A portrait of the cult leader behind the Jonestown Massacre examines his personal life, from his extramarital affairs and drug use to his fraudulent faith healing practices and his decision to move his followers to Guyana, sharing new details about the events leading to the 1978 tragedy.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 473-508) and index.

Part one. Indiana -- Lynetta and Jim -- Lynn -- Jimmy -- Growing up -- Richmond -- Marceline -- Jim and Marceline -- Beginnings -- A church where you get something now -- Peoples Temple -- Gaining influence -- Father Divine -- "All races together" -- A man to be reckoned with -- Breakdown -- Brazil -- Looking west -- Part two. California -- Redneck Valley -- Dead end -- Resurrection -- Carolyn -- A socialist example -- Money -- Worker bees -- On the road -- Failures -- Drugs -- Sex -- Family -- The planning commission -- Los Angeles -- San Francisco -- Narrow escapes -- Reaching out -- the gang of eight -- Consequences -- The promised land -- Kimo -- City politics -- More money -- Defectors -- "Our year of ascendancy" -- New West -- Part three. Guyana -- Jonestown -- Concerned relatives and the first White Night -- Death will be painless -- Betrayals -- Unraveling -- Final days -- "Some place that hope runs out" -- What happened? -- Aftermath.