprised to learn ways in which Jim Jones promoted integration (even though he could have done better). #MountTBR #LitsyAtoZ #LetterR

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Megabooks
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My favorite line in the song #wonderwall is “maybe you‘re going to be the one that saves me”. I‘ve thought about it many times, and this time I thought of Jonestown.

Did, even after he moved them Guyana, these people think Jim Jones was going to save them? Did they see Leo Ryan as a savior? Tough questions, great #audiobook. #anglophileapril

Cinfhen Great choice 🙌🏻love this pick 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻such a crazy story. Hard to comprehend 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen Thanks!! It‘s wild! 😱 5y
Mdargusch I read this book and I still can‘t fathom the trust they put in this crazy man. 😢 5y
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emilyhaldi Fascinating question... It's hard to understand why people place such blind trust in others sometimes. But they must have certainly felt that Jim Jones was their savior to go to such drastic measures 😐 5y
Reviewsbylola So many questions and very few answers! 5y
Megabooks @Mdargusch I know. Especially after he got so paranoid! 5y
Megabooks @emilyhaldi In a way, his message wasn‘t terribly crazy until he started using drugs in California, and after that things were totally shot to sh1t. 5y
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola Agreed! For awhile, years before this book, I‘d search out documentaries about it. 5y
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Victoriahoperose
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Pickpick

This was a really comprehensive, full look at the religious radicalism of Jim Jones and how he became the infamous man we have heard about. It really brings this entire tragedy to life and gives a hard look at the terror of Jonestown.

Hestapleton I just finished this one too! Guinn is great writer and I need to check out his Manson book! 5y
Victoriahoperose @Hestapleton same! Another book we have in common lol!! 5y
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

An amazing and detailed history of the rise and tragic fatal fall of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. Jones started out with good intentions, fighting for the poor and minorities, but in the end was done in by his megalomania and paranoia. To this day, it amazes me how all these people willingly killed themselves for him. 5 💥💥💥💥💥 out of 5. Highly recommended.

britt_brooke Nice review! I was utterly absorbed by this book. 5⭐️ from me as well. 5y
RamsFan1963 @britt_brooke Do you think it took too long to get to the Guyana part of the story? I like the slow build. I knew how it was going to end, so how we got there was most important. How can you understand why these people killed themselves if you aren't shown how the church came to dominate their lives? 5y
britt_brooke @RamsFan1963 I didn‘t think it took too long, but I also didn‘t know any of the backstory. I completely agree with you on the slow build and the “journey.” It‘s absolutely devastating, but also fascinating. 5y
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britt_brooke
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#HighwaytoHell | Charismatic socialist Jim Jones led his loyal followers to Guyana in order to isolate and maintain control. We all know how this ended.

#marchintothe70s
📷: Alex Glav

Cinfhen I picked up a free book on Kindle today that‘s about a Catholic fundamentalist cult. Might be something u like 5y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Sounds up my alley - thanks! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Good pick! And I‘m going to grab up that book @Cinfhen mentioned also. 5y
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Samplergal I loved that book! 5y
britt_brooke @Samplergal Me, too! It was so thorough, but not dry at all. I love Jeff Guinn‘s writing. 5y
RamsFan1963 Eeeeek!! I'm currently listening to this, it's due back to the library on Friday, and someone already has a hold on it. I know what I'll be doing tomorrow, pounding down the last 4hrs of this fascinating book. 5y
britt_brooke @RamsFan1963 I listened to the audio as well. It was long, but the narration was fantastic. Good luck!! 5y
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