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Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson Hardcover – August 6, 2013
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The most authoritative account ever written of how an ordinary juvenile delinquent named Charles Manson became the notorious murderer whose crimes still shock and horrify us today.
More than forty years ago Charles Manson and his mostly female commune killed nine people, among them the pregnant actress Sharon Tate. It was the culmination of a criminal career that author Jeff Guinn traces back to Manson’s childhood. Guinn interviewed Manson’s sister and cousin, neither of whom had ever previously cooperated with an author. Childhood friends, cellmates, and even some members of the Manson Family have provided new information about Manson’s life. Guinn has made discoveries about the night of the Tate murders, answering unresolved questions, such as why one person on the property where the murders occurred was spared.
Manson puts the killer in the context of his times, the turbulent late sixties, an era of race riots and street protests when authority in all its forms was under siege. Guinn shows us how Manson created and refined his message to fit the times, persuading confused young women (and a few men) that he had the solutions to their problems. At the same time he used them to pursue his long-standing musical ambitions, relocating to Los Angeles in search of a recording contract. His frustrated ambitions, combined with his bizarre race-war obsession, would have lethal consequences as he convinced his followers to commit heinous murders on successive nights.
In addition to stunning revelations about Charles Manson, the book contains family photographs never before published.
- Print length512 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSimon & Schuster
- Publication dateAugust 6, 2013
- Dimensions6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101451645163
- ISBN-13978-1451645163
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
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Review
“[A] brawny, deep-digging biography that's much more riveting than might be expected. . . . Mr. Guinn is fascinating in his use of hindsight, and it allows him a more probing view of his subject than earlier biographers had. . . . Steadily surprising.” -- Janet Maslin ― The New York Times
“Brilliant. Written with deep insight and in seamless, fluid prose, Guinn’s Manson expands the story of the cult leader into something far beyond the shocking story we're used to. The best book about Manson that I’ve read . . . and I think I’ve read them all.” -- Jeffrey Deaver
"[A] riveting, almost Dickensian narrative. . . . four stars." -- Judith Newman ― People
“[A] tour-de-force of a biography. . . . Vincent Bugliosi’s book Helter Skelter led me to believe there was nothing more to learn. . . . I was wrong. . . . [Manson] stands as a definitive work: important for students of criminology, human behavior, popular culture, music, psychopathology and sociopathology, and compulsively readable.” -- Ann Rule ― The New York Times Book Review
"[Guinn] is now proving himself to be one of the pre-eminent true crime writers in the country. . . . Even though you know how the story turns out, you’re surprised on almost every page." -- Jim Witt ― Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Guinn has managed against all odds to offer a fresh take and a worthy complement to the first-hand immediacy of [Vincent] Bugliosi's Helter Skelter. . . . Offers new insight to those who lived through that turbulent era, and provides essential context to those who didn't. What emerges is a grim but highly compelling portrait of a 'lifelong social predator' who was 'always the wrong man in the right place at the right time.'" -- Daniel Stashower ― The Washington Post
“Jeff Guinn takes the reader on a fascinating, chilling visit to a dark and decadent time in American history, all the while maintaining a laser focus on the era’s most recognizable face of evil. A gifted writer and master researcher, Guinn explores the depths of Charles Manson’s twisted psyche in a brilliant effort that dramatically raises the bar on the true crime genre.” -- Carlton Stowers, two-time Edgar winner for Best Fact Crime
"A striking, full-length portrait of one of American history’s most notorious sociopaths. . . . Guinn takes readers on a head-spinning ride through Manson’s deeply disturbed childhood, his criminal career and his brief tenure as satanic guru to the damaged disciples, mostly women, he held in thrall. . . . A compulsively readable account of a murderer who continues to fascinate." ― Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Riveting. . . . The author’s richly detailed but well-paced narrative fleshes out the demented logic behind the crimes. . . . Guinn’s portrait is an absorbing true crime saga and a searching exploration of the anomie, broken homes, and crazed hopes that led lost souls to mistake Manson for the answer to their prayers.” ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Splendid, comprehensively researched. . . . [Guinn] has given us an American nightmare from which we have not yet fully awoken." -- Ariel Gonzalez ― The Miami Herald
