Book Which I Have Done Read Them

This book will lead you on a tour of humanity that could make you despair. How people were so astonishingly stupid (stupid may sound harsh, but as the tale of the people's temple unfolds, it's really the only conclusion I could come to) to fall for Jim
Jones and his lunacy is something that is impossible to understand.
The constant warning signs of danger, from the church's early days through to it's at times farcical time in Guyana is an indictment of both individuals and governmental gullibility and inaction.
Jim Jones and his closest confidantes were indeed evil people, but the knowledge that his evil and madness were always self evident makes this story such a profound tragedy.
I am still trying to make sense of this tragedy, where people willingly put aside reason and common sense to literally follow this lunatic to their deaths. So stark is the evidence of their stupidity, that I can't even find sympathy for these people - only horror that so many of them were willing to firstly deprive their children of a normal upbringing and then to lead those innocent children to their deaths.
At the end, to hear the tales of some of the survivors lives after Jonestown only reinforces your despair - to see some of them survive only to continue to make dumb life decisions just leaves you shaking your head.

As you read this book you wonder just HOW so people can give their lives and souls to such a corrupt organisation and laughably silly "religion". You will hear how absolute power does indeed corrupt absolutely.
Despite Scientology providing so ammunition for the author to attack with, the author does try credibly well to produce an balanced account - indeed some of the "pro" Scientology accounts are some of the most interesting parts of the book - where current Scientologists come across as deluded optimists. The scariest part of the book was in the final few pages when a current 2nd generation Scientologist declares they want to study law and be a judge. After listening to this book, you want no one from this religion in any kind of position of authority, let alone a judge!

This is a wonderful audiobook. Very, VERY funny, and surprisingly touching at the same time. Dad's a good guy, he just believes in talking bluntly - very bluntly. My kind of guy!

Ok, so the author is completely morally reprehensible - listeners need to put that aside to get though this audiobook! The longer this tale went on, the more I began shake my head and laugh as scheme after scheme seemed to fall into place for the author. Can it all possibly be 100% true? Apparently so....
The narrator does a reasonable job handling the various accents, and captures the "frank" - no pun intended - smugness of the author well.
The ending is very abrupt, and maybe audiobook format just doesn't suit the ending, for I can easily imagine the ending in a movie format.
I think at least an epilogue is due though - to tell the story of his eventual meeting with his pursuer.

A very detailed account of the lead up and aftermath of the Columbine massacre, covering both the incident and the media coverage. I finished the book with something vaguely resembling empathy for one of the killers, complete contempt and disgust for the other, and appalled at the ignorance of the warning signs that some people obviously saw, and brought to the attention of both the killers's parents and the police. It could probably been abridged slightly - some of the bios of victims or school personnel are too detailed. This is also a story that demonstrates that despite some parents best intentions and efforts, sometimes their children just make baffling and horrendously evil decisions.

A battle of wills between creator and his creation. Just like any fantasy you need to give the author permission to take you on a ride. This was surprisingly quite a strong story, even if the science behind its premise is dubious, particularly well over a century after its writing.

I'm sure this book will polarise listeners / readers. If you have your life all together, then you will most likely thoroughly dislike this needy, self centred and often pathetic man, and hate the book. If however, you have you own special basket of issues you wrestle with on a daily basis, chances are you will warm to and be charmed by this needy, self centred and often pathetic man, and love the book.
I loved the book - its one of the best I've heard on audible. Laugh out loud funny in places.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes - but only those who like to get down and dirty with their morals!

Who was your favorite character and why?
I don't think you can go past St Gutfree and the opening story. Listen and squirm! The story about the anatomically detailed dolls runs a close second - I almost had to pull my car to the side of the road at certain parts of that story - its hard to drive, squirm and cringe at the same time!
The one thing I would add to this is that there are really no "likeable" characters in this book, and as a group they become despicable. Thats what makes it fun ;)