Jeff Guinn on the Life of Charles Manson

Enjoy an exclusive chat with bestselling author Jeff Guinn on the life and implications of an infamous American criminal. Jeff's newest book, Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson offers updated, exclusive journalism, including the results of interviews with Manson's sister and cousin, who had previously never cooperated with media requests.
Through the book, Jeff puts Charles Manson into the perspective of his times, highlighting the frame of the turbulent late sixties, when authority of all forms was under siege in America.
August 6, 2013

[@baileymoore7779]

If you read CHAOS by Tom O'Neill, the fact that Vince Bugliosi "helped" him so much with getting information on Manson is not really a good thing.

[@carolenglish8805]

I've seen this guy before....his whole purpose for writing this book was for money not to inform the public...Charles Manson had a devestating childhood...that would have broken the spirit of any child...this man has an agenda and it's not about the facts.

[@arielbonzai462]

Yep I wanna slap him

[@dp5707]

MANY people has bad childhoods....they all didn't end up like manson...manipulating people into murder!!

[@mr.sherlockholmes6130]

He spoke the truth about Manson . Manson was a evil person from birth . His family grandparents tried to give him love . He Manson chose to be bad and commit crimes . He didn’t make up these things about Manson . Manson didn’t care about anyone except himself. He was Evil and never admitted to his part in the killings . He ordered the killings and thought by not actually being there he would get away with murder but he didn’t. Manson to the die he died he never showed remorse never !!!

[@True-crime-junkie]

I was considering reading this book, but when jeff called the book “helter skelter” a wonderful book that did it fir me. If he as a true crime writer has that opinion of that fake story I will save my money. If you want to read a groundbreaking book on Manson read “Chaos by Tom O’Neil. That book will blow your mind.

[@idahardy4052]

You can like a book without thinking it’s all true, right?

[@dp5707]

That book is full of lies and tin foil hat theories to sell his book

[@RobertaFierro-mc1ub]

Maybe the Library has a copy

[@athena7042]

Commenters are casting doubt on this guy's accuracy. He takes a long time to make a point. Tom O'Neill seems to have a very well-researched book on Manson, if you're interested.

[@jwm2352]

Chaos is basically crap. It's an overlong attempt by Oneill to prove a different conclusion than has been known for decades. And he fails. FFS do you really believe that the CIA was using Manson for mind control....lol. My god. The guy even tries to tie in JFK. Classic case of a thousand avenues to nowhere.

[@johnnynobuddy1]

@@jwm2352 100%....people write anything once Bugliosi died.

[@Ryan-Kako]

@@jwm2352 O'Neil made no claims in his book. He just did the research, which was on point. From his book we learned of Melcher being at barker after the murders. We learned that bugliosi perjured himself. We learned of all of the prosecution short comings. Are you saying you knew all this for yrs. Did you do the research? Why didn't you write a book. Tom's book isn't fact and he let's the reader know that. It's just informative and shows one man's struggle to obtain information, talk to witnesses and present evidence. He makes no claims that this is the definitive story, like bugliosi and others like him have done. To call chaos crap is unfair and just shows how closed minded you are

[@chuckmadden2251]

The thrust of Jeff's talk here is that Manson lied about his childhood, that he wasn't loved and cared for. Jeff never noted he was a boy who never knew his father, never had a father figure.. add to that a mother who was in prison and came and went from Manson's life pretty much points to the truth of what Manson said... those things are far from normal. To me the tale of Manson is as Johnny Cash said.. "The prisoner has to be treated like a human being. If he isn’t when he gets out, he won’t act like one."

[@kenken5160]

That's very scary because prisoners are purposely dehumanized in US prisons. The prisons are about profit, not rehabilitation. Private, for profit prisons should not exist.

[@robingagan6288]

Boo hoo I met my father when I was 31

[@mr.vargas5648]

Thx you made me realise this guy is a liar.

