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untitledlex's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, and Murder
ammmiiiii's review against another edition
4.5
In addition to giving an in-depth look at the crimes, the book also explores the legalities of the trial (including evidence that was not allowed to be presented to the jury) and Manson’s unique psyche.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
frostbitsky's review against another edition
3.0
I put that on hold at the library and while I waited I listened to Helter Skelter.
TETA post Chaos review: whatever their backgrounds were, I think it's clearer now that the Manson murders were "an MKULTRA experiment gone right." There was something going on at that Height Ashbury Free Medical Clinic to use mind control on those hippies.
As for Manson, you know the saying, "A face only a mother could love." Well, not even Manson's mother loved him. Unlike some of parents of the other Family members who testified at their sentencing hearing, Manson's mother never came to his trial. Manson's lawyer, Irving Kanarek, opted not to have her testify on his behalf because she disputed his tales of childhood deprivation and called him a spoiled, pampered child. When even your own mother abandons you...
Irving Kanarek was a piece of work. He had a bad reputation, always interrupting with objections. If I were the judge I would have put him in contempt of court everyday. I would have gotten him disbarred. And this is so ridiculous it made me laugh: he once objected to the prosecution's witness stating his own name because having first heard it from his mother it was hearsay.
ETA post Chaos review: it's unfortunate but also not surprising that Kanarek ended up homeless.
Now, the book Chaos has a chapter about "The Holes in Helter Skelter" and Candace has been talking about that book and how Manson was a Federal Agent asset. So I was trying to guess the holes myself and I'll see how correct I was soon. Like, why did they ever let Manson out of prison in 1967? He had been institutionalized most of his life and wanted to stay in prison. So was the judge just a lenient, bleeding heart liberal or was he ordered to release him?
ETA post Chaos review: The "holes" was that in Bugliosi's own handwriting he notes that Terry Melcher met with Manson a few times after the murders and Melcher lied on the the stand.
If I were a judge I'd throw the book at people, especially sociopaths. They would die in jail. Boo-hoo, cry me a river. Some people should never be around polite society and when a man or woman tells you, "don't release me from prison"- DO NOT LET THEM OUT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
ETA post Chaos review: Even if the CIA and FBI threaten you. Tell them to shove CHAOS and COINTELPRO where the sun don't shine.
Anyway, rant over. Back to the holes I was looking for. Were "Father John" and "Brother Matthew" from The Process cult really CIA agents? They visited Manson in jail and got him to be silent on certain issues. *shrugs*
ETA post Chaos review: They were not brought up.
Not trying to look for holes in Helter Skelter, it is very detailed. And I mean DETAILED. Details about the murders, the victims' background, the killers' background, the incompetence of the LAPD (not a surprise, e.g. the O.J. trial); the law, the trail transcripts, LSD effects, the aftermath, and more. My mind could have easily drifted off to daydream land, but Scott Brick's narration was excellent. It could have sounded like a history professor droning on and on, but I was able to pay attention throughout.
ETA post Chaos review: Scott Brick is still a good narrator. And Helter Skelter is very detailed but also there are lies in it. Bugliosi is an unreliable narrator. Boy, did that man perjure himself and he was also a P.O.S. in his personal life.
I finished just in time for when Chaos was ready for pick up at the library. Stay tuned, there is more to come.
5 out of 5 Verdicts. ETA rating after reading Chaos 3 out of 5 Verdicts.
Memorable quotes:
“For a lawyer to do less than his utmost is, I strongly feel, a betrayal of his client. Though in criminal trials one tends to focus on the defense attorney and his client the accused, the prosecutor is also a lawyer, and he too has a client: the People. And the People are equally entitled to their day in court, to a fair and impartial trial, and to justice.”
What is an expert but what the beholder thinks he is from his experience. Many people consider me an expert so I have accustomed myself to assuming that I am. (One of the psychologists on the stand said this.)
Mrs. Rosalind was convinced Manson's power to manipulate others came not from within himself but from the voids within the minds and souls of his followers.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
local_library_rat's review against another edition
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
sphelps269's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Blood
michbrito's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Drug use, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
stobblin's review against another edition
5.0
It is understandable why this book is one of the best selling true crime books of all time.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
alexxrose's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
This book entirely centre's around Charles Manson's cult called "The Family" and the famous murders they committed in 1969. There's a lot of uncomfortable sexual content described by former cult members and of course the members were experiencing brain washing at Manson's hands. I didn't think gaslighting is the correct way of describing it as it's far deeper than that.meow_meow68's review against another edition
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, and Murder
another_dahlia's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting