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Summary: DAWN'S REVIEW OF HELTER SKELTER
Review: Helter Skelter is a very interesting book. Almost every page keeps you on the seat of your chair. It doesn't have a slow moment in it. It has details after details in which you really enjoy. The feeling of it being all real and true kept me reading this book Just think a person like that is still out there, waiting to be released. If that doesn't scare you then I don't know what will. The reality of this book is so increadible that you think it is all made up,but it is all so true. It is certainly a page turner, but I have to warn you, it will scare the hell out of you!
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Summary: Excellent book, disturbing story.
Review: Vincent Bugliosi has done a remarkable job of telling the complete story of Charles Manson and his band of killers. Bugliosi gives the reader insight into all facets of the Manson 'Family', from its inception through the trial, to today, when a very few diehards continue to adhere to Manson's rhetoric.After reading the book, of course I felt tremendous empathy for the victims, who were murdered for no other reason than to suit Manson's crazy ideas. Surprisingly, I also felt sorry for many of the members of Manson's 'family', as it seemed that his remarkable coercive efforts had led them to self-destruction. Not surprisingly, the only person I did not feel sorry for was Manson himself.
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Summary: Very Accurate, but somewhat mysterious
Review: I Thought that the Book Helter Skelter, was very informative as well as vivid in telling about the true Manson crimes.It was a great description of the various people and deaths of the people there in Los Angeles, Cali. This book also is a great account of the death of the actress, Sharon Tate. This is a great book to help you find out more about the Manson crimes, the many deaths, and the use of the HELTER SKELTER to posses the murders.
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Summary: Blood Fest 1969
Review: The chilling story as told by detective Bugliosi will scare and shock you to your utmost. There is an eerie sense all about you that keeps you wondering how such diabolocal people could exist in this world. In all its gorey details and brutally honest depiction of the Manson "Family" Bugliosi does not shield the reader from the horrrid acts committed. He is forthright in his personal fellings toward the murders and his perception of the Manson "Family" including their theology that "Helter Skelter", the final war between the balcks and the whites, is the most outrageous in all of history, which made everything in connection to the murders just as strange.
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Summary: Helter Skelter
Review: Fantastic! I have read this book twice. I love the way the author narrates the real life drama of these murders, murderers and inefficiency of the LAPD. It is probably one of the scarriest books I have read so far. The author does a great job of explaining the psychological influences of Charles Manson and the crazy/hipnotic behavior of the Manson Family. He also paints a very clear picture of the long and difficult trial and the obstacles that needed to be overcome to convict Manson and his followers. It's a very interesting book from a psychological and legal stand point. I probably will read it again some time soon because the second time around helped me understand even more, the real-life occurences and legal complexities of this case.
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Summary: Great Read
Review: This is a great book so far. I am a little farther than halfway into it and it is great. Although the writing is a little choppy at times, it is definitely worth it.
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Summary: Vivid, frightening...and true
Review: Vincent Bugliosi, who prosecuted Charles Manson along with Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houton, and Charles "Tex" Watson, gives us an insider's look into the Tate-LaBianca murders of 1969. Described by Manson himself as a "judicial genius", Bugliosi personally (and tirelessly) gathered most of the evidence himself. He takes us through the murders, the manhunt, the capture, his struggle to build his case, and finally the trial. A very frightening read, when one considers the savagery of the murders along with Manson's dangerous (and powerful) personality. Also sad, not just because how you come to feel for the victims, but also because the flowerful 1960's ended this way. Sixty-four pages of photos and a 1994 update, which clears up some unanswered questions as well as detailing the post conviction lives of the killers, all of whom are still incarcerated save for Steve Grogan, who was convicted of a different murder. A must for any true crime buff, and you probably won't make it past the first chapter without checking to see if your doors are locked.