"Fascinating. . . . Manson isn't merely a hybrid biography/true crime book, though. It's also a sweeping cultural history. . . . [Guinn] making a name for himself as a doggedly thorough chronicler of famous American criminals. Manson, which uncovers new material culled from exclusive interviews, should draw an even larger readership. It certainly deserves it." -- Doug Childers ― Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Manson is a book impossible to put down, the details so palpable that the sense of being a part of each scene is almost overwhelming. . . . Guinn manages something much more than a true-crime book. Filled with the trampled hopes and broken dreams of those who gave their lives to a sociopath, Manson is an American tragedy." -- Michael E. Young ― Dallas Morning News
"Author Jeff Guinn likes to dive into stories we think we know and give us much more. . . . Manson is a well-told, well-researched story that explains much about the murderer, his followers and his times." -- Douglas Williams ― San Diego Union-Tribune
"Sometimes a book is so good that the reviewer does not know where to begin. It doesn't happen often, but this is one of those times. . . . Jeff Guinn has produced not only the best biography of Charles Manson, but the best study of American true crime since Victoria Lincoln's A Private Disgrace: Lizzie Borden by Daylight. . . . [A] consistently superb book. . . . Flawless." -- Florence King ― National Review
"Biographer Jeff Guinn spent years on this book and it shows. . . . Manson will remain the definitive biography of this 'true life criminal.'" -- Steve Heilig ― The Huffington Post
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster; First Edition (August 6, 2013)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 512 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1451645163
- ISBN-13 : 978-1451645163
- Item Weight : 1.72 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #608,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,239 in Serial Killers True Accounts
- #1,790 in Crime & Criminal Biographies
- #2,373 in Criminology (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Jeff Guinn is a former award-winning investigative journalist and the bestselling author of numerous books, including Go Down Together: The True Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde, The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral and How It Changed the West, and Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson. Guinn lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book well-written and engaging. It provides them with detailed information about Charles Manson's background and family. They find the book interesting and addictive, keeping their attention from start to finish. The historical context is explained in a clear and accurate manner. Readers appreciate the interesting photos and illustrations. Overall, it's an informative and interesting read that keeps readers hooked until the end.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They say it's a great biography for first-time readers. The narration is strong and unflinching for the first two-thirds of the book.
"...The end-result is an engaging and readable tome that is hard to put down, especially for those with an interest in the crimes attributed to Manson..." Read more
"...psychopathology and sociopathology, and compulsively readable for anyone who relishes nonfiction." I don't know if I'd go that far...." Read more
"...one of the most notorious of all—Charlie Manson—by delivering an incredible read that still breaks down in clear contextual detail the confluence of..." Read more
"...Jeff Guinn's most recent biography of Charles Manson really does a masterful job of not only unspooling the tragic life and acts of Manson, putting..." Read more
Customers find the book provides an insightful look into the life of Charles Manson. They appreciate the well-researched and balanced approach. The book details the trial and gives a good understanding of the man and his family.
"...(Beach Boy Dennis Wilson, Gregg Jacobson and Terry Melcher) is quite fascinating and quite creepy...." Read more
"...work: important for students of criminology, human behavior, popular culture, music, psychopathology and sociopathology, and compulsively readable..." Read more
"...the Tate murders are wrought with palpable tension and incredibly vivid descriptions that situate the reader directly into the horrific setting with..." Read more
"...Guinn also does an excellent job of detailing the trial and giving some insight into the fates of most of the main "characters" that were part of..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's detail about Charles Manson's background, childhood, and family. They find it illuminating and realistic, giving them a firm understanding of the man and his family. The book is described as a good biography that contains new and interesting information about his life.
"...at that time (unadulterated sex and drug use) made it so easy for Manson to recruit, seduce and control the young, lost souls that would end-up..." Read more
"...lineage that the troubled Charlie would be born into with clear atmospheric detail...." Read more
"...that not only does it give a good biography of Manson but it tells how charismatic a he could be when he wanted. Manson was a master manipulator ...." Read more
"...He also presents events in a much more coherent sequence than most any other account, which is great for first time readers trying to get a handle..." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They say it keeps their attention from the start, with a smooth prose that draws them in. The book brings readers up-to-date on current events in 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s America. Readers mention the historical details are entertaining and informative.
