People's Temple, People's Tomb [Paperback]

Phil Kerns (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1979 | ISBN-10: 0882703633 | ISBN-13: 978-0882703633

Soft cover book by Phil Kerns with Doug Wead about the story of Jim Jones.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Logos Associates (January 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882703633
• ISBN-13: 978-0882703633
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,077,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and interesting, May 1, 2000

By 

Mike Schroeder - See all my reviews

This review is from: People's Temple, People's Tomb (Paperback)

Kerns' book gives the reader insight into what it was like to be a part of the Jim Jones cult. His personal experience is moving, and the documents contained in the book make it even more interesting. What a tragedy these deaths were, but by reading this book, one gets a profile of the type of person who is susceptible to this kind of sick cult.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If Only Somebody Had Listened Earlier!, December 1, 2008

By 

Sylviastel - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: People's Temple, People's Tomb (Paperback)

Phil Kerns was a former member of the People's Temple. He was brought in by his mother who would later die in Jonestown along with his sister, Carol. His two sisters, Ruth and Jeanette, were fortunate to escape the same fate. Phil's opening chapters reveal his desperation and need for somebody important to listen to him. You can tell he was anxious to stop the massacre but it was too late. He made the calls but nobody was listening to pleas along with other concerned relatives. Phil had pretty much lost his mother and sister a long time ago to Jim Jones and the People's Temple. Phil may not have saved his mother and sister but his concern was at least taken seriously to keep an obervant eye on the San Francisco headquarters of the People's Temple. Maybe he didn't save his sister or mother but he probably did help those at San Francisco headquarters. When Phil left the People's Temple, he couldn't go back but he never stopped trying to get his mother and sister out of the cult. As soon as he realized what Jones was all about, he left as fast as he could with little money and nowhere to run too really. He tried to get people particularly the media and politicians to understand Jones and the People's Temple but nobody wanted to listen to him. To them, he was a crazed, delusional man rather than a concerned human being. I feel for Phil and his family like all the other families. Kerns has done his homework as an author and researcher and private investigator without taking any classes. He uncovers 8 mysterious deaths maybe 9 if you include Christopher Lewis. Kerns knew long before anybody else did about the dangers of Jones but who took him seriously then. There were only a handful of supporters particularly concerned relatives. Kerns knew the outcome on November 18, 1978 along with some. If only they had listened to Phil earlier, but nobody did and that's the tragedy of it all. They didn't have to die in vain, lying on top of each other, and rapidly decomposing in the South American sun. Kerns also provides an extended appendix of useful information.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a lifelong member, March 15, 2009

By 

notAyesperson "Always in search of good books" (somewhere, kansas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: People's Temple, People's Tomb (Paperback)

Author's mother was in the Temple. I don't think the author spent much time in the movement. If I'm not mistaken his mother's name was Penny Dupont and she was considered an annoyance in the Temple by Jones and other members. It is an ok read, but again the author's memory is sketchy at best.