In My Father's House

by Min S. Yee

Documents the tragic story of the Layton family's--Lisa, Deborah and Larry--involvement in the Jonestown mass suicide and the airport murders

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Cults

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Min S. Yee with the help of members of the Layton family has written a family history of the Layton family in an attempt to understand why Larry, Debbie and Lisa Layton all joined and succumbed to the machinations of Peoples Temple. Debbie escaped shortly before the massacre occurred. Lisa died in Jonestown of cancer, believing that Jones could save her. Larry was charged was murder for the attack on Leo Ryan’s party at the airstrip. This portrait of the family offers few insights into why this happened to them. The authors attempt to lay the blame at the father’s feet for why they were susceptible to Jones and Peoples Temple. These accusations seem groundless and unfounded. Several family photos are included. There is no index or bibliography.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it four stars until I read the afterword and realized just how controversial this book was to the family and that some members felt it was more accurate than others. That lead me to think that it may have somewhat skewed at least the perception of some of the characteristics of the Layton family members, which makes you question the text. As far as the material on the temple, it seems an accurate representation and there were even some stories I hadn't already read, which considering the volume of material I have already read, was quite a feat.

[Kelly Whitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid and think about it ever so often. Even as a kid I knew the book was flawed because it focused too much on one family's father and blamed him for things that were so much bigger than he was. Sure, everyone had a story that led them to the Rev Jim Jones, but that doesn't make them more responsible than JJ. Anyway, it was a very enlightening read about the awful tragedy of people who wanted so desperately to believe in someone who was so clearly flawed. Not being able to admit when you're wrong can be a fatal mistake.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book a lot and would recommend it to anybody interested in the subject of Jim Jones. I can not understand people who need to follow demented people like Jones, Koresh. Its hard to wrap my head around this kind of thinking.

[Super Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Virulently racist and very disturbing Quaker patriarch who became one the top chemical weapons developers in the US, torturing monkeys and primates to death (there are photos) Refers to Berkeley High School in California to “the Congo” and his children developing character to suss out grifters to “Blacks developing a resistance to Sickle cell anemia.”

And we haven’t even met Jim Jones yet….

This very sanctimonious and disturbing family pulled the book for a reason.

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

On Nov. 18, 1978, 908 people committed suicide in Gyana, South America by drinking cyanide. Amazing to read how so many people can be fooled.