"...The end-result is an engaging and readable tome that is hard to put down, especially for those with an interest in the crimes attributed to Manson..." Read more
"...1969 murders, a fascinating study of sex, drugs, rock and roll and mind control...." Read more
"...The prose moves smoothly, and engages the reader. The character development leaves us with the fully formed Manson before our eyes...." Read more
"...It never did, and was a rather boring read. The book does a pretty good job of laying out the life of Manson, the reading is pretty fluff...." Read more
Customers enjoy the historical context of the book. They find it informative and well-written, providing an accurate perspective and insight into the era. The book provides an interesting snapshot of the times and captures the chaos of the 1960s. Readers also mention that the book brings the period and individuals up to date, including Manson's origins and family history.
"...pronged: there's the rise and fall of Manson; a thorough look at the 1960's music industry; and the bizarre maelstrom of the 60's...Berkeley,..." Read more
"...Manson’s narrative with rich characterization and similarly detailed background history of the supporting cast that were as responsible, if not more..." Read more
"...He does have several interviews from various family members, both from his biological family as well as "the family."..." Read more
"...I am learning a lot, and it is fascinating the revisit the heady times of San Francisco and Los Angeles in the mid- to late-1960s...." Read more
Customers find the book's appearance appealing. They say it provides a good overview of Charlie Manson's life and times in an easy, humble style. The book includes interesting photos and illustrations skillfully done. It provides a good overall view of Manson and the period during which he operated.
"...He wraps everything up and provides a well-rounded look at not just the life of Manson, but entire cache of his deeds in the larger environment..." Read more
"...down the review scale a little more though is his delicate, almost precious style, which does serve to keep him directly on top of the more well..." Read more
"...great looking edition, now proudly displayed on my bookshelf." Read more
"...Even if you aren't too interested in Manson, this book is a crucial look into aspects of America's past: our prison system, dysfunction of families,..." Read more
Customers find the book's pacing smooth and engaging. They mention it's fast-paced and well-written. The author keeps the writing moving and entertaining, making it hard to put down. They appreciate the strong sources and interviews. Overall, readers describe the book as a definitive work for students.
"...-fiction murder mysteries, Ann Rule, puts it: The bio "stands as a definitive work: important for students of criminology, human behavior,..." Read more
"...The prose moves smoothly, and engages the reader. The character development leaves us with the fully formed Manson before our eyes...." Read more
"...to be commended for tracking down these interviewees, this section of the book drags...." Read more
"...Dropping down the review scale a little more though is his delicate, almost precious style, which does serve to keep him directly on top of the more..." Read more
Customers find the book's story chilling, disturbing, and gripping. Some find it fascinating and well-written, while others mention that the subject matter is grim. The book provides interesting insights into Manson's relationships with his mother.
"...is quite fascinating and quite creepy...." Read more
"...puts it: The bio "stands as a definitive work: important for students of criminology, human behavior, popular culture, music, psychopathology..." Read more
"...As I was reading on Kindle, was really surprised to find the story winding down when I'd barely got 2/3 of the way through...." Read more
"...The chapters detailing the Tate murders are wrought with palpable tension and incredibly vivid descriptions that situate the reader directly into..." Read more
Reviews with images
Very fun interesting read
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2013If anything, Charles Manson is a survivor. Bugliosi's book ("Helter Skelter") and the voluminous supply of subsequent books, documentaries, movies and news articles paint the same picture: most everyone who crossed paths with the filthy, little street-crawler Manson is either dead or ruined ... yet Manson (now, well into his seventies) thrives in the limelight he always craved. Jeff Guinn's MANSON finally digs deep into the history of America's best-known criminal before he became infamous. Guinn's book peels away the multiple layers of myth and legendary "appeal" that has enveloped Manson for decades and exposes the oft-described monster for what he truly is: an insecure little man with an innate and learned ability to masterfully manipulate others to compensate for his shortcomings.
Arguably, if not for Bugliosi's "Helter Skelter", Charles Manson would likely be "just another murderer" rotting away in the penitentiary instead of the macabre "celebrity" he is today ... an indelible stain in American history comparable to Britain's "Jack the Ripper". Unfortunately, many of the works covering Manson, his "family" and the crimes they committed are incomplete, focus on the more sensational aspects of the subject and tend to generate and/or perpetuate myths (often generated by Manson himself). MANSON finally examines aspects of Charles Manson's early life, sifts through the garbage/lore to provide a much clearer understanding of how the man transpired from a petty criminal to a criminal "mastermind".
Guinn's work on Manson's family/background is stellar and truly revealing. Having read several books on the subject-matter, I felt Guinn's book providing much more insight on lesser known facts of Charles Manson's life. The book's first big step was breaking-down one of the more hardened myths, that Manson was a prostitute's illegitimate offspring. From that point forward, Guinn outlines a childhood that can be seen as difficult, but not destitute and overly abusive. What is clear, however, is that Manson's ability to manipulate people started at a very early age and he used it to get what he wanted and avoid blame. An incorrigible truant, Manson progresses to petty criminal behavior that leads to reform school where his diminutive appearance generates unwelcomed attention from more aggressive boys in the form of beatings and rapes. This period of victimization, more than anything, forces Manson to sharpen his manipulative skills as a means of adapting/surviving and laying the ground-work for what is to come years later. Guinn does not characterize the younger Manson as being particularly violent, but more adept at using a perceived threat of violence to instill fear as a manipulative supplement. I found the book's coverage of Manson's early life to be quite interesting and eye-opening (I wasn't previously aware of Manson's two prior marriages that each produced a legitimate son). Guinn does a good job in generating a sense of storm clouds gathering as Manson's life progresses from troubled youth to a run-of-the-mill criminal who used incarceration as a means to be a better criminal and become a master manipulator. The image of the dirty, uneducated troll that Manson likes to perpetuate is debunked ... far from stupid, Manson actually took Dale Carnegie courses and even delved into the mind-controlling aspects of Scientology in his early prison days ... the "Crazy Charlie" act is shown to be nothing more than another tool in Manson's deep bag-of-tricks to fool/control people.
One aspect of the book I particularly liked was how Guinn gives readers a clear understanding of the environment surrounding Manson at each facet of his life. For example, we get a vivid picture of the "vibe" exuded by the Haight-Ashbury scene when Manson is released from prison and begins to form his "family". By setting the stage like this, Guinn makes it much more understandable how the environment at that time (unadulterated sex and drug use) made it so easy for Manson to recruit, seduce and control the young, lost souls that would end-up following him to the bitter end. Guinn's descriptive manner of writing adds so much depth to the book and gives readers a fly-on-the-wall perspective that is missing in all the other books I've read on the subject. It isn't until page 241 that the Tate-Labianca murders are covered, so ample attention is given to the lead-up to the murders, much of it detailing Manson's use of fear and drugs to brainwash his "family". Guinn also spends a great deal of time examining the utter failure and embarrassment Manson faces trying to achieve fame as a musician, thus sowing the seeds of revenge and murder. While the crimes and subsequent trials cover old ground, the relationships between the family and the music elite (Beach Boy Dennis Wilson, Gregg Jacobson and Terry Melcher) is quite fascinating and quite creepy. If there is a void in the book, it is Manson's post-trial to present-day life. The final chapter ever-so-briefly covers a few newsworthy events (such as Manson being set on fire in 1984), but not much more. Granted, serving 40 years of a life-sentence is not great story-telling material, but one would think nearly four decades in general population of the nation's most brutal maximum security penitentiary would generate more than a few pages. Other than that particular issue, I found MANSON to be a compulsive page-turner that puts the reader on-site every step of the way.