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Summary: Fast, Full, and Scary
Review: Helter Skelter is the #1 best selling true crime book ever because of three things: It is the story of one of the highest profile murder cases in the world's history, even 30+ years after the fact, it is still an amazing and unique story, and finally, Vincent Bugliosi is a fabulous writer. Most books written by non-writers might tell a good story but not in a dramatic way that a true author otherwise might. Bugliosi has no problem doing that with his books. I thought I had a pretty good idea of most everything that had happened during this whole ordeal that ended the era of "peace and love," but I didn't know the half of it. Bugliosi needs over 700 pages to vividly recount every second of what led up to the Manson murders and every detail of what was done to bring the killers to trial and put them away. This is without question the fastest and most intense 700 page book I've ever read (and I've read a few), and that can be credited to the sheer madness of this case and the brilliance of the deep-thinking, amazingly-talented prosecutor who closed the case and then wrote this book to tell everything about it.
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Summary: Through the eyes of Bugliosi
Review: This book truly lives up to what Vincent Bugliosi says on the first page of his book "Helter Skelter-The True Story Of The Manson Murders"-- "This story you are about to read will scare the hell out of you." This is not only the best true crime book ever written, but it is the ONLY true crime story ever written. Mr. Bugliosi is truly a judicial genius, and should be highly commended not only for putting Charles Manson, Susuan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten, and Charles Watson behind bars forever so they can never harm another living soul again, but for writing this fantastic but bone-chilling book.
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Summary: THIS BOOK WILL SCARE THE HELL OUT OF YOU!!!!
Review: I'll be honest - I haven't read this book. Before you dismiss this review, however, allow me to continue. I haven't read this book in the conventional way (starting at Page 1 and going all the way to Page 600 something). The first time I became aware of this book, I took it down, and read the interviews with "Donkey Dan" about Manson's fascination with The Beatles. Since then, I was hooked, reading sections here, sections there, till I came to the realisation I've read the entire book. The account is harrowing and chilling. It shows how scary and horrendous the results of young innocents following a man of damned nature, and exulting a cult. Vincent Bugliosi, who was the prosecuting attorney of Manson, had an intimate and detailed point of view from which to write this book; he does a fine job of describing everything. The first two thirds are taken up by the murders and then the connection of the murders with Manson and his Family, and the final third is the trial. It should be stated this is the only book I've read on Manson, and by far is probably the most read volume on this cultural anti-hero. It is told largely from the legal perspective, and can be educational on that point (I know it was for me, anyway). It would be equally interesting to look at other volumes as well. Manson should not be romanticized, but he should be examined, and this book does well on that respect, although this is to be expected since it is written by the prosecuting attorney of the trial. Manson himself was little more than a con-artist who turning into something much more treacherous and evil. He assimilated many vogues and other types into his own belief system, and, I think, came to believe in it. Manson took full advantage of idioms, catch phrases, and false philosophies of that era, of the 60s. His connections with people are far ranging, from Terry Melcher (Doris Day's son) to bike riders (Satan something). Charles Manson perverted and twisted the minds of his followers so much that Susan Atkins said that killing people, feeling the knife slice through tendons and scrape against bones, was better than an orgasm. It is absolutely fascinating. It well demonstrates how Manson used his Satanically influenced power over people (that gift well could've had been used for God's purposes), and sold them on this whole occultic ideal of Helter Skelter. According to Manson, there was going to be a race war in America (Helter Skelter), and I'm presuming spread thruout the world. The blacks would come out triumphant (all the while Manson and his Family in a pit in Death Valley, which by the end of Helter Skelter would have grown to the Biblical 144,000). Then Manson would come out with his Family, and the blacks, being incompetent, would come to Manson, and Manson would become the God of this world. (Satan's lie - AND THEY SHALL BE AS GODS). Perversity and evil are rampant in this book. Manson's life illustrates what truly happens when one allows himself to become so enwrapped in the works of Satan. I've been recommended to pray before every reading session of this book, because of how wicked Manson truly is. This book is a stark, naked portrait of the evil of man. It is not for everyone (children should not read this). But for those who want to look upon evil, and cry for mercy from God upon man, this book tops my list every time.
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