A Thousand Lives

The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown

By: Julia Scheeres

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

They left America for the jungles of Guyana to start a better life. Yet what started as a Utopian dream soon devolved into a terrifying work camp run by a madman, ending in the mass murder-suicide of 914 members in November 1978.

In A Thousand Lives, the New York Times best-selling memoirist Julia Scheeres traces the fates of five individuals who followed Jim Jones to South America as they struggled to first build their paradise, and then survive it. Each went for different reasons - some were drawn to Jones for his progressive attitudes towards racial equality, others were dazzled by his claims to be a faith healer. But once in Guyana, Jones' drug addiction, mental decay, and sexual depredations quickly eroded the idealistic community.

For this groundbreaking book, Scheeres examined more than 50,000 pages of newly released documents that the FBI collected from the camp after the massacre - including diaries, crop reports, and letters that were never sent home - as well as hundreds of audiotapes of Jones addressing his group.

Scheeres's own experience at a religious boot camp in the Dominican Republic, detailed in her unforgettable debut memoir Jesus Land, gives her unique insight into this chilling tale.

Haunting and vividly written, A Thousand Lives is a story of blind loyalty and daring escapes, of corrupted ideals and senseless, searing loss.

©2011 Julia Scheeres (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Chilling and heart-wrenching, this is a brilliant testament to Jones's victims, so many of whom were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time." ( Publisher's Weekly)

"Scheeres shows great compassion and journalistic skill in reconstructing Jonestown’s last months and the lives of many Temple members (including a few survivors).... [A] well-written, disturbing tale of faith and evil." ( Kirkus)

"Julia Scheeres' A Thousand Lives... tells the tragic tale of Jonestown - in its way, a peculiarly American apocalypse." ( Los Angeles Times)

An Enlightening, Fascinating and Compelling Listen

Would you consider the audio edition of A Thousand Lives to be better than the print version?

Not sure. If there were photos in the print version, I would probably have preferred it to the audible version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Thousand Lives?

Hyacinth's survival. She was a real hero, surviving because she quietly and unwaveringly kept her own counsel.

Have you listened to any of Robin Miles’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely, yes.

Any additional comments?

This was an enlightening and compelling listen whose lessons should stay with all of us permanently. It raised uncomfortable, but essential, questions about the inherent nature of humanity and what it takes to survive adversity. I strongly recommend it. The narration was very clear and effective.

A very Intriguing and gripping story.

If you could sum up A Thousand Lives in three words, what would they be?

Worse than Hitler

What did you like best about this story?

The author telling the story from the point of view of the victims.

Have you listened to any of Robin Miles’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Poisoning and murdering of the babies and children.

Any additional comments?

I feel like the narrator could have read the high points of the story with a little more emotion or urgency in her tone of voice.

Great storytelling

Kept my attention and was very informational. Followed the stories of many people who lived in Jamestown, survivors and victims.

Great

A fascinating look into the massacre at Jonestown, in turn beautiful and horrifying, chilling and human.

Really Great Story and Much Better than I Expected

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It is told in a blanced and even way. The author takes a non judgemental view particularly toward the victims. The story builds as the sect moves to South America especially not knowing if the stories of individual are survivors. It's a memorizing story utilizing how a sidewalk preacher from the Midwest can convince 500 people to kill themselves in a jungle. I recommend this audiobook to anyone interested in the subject.

What about Robin Miles’s performance did you like?

Well narrated

Frightening real-life story

Would you listen to A Thousand Lives again? Why?

I would probably not listen to this book again, simply because I rarely re-read a book. However, I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I can't say I had a 'favorite' character, but there were many interesting people and stories in this book.

Which scene was your favorite?

"Favorite" to me implies something positive. The most memorable scene is the by now infamous koolaid scene, and the very narrow escape of the few survivors. I had to listen to the entire thing, even though it meant being late for work.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me both angry and sad - angry that trusting people could be so easily betrayed and destroyed, and sadness for the people who saw their dreams destroyed.

TOO GRIM TO BE RATED GREAT BECAUSE IT IT TRUE

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

PROBABLY NOT. IT WOULD ONLY APPEAL TO A FEW.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

IT WAS FINE. IT WAS THE TRUTH. YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE TRUTH.

Which character – as performed by Robin Miles – was your favorite?

AS PREFORMED BY? NO CHARACTER WAS "PREFORED" THE BOOK WAS READ WELL THO. THE VOICE DID NOT CHANGE FOR DIFFERENT CHARACTERS. IT WAS FINE THO THE WAY IT WAS. IT WAS JUST A TRUE STORY BEING TOLD. IT WAS TOLD WELL.

Was A Thousand Lives worth the listening time?

FOR ME IT WAS. I WAS INTERESTED IN THIS STORY.

Any additional comments?

THE THING I REMEMBER ABOUT JONES WAS THAT TERRILE LAUGH HE HAD. IT WAS JUST MENTIONED IN THE BOOK. I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT MORE. HE HAD SUCH AN EVIL LAUGH. HE WAS SCARY.

Good book

As a person who was born after the Jonestown tragedy I found this book to be very interesting and informative. It's well written and performed and I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in American history.

Sad, Dark, Fascinating

I live in San Francisco and I kind of have a thing for San Francisco and its history. My office is about 1/4 mile from the old location of Jim Jones' People's Temple on Geary Street. So, I was excited to listen to this book - and the book does not disappoint. It seems to be really well researched, and it is a fascinating story. It is so dark that I was ready for it to end when it did. But it was also so interesting that I was compelled to do more research on Jonestown after listening. I highly recommend this audiobook.

A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Decept

What made the experience of listening to A Thousand Lives the most enjoyable?

Getting to know the victims and how they thought. What drew them to Jim Jones.

Any additional comments?

Very sad book to know these good people died for no reason.