There are plenty of books that focus on Manson, his family and their dreadful deeds. The tones of these books are quite varied and range from divulging outright sympathy to deeming the man as Satan. MANSON sits somewhere in the middle and takes a more even-handed approach in describing Manson's colorful life. The end-result is an engaging and readable tome that is hard to put down, especially for those with an interest in the crimes attributed to Manson or those stymied by the dirty pipsqueak's ability to command people to kill and die at his request.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2013The new biography about Charles Manson brought the '60's back to me. It was a nasty decade full of violence, hatred, war. There was the "summer of love" with Woodstock but that was far overshadowed by the bad. The Black Panthers were organized as well as the Weather Underground. Both ready to commit violence in the name of their beliefs. And rising from this national angst was Charles Manson. The author of the new bio, Jeff Guinn, says of his writings that "he wants to write about an era in American history, and to get readers interested I usually pick an iconic event. History doesn't happen in a vacuum." If you don't remember or don't even know who Charles Manson is here is the story in a nutshell. Charlie, as he is known to his cult, "the family", manipulates them into committing 7 horrendous murders. It's Los Angeles Aug. 9, 1969. Members of the family break into the house of the actress Sharon Tate, the wife of Roman Polanski, and brutally murder and mutilate the very pregnant Tate as well as 4 others in the house. The next night, they commit the same atrocities on an older couple who just happen to live in a house that Charlie had been in, the La Bianca's. Charlie had them do this to try to get one of his followers, accused of murder, out of jail, by making these look like copy cat murders. He tried to make them look as if the murders were done by the Black Panthers. Charlie loved the Beatles White Album and took from their "lead" that the "cut" Helter Skelter" was the name for the uprising of the blacks in America who would then kill all of the whites while Charlie and his family would be in a "bottomless pit" to later arise to take over the world and show the blacks (who have screwed everything up) how it is done.
So, you just told me the story. Then why do I need to read the book? Guinn's approach is three pronged: there's the rise and fall of Manson; a thorough look at the 1960's music industry; and the bizarre maelstrom of the 60's...Berkeley, Haight Ashbury, drugs, sex, and the disenfranchisement of the decade's youth. For the first time, a biographer of Charlie's has spoken to his school mates, teachers, and his half sister and cousin to try to piece together what made Charles Manson the master manipulator, pathological liar, and psychopath that he became. It seems all of this began very early in his life. Guinn does an admiral job in trying to piece this part of Manson's life together. As Charlie got older, and spent more and more time in reform schools and prison, he actually hung out with pimps to try to learn from them how to choose women for prostitution, the ones with self esteem or image problems or Daddy problems who'd buy into a smooth talker. He also studied Dale Carnegie and L. Ron Hubbard to better hone his manipulation skills. Much is made of Charlie's collaboration with the Beach Boy Dennis Wilson and Charlie's trying to be a musician bigger than The Beatles. As far as "the family"? Guinn does a good job of trying to help us understand how these people were so easily manipulated. Charlie had them garbage diving for food, stealing, "creepy-crawling" into people's homes at night and, of course, murder. As the queen of non-fiction murder mysteries, Ann Rule, puts it: The bio "stands as a definitive work: important for students of criminology, human behavior, popular culture, music, psychopathology and sociopathology, and compulsively readable for anyone who relishes nonfiction." I don't know if I'd go that far. But I do have one question for the author. He was quoted as saying that one of the reasons he wanted to write about Manson was to find out how WE grew such a monster. WE? I believe in inherent evil and I believe that Manson is inherently evil. The crucible that was the '60's aided and abetted but did not create the evil in this man.
Top reviews from other countries
- FReviewed in Italy on November 26, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
My third book by Guinn after The Road to Jonestown and Waco. I wholeheartedly recommend all of them.
- PaoloReviewed in Germany on July 1, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome
I love this author, and this book is truly entertaining
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Valerio HilarioReviewed in Brazil on July 12, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Parece até ficção
O livro é muito bem detalhado, com descrições e detalhes de como Manson agia. Partindo desde a infância até a condenação, concatenando todos os fatos de maneira muito clara. A parte de fotos ao final do livro também é bem interessante. Para quem gosta de biografias, vale muito a pena.
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critouReviewed in France on January 23, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Étonnant.
L'avantage indéniable de cet ouvrage, contrairement aux multiples livres écrits sur Manson, c'est qu'il parle aussi, et tout à fait brillamment, de l'époque et du contexte. Très intéressant.
- Ken MurrayReviewed in Australia on February 13, 2018
3.0 out of 5 stars could not buy the authors reasoning.
It appeared to me that the auther was trying find reason for this monsters way of life. I could not buy it.