White Night: The Untold Story of What Happened Before — and Beyond — Jonestown

by John Peer Nugent

On November 18, 1978 nearly one thousand American men, women and children died, in a so-called "mass suicide" in a place called Jonestown, Guyana. White Night is the first full account of the true story behind the unforgettable events of that day. Those who believe that this was an isolated, freak episode will find they have been misled. Find out what really happened, how it happened, and why it happened.

Genres: History, True Crime, Crime, Nonfiction, Cults

278 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Gail Johnson, Ph.D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is 4 of 15 books I am reading about the Jonestown massacre that occurred on November 18th, 1978. According to the author, the name of the band was the "Jonestown Express Band." Jim Cobb was thought to have been killed, but he wasn't. Last, it's stated in the book that Jim Jones life ended with one shot to the head from a .38. But by whom? Also, who were "the Temple threesome that approach the Guyanese police officer and took his shotgun from him with no resistance that did the shooting on the airstrip"? And who were the ten men that came out of the Temple armory with more weapons? Who were the people who saw all of this? There are a lot of gaps in the book. (Rom: 12:19)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nugent looks at this tragedy through its Guyanese setting. He examines the history of Guyana and how it led to what inevitably happened at Jonestown. Guyana allowed Jones to become the monster that led over 900 followers to their deaths. The story tends toward sensationalism at times, but Nugent attempts to be fair to both the victims and the villains of the story. He tends to side with many of the conspiracy theorists believing that the American government knew that Jonestown was just a tragedy waiting to happen, and they did nothing to stop it. This book contains an index along with a sources and bibliography section.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I read this book in bars people would come up to me and want to talk. It was pretty nice. I've never had a book have such a big effect. This is a very good book about the Peoples' Temple and Jonestown.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i got really into jonestown for awhile.