[@arielbonzai462]

@@kenken5160 they're lucrative slaves set up to fail. POs aren't being them at all Industrial complexes are made of public assets purloined by plutocrats education. Prisons justice military etc it's all about money . Mercenary swine have no interest in greater good

[@terrymantle2711]

2 dogs are laying in a ditch after being hit by a car. One whimpers when you touch it. The other dog growls and snarells at you. They are equally injured but.. You'll comfort one and condemn the other. Think about it.

[@frederickanderson1860]

Excellent story we always go for the one's who do t know what hurts are.

[@idicula1979]

Charles Manson was guilty of incitement or aiding and abetting or whatever, but Charles Manson is the best case ever for prison reform, he was born a street kid got picked up for petty theft one case of Grand Theft Auto, but it was prison that made him the monster we all now, to think for a little care perhaps a little love in his formative years. I'm not excusing Manson for what he became, but Manson is the story of America, an America rotting and neglected it is not the story we tell, but the story of its becoming.

[@Mebuggiefan]

Are you drinking the Manson family Kool-Aid? Are you kidding me? Prison Reform for him? You must not know to much about his history. There was no way in hell that man could be reformed.

[@johnburkardt2189]

I heard that in an interview he said that he met a child and the child (about 5 or 6) supposedly said to Manson who was around 50: "I'm Charles Manson give me all your money!" And when he is saying that I saw him laughing (on the KZbin video). And then he said "And now you guys (the media, the interviewer) would say "Charles Manson is influencing this kid," To which Charlie respond "but what about the kid is he influencing me?" I found that story to be a bit funny, but only because of Charlie's troll humor. I agree with the author in the beginning of this video saying that there is not much funny even in Charles Manson's early life.

[@richarddixon3639]

When Manson was 50 he was in jail so are you saying that the incident with the 5 year old kid happened in prison?

[@otisdriftwood8469]

As soon as he said Vince's book was great he lost me. Helter skelter was ridiculous.

[@jeanmyers1787]

Chris Marchant I read that book years ago, it scared me to death. I came to visit relatives a long time ago. I was scared the time as I was there, as there were some members still free..🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@otisdriftwood8469]

@Barry McCool the book vince wrote was pure fiction, i guess to him the end justified the means. I'm not saying manson was innocent im just saying thats not what happened. And vince dosen't deserve any respect because he lied about everything, made alot of money off of those lies though. The truth should be told and jeff didn't do that. But thats just my opinion.

[@Zeke1379]

@@otisdriftwood8469 So you're one of those that tries to be different

[@deanpd3402]

The author did point out that Vince was surprised with what he dug up about chuckies childhood. I also reckon the author was being polite.

[@kidz4dayz]

@@otisdriftwood8469 what are your references?

[@stiffrichard2816]

It sounds like he just collected up all the old stories and rumours but it's funny, like Charlie with the knife as a kid, I heard it differently... that he was slicing up the door screen while crying for attention but didn't actually attack anyone and got his ass whooped. Typical behaviour of a kid with problems or on the spectrum, but this writer's angle is simply that he was just a born killer.

[@bobbybrooks4826]

Nothing published by any real CORPORATION main stream publisher is going to say anything different than the standard lie....no different than The five o'clock fake news

[@JaneDoe-zr4px]

Krenwinkle looks 80? She's definitely elderly now but not 80. I think VanHouten now looks older than Krenwinkle. What's weird is that VanHouten looked fairly good until the past few years. It's as if all the years caught up with her overnight.

[@geslinam9703]

They both look their age, in my opinion. Aging is mostly genetic.

[@MayorMcCheeseStalker]

Just a thought --- it's possible that Van Houten wants to look old so the parole board will look at her and go, "Ah, why are we keeping this frail old grandma behind bars?" Then, if they let her out, she'll start dying her hair, wearing makeup, and maybe even get a facelift . . . or two.

[@geslinam9703]

MayorMcCheeseStalker I don’t think she wants to look old, she just IS old. They don’t typically have access to hair dye in prison.

[@MayorMcCheeseStalker]

@@geslinam9703 She's old? Don't you know that 71 is the new 51? (Ha-ha.)

[@baileymoore7779]

That's what I was gonna say. She doesn't look 85-90! One of the comments that made me doubt this dudes credibility.

[@masterninrod383]

Manson had Peter pan complex

[@johnnynobuddy1]

Garretson said the door knob turned.

[@JeezVince]

Everyone should read “Chaos . . .” by Tom O’Neill. Bugliosi's Helter Skelter is a lot of crap. Guinn has been bamboozled by Vince. Too bad.

[@yuothineyesasian]

The CI fucking A!

[@yuothineyesasian]

@TermsofService Yes. There is absolutely nothing elucidative about the fact that Jack Ruby's psychiatrist, who denied being part of MKULTRA for decades, actually was. go away CIA

[@JeezVince]

@TermsofService it still has the advantage on vince's to not go to conclusions nor invente stories...

[@JeezVince]

@TermsofService You're pretending that helter skelter is important which is not and hasnt been provem tk be the reason they killed these people. Thats all the difference between vince and oneill, oneill is clearly frank about the fact that NO ONE knows the truth except mayne those who read Tex unreleased tape. Vince pretend to know the truth but its a farce. He is a snake oil seller and his activity during the investigation and trial has been clearly displaced.

[@JeezVince]

@TermsofService First of all a verdict isnt a proof... second helter skelter is the most likely motives not the proven one, knowing the lack of credibility coming from the testimonies and the little willingness of all defendants to participate to the investigation. And it isnt the only dodgy stuff that comes from vince and its the least relevant, even if you wish the argument was about it or that the argument was about who is entirely true and who is entirely wrong which is not what I implied. Your manicheism is childish. Vince is indeed full of shit for the omissions, the lies etc. that he is guilty of all along the investigation and trial, he had a deeply incoherent way of acting that was beyond unethical.

[@arielbonzai462]

I read this book a few times. It introduced quite a few deeply engaging revelations The section about the Haight was well written and I suspect fairly true The diggers, Mary Brunner and the way Charlie went around absorbing the culture are fascinating Travels with Charlie are also interesting However this writer didn't do much to scrutinize the most unfathomable elements of this saga. While Tom O"Niel is too ethical to jump create a narrative with definitive truths and concrete conclusions he provides ample evidence there is more to this thing than we've been allowed to know. One reason many are so interested in him and these crimes is there so much that doesn't add up Even at 12 I knew the Buglosi book wasn't right. I didn't question the veracity of the prosecutor for years to come But I read the book many times. I read all of them and gathered clues. When you read a book again and again it is always different because you're different I learned about rhetoric propaganda psychology sociology corruption and history and the murders and the cast became more confounding Manson is a book that gave me more compassion for this guy but watching Guinn in these videos makes me see even more This man is nasty and hard to like. He is wrong about a lot. The trade for a pitcher of beer is actually true and Charlie's mother was more interested in finding and keeping a man than dealing with a clearly wayward child. It's likely she did turn a trick or two in a less than explicit way I don't think she was an awful person and she problem thought her son needed discipline before he went off the rails How could she know the institutions would be more harmful than good? I've heard Charlie speak very highly of his granny.and all of his uncle's as well as Joanne As for his sister she didn't know Charlie at all and the way Guinn speaks here one assumes she grew up with him. Nancy was adopted when Charlie was in prison in the early 60s. He was very angry about this If you can't understand why you're empathy is out of wack Charlie's reaction is not very pretty and be never saw his mother again. However he spoke of her as an der man with insight and affection asserting she was a girl who had a wayward spirit who ended up like many girls in her situation Charlie Manson was always much more thoughtful and kind as well as wiser when he was on his meds He definitely suffers from something organic like paranoid schizophrenia or bi polar disorder and anyone with an ounce of sense can see that and the reasons he has a personality disorder. I think high level borderline personality given his sexuality creativity fear of abandonment and charm He is also a dark empath which makes him extremely dangerous and volatile The comparison to Hitler a drug addled despot surrounded by antisocial monsters betrays Guinn who implies Manson is not nearly as formable as the Nazi fascist leader. Every chance he gets Guinn assaults and insults MANSON The man is an arrogant. Bully and not much of a journalist -- they're objective and end up with books like Chaos. The book Manson never bothers to see the girls as more than flat despite interviews which proves how little interest he has in the truth BTW How can Leslie notice the crime scene at Cielo is different ? She wasn't there I have been doing research and I can't believe that Buglosi repeats his speeches from the trial for nearly 50 years VERBATIM Even more unnerving is the fact that Kasabian Tex Atkins Leslie and to a lesser degree Pat recount their own alleged experience s in the same terms They all use the exact same words and quotes They say Parent cries Don't hurt me I won't tell anyone No two people are going to remember the same exact things much less use the very same words to express this These people want to be free and they are now following the "truth" that allowed Linda ( a criminal busted in Boston for serious drug related endeavors before she met the family whose been dealing drugs and using them ever since with her children ) . I don't think Charlie ordered anything and if he did I agree with Doris Tate that it isn't something they had to do Clearly the others did as they pleased Tex was robbing drug dealers and shot one long before burnt Crowe and took such sadistic pleasure in killing these victims whose Hollywood status made them more tragic than any other victims The truth about their sexuality drug use and criminal propensities (sex with minors drug traffic; anal rape embezzlement and more ) was obscured by this nutty emphasis on the race war which was an acid addled stories told around the campfire I think the most offensive thing here in this presentation is to say Manson wasn't a viable singer song writer I never listened to it until recently and I am blown away by his good it is I'm sure I know much more about music than Guinn ever will I don't think the beach boys would've spent time and money recording him they used his song and Dennis made an amazing solo album thanks in part to working with Charlie Indeed I'll side with Neil Young here because he saw and heard Charlie's potential Charlie was too feral for studio work and his stuff and he himself were ahead of the times Me Guinn you're a good writer in terms. Of style and structure but you babe a. Advantage since true crime comes with the plot What you lack is courage empathy and integrity. You're not really looking for anything new or true You just see our work as a way to earn money and attention I wonder if it's ever crossed your mind that Manson's son committed suicide because of the father YOU E Sanders Buglosi Rivera Snyder etc gave him ? People aren't flat. They're complicated and contrary Many folks were fond of Charlie including a prison guard who said he was funny generous intelligent spiritual coherent and had great hygiene unless he stopped taking his meds ! We are all mad here sir that means you too

[@janorhypercleats]

i agree with parts of this comment. i've been reading books about Manson for years and i'm also a former cult leader under the name Janor Hypercleets. i agree that some of Manson's songs are awesome, "Eyes of a Dreamer", and "Home is Where You're Happy" are the first two that jump into my mind. Guinn says he can't think of anything funny to tell about Manson as an opener. Really?! Nothing funny?!? Haven't you ever heard the Geraldo interview or the Tom Snyder interview? Manson's cracking jokes and doing his psychotic humor all the way through these interviews ! My favorite: Tom Snyder: "Word has it you killed Shorty Shea!" Manson: "Well, word has it you're an old woman! Word has it there's a turkey in the sky! I don't know what word has!!" The Geraldo interview with Manson is TOO FUNNY!! His interview with Diane Sawyer is funny, too! Sawyer: "IS Charles Manson crazy?" Manson:"Crazy?!? What's crazy?!? It used to mean something to be crazy, nowadays everyone's crazy!!" And my favorite: Ted Koppell: "Come on, Charlie, wouldn't you like to be free?" Manson(dancing around prison cell) "I"M FREE!! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I'M FREE!!" Manson is an extremelly talented and charismatic comedian, philosopher, spiritual teacher, and musician. Although, i certainly don't condone ALL of his activities!

[@dks13827]

Yes I agree that people are born the way that they are, for the most part. I have seen many adopted kids that are way off base from day one.

[@josephpond3795]

Holley Wilkins, let me get this straight...if you could write, you would have written a book about how Manson is telling the truth about EVERYTHING? And you've reached this conclusion BEFORE you've done the interviews that this author has done. You would reach your conclusions before you spoke to his relatives, former 'Family' members, the women in prison, etc.? Ok. Ummm...how exactly would that make your book MORE honest?

[@sevinstorey4365]

“This author“ as you called him is not anything special or any kind of expert of any kind, and if you would listen and do your own research and go back and look at the interviews that were found and recorded of Charles Manson most of everything he said about the government was The truth. It shouldn’t be anybody’s secret by now that the CIA released LSD onto teenagers in the late 60s after they assassinated President Kennedy and the coup d’état that took place and then in the 80s they released crack cocaine into the black neighborhoods and housing projects, and I don’t even know what you’re talking about but I can promise you that Holly Wilkins probably has a higher IQ than you do, so you can go on believing the conspiracy to hate Charles Manson and put him in the serial killer category which he doesn’t belong,.....at the worst he was a cult leader!

[@geslinam9703]

He didn’t speak the truth about everything. Including his childhood. It wasn’t as bad as he made it out to be. There are kids who have it much, much worse.

[@Firefoxy-rz1nw]

@@sevinstorey4365 Dude, that's me that you replied to and this is another youtube account. I have done a lot of research on Manson and the so-called 'family'. My original comment didn't discuss ANYTHING about the CIA and LSD or Kennedy, etc. I suspect I know more about all of that than you do. Without googling it, do you know who Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters were? I bet you don't. Nor did I praise Jeff Guinn book. In fact, the book that he's promoting is a piece of shit. It's literally just Bugliosi's book rewritten as a horror novel. I never said Guinn wrote a good book. Without googling her, I have no idea who Holly Wilken's is because I mostly don't care about shit pop culture. But whatever, she may have a higher IQ than i do, I don't know or care about that. And no, I don't believe that Manson was a serial killer. I'm not even sure that he was a cult leader like you do. Do you really think he had the organizational skills of L Ron Hubbard or Jim Jones? Or Reverend Moon or Asahara? Or Ti and Do? Do you think he had a structured plan for creating a pseudo-religion like those cult leaders did? Do you think he had an ideology or created a cosmology? I don't. I think the truth was more nuanced than that. I think he was a typical pimp who used acid instead of heroin and things got out of hand. It's bizarre what you read into my post that I didn't write. I never hated Charles Manson and nothing whatsoever in my original post suggested that I did, but for the record, I'd rather have spent the night with Sharon Tate any day than with Charlie!

[@baileymoore7779]

@@Firefoxy-rz1nw Charles Manson wasn't much more than a con man who became famous. I don't get the people who defend him, as if he's some poor soul who got caught up with the wrong people and was framed for a crime he had no involvement with. Yeah...right.

[@Firefoxy-rz1nw]

@@baileymoore7779 I agree. In the end, it was his word against Tex's for their involvement in the first night of murders (and I tend to think that CM was more likely to tell the truth about that night than TW was/is) but for the second night, Charlie was definitely involved. Because of that night alone, i think he deserved to die in prison. As for Bugliosi being full of shit--he WAS--but he didn't invent Helter Skelter. Leslie Van Houten lays it all out in her taped interviews after the arrests and approximately a year before the Bug ever began arguing that motive in court. It's clear as day in her interview with M. Part. Bugliosi did not invent it.

[@AbdulRahman-vz2ng]

Sick people in perhaps sick society...we dont really get angry or upset because it doesn't happened to our family.

[@prophetascending9021]

I didn't know the story of Manson returning to pose the dead bodies at the Tate residence. If it's true it shows a sick, toxic mindset and proves what some have always said about him...that's he's an evil, sadistic maniac.

[@technicaldept.5050]

+Prophet Ascending sounds like a bullshit story

[@prophetascending9021]

+Tommy Campese I agree. Though, having said that, Manson wasn't the full ticket so I suppose anything is possible.

[@jeromealexandre2947]

Oh theres a lot you dont know...such as that all these murders were commited by Tex Watson for the mafia.Keep believing in the bogey man with the beard and long hair after all its the easy thing to do when not supplied with the facts.

[@garysellars8914]

+Jerome Alexandre How do you know that? The mafia thing i mean.

[@prophetascending9021]

Jerome Alexandre Yeah, because you are the only one who has all the facts, right? Seriously, take a rest and renew your prescription.

[@timr31908]

I agree of what you're saying about Charlie's Manson 100%

[@zim1966]

I bet the 2 who didnt want to talk was Ouish and Brenda

[@renatawarec]

he said leslie was at the tate house????i thought she wasnt there?either he knows something we all dont or he made something up?

[@johnhoward1313]

FYI: At the Tate house were Tex, Susan, Patricia, and Linda Kasabian.

[@Mebuggiefan]

Leslie was only at the LaBianca residents. And it was been told that Leno LaBianca was already dead when she started stabbing him. I am not sure if she actually stabbed Rosemary.

[@rickray5884]

I think all these Greedy Hogs that make a Living off Manson is Just is bad as Manson is.

[@sevinstorey4365]

Amen! Especially this sissy

[@russellames2659]

)

[@cynthiachamberlain8985]

Manson was a mess at 12.?? What happened.? Not right in his mind at all.

[@happyjack7293]

Always liked Jeff.Though,I kinda called him the true crime documentary guy on every subject.Yet,nobody really delved into Charlie's youth,upbringing and development into what is now the history lesson on this awful story.Thanks Jeff.Your courageous mste.

[@thearchives]

There's also a great essay about the Manson/Beach Boys/Tate connection in the book The Man Who Killed Paul McCartney.

[@Rollimggiant]

Garbage If i want to read a fairytale sure

[@dondon-wg9ft]

The sum total of Manson's life says he is far from sane, he is as crazy as they come. Crazy people who think they are sane can believe they can act crazy because they believe they are sane.

[@James-qk3nh]

HE’S making it up as he goes.

[@susanhicks3336]

To be are you referring ?

[@karirae1737]

I agree, I've watched and read enough over the years. He seems anyone that can back up what he is saying, will not talk or wanted people to know who they are the publicist didn't want to pay money. And Charlie would talk to anyone, because he loved the attention and away to kill boredom in prison. So yeah not buying alot of what he said about the childhood. Charlie never really changed those stories.

[@davidneumann2705]

This guy needs to meet Tom O’Neil! Tom would prove him so very wrong with everything he has been saying

[@vincentparrella272]

He sounds pretty confident to be making it up as he goes......But all you have ave to do

[@vincentparrella272]

How do u know hes making all this up? Assertions aren't arguments,Give me a source that says he making this up.

[@bubbaakatommyoso4119]

I wonta kno why the audiobooks got taken down and this is all that's left by Guinn

[@donnythompson408]

I think that the tendency of most of these stories, of Manson and his “family”, regardless of who the authors are, tend to always get bogged down in the details of the crimes, and in the various actions of Manson and his followers, but they seem to always fall short on the “whys” and the “hows”... why his followers were attracted to him, and how they gave up their free will and gave themselves completely to Manson. I suppose the same things could be asked about Jim Jones and the People’s Temple, or Marshall Applewhite and Heaven’s Gate, or any cult where the members/followers completely surrender their free will, and their ability to reason, who become totally dependent on these cult leaders, to the extent of killing innocent people, or, even themselves at the orders of the cult leaders. Certainly, the loss of life, and the taking of lives is tragic. But until society figures out why and how this happens, it won’t end. It may go dormant for a time, but these terrible events will eventually resurface; there’s always going to be someone manipulative to take Manson’s place, or Jim Jones, or David Koresh, etc., and, there will always be those people who will follow these evil manipulators and mind controllers.

[@kevinkaatz883]

Dude, what r u talking about? I suggest u listen to Nikolas Schreck explain the Tate-Labianca crimes and steer clear of this cult nonsense

[@heaven7360]

there were and are people just like Manson...he's not special or a fluke of the 60s, blah blah..

[@richarddixon3639]

Your mind is being socially engineered by many influences constantly, Charles Manson is a Boy Scout compared to what the globalists are doing to our minds.

[@richarddixon3639]

Also if we follow your logic this applies to the police and military.

[@annabell3385]

Check out Programmed to Kill by Dave McGowan. He gets into some "why's."

[@tomdelinger7206]

Watched enough interviews and the crazy Charlie act is very transparent, wouldn't fool an educated person.

[@bennybradshaw9904]

Ya educated aye so I tell u jump of a house and u do it that’s on me it’s the same thing u know or I tell u to go kill some and u do it didn’t they make that choice to follow threw I get all the time and ur fine makes no sense but what do I know

[@MeeMee-gz5vp]

Exactly. Manson wasn’t crazy at all.

[@dadbot4359]

This guy just added to the propaganda machine and collected 💰 for it 😂 🥜🧠

[@johnnynobuddy1]

Manson took Clem and Bruce with him back to the Ciello ...moved Tate..... left the glasses as a clue....read Manson....his words by Emmons.

[@4122barbarossa]

Bunch of bs .

[@trissloan2340]

So disprove the gentlemen. Provide evidence that proves him wrong. We don't agree with people that just say, "BS."

[@juliecaissie6530]

You still say nothing about him at ages birth and 2345 yrs old i think that also has alot to do as growing up

[@MR-hm5hw]

Bugliosi only helped authors to curate his narrative

[@drm5669]

Not defending Manson, but I call bullshit on this one.

[@Jeffsafe]

The one thing I would have like to have known is whether or not Charley believed the whole Helter Skelter BS with the hole in the Desert and not aging crap. Or if that story was just a way to control all those drugged out minds. If he ISN’T crazy then how could he believe that himself. It’s my opinion that those murders were committed for two reasons only. One, because he was pissed off for not getting his recording contract and two, to try to get Bouselli off. Not for Bobby’s benefit but because he felt if Bobby was convicted it would point back at himself.

[@Hanzey1966]

If you wanna know what Manson thoughts were on Helter Skelter kzbin.info/www/bejne/r36Wq5pmo6-CoJo AND IF Manson realy thought there was a City beneath the Dessert and all stuff...He could NEVER have stood trail by reason of insanity

[@sevinstorey4365]

There’s also a third option that you didn’t include that I will let you in on and it begins with the JFK killing and the coup d’état taking over of America by the CIA and then the CIA pushing all these drugs out onto these teenagers in the late 60s to keep the war in Vietnam going on because we already know pretty much for a fact that the CIA was shipping drugs into the inner cities and urban areas of black communities of crack cocaine to destroy any chance that the black community may have the rise up. If you are not aware in the 1950s there were more businesses owned by black people than white people,... shocking isn’t it? Yeah they left that part of history out of school. But you actually think that Charles Manson would kill somebody because he didn’t get a recording contract? And also ask yourself this how did a skinny little runt who had just gotten out of prison convince these free loving peace and love wearing flowers in their hair hippies to commit murder without the help of some pretty powerful forces behind him that he was not even aware of?

[@annabell3385]

The Family by Ed Sanders is a great book on Manson. A Shadow Over Santa Susannah by Adam GoRightly is good, too.

[@johnnynobuddy1]

I'm from Santa Susana....I'm a fan of Ed's ranch descriptions....when you walk the ranch...his descriptions really come to life.

[@arielbonzai462]

Bug lead him around by the nose and he's a mercenary watcH his talk with Mrs Tate At least he's ashamed

[@robg4472]

You know? What the Manson family did was terrible. But the people who have exploited this tragedy for fame and fortune aren’t much better.

[@geslinam9703]

He’s wrong about the flag on the couch...so what else is he wrong about?

[@TexasMan77]

He’s not wrong.

[@geslinam9703]

@@TexasMan77 The flag was there for days previous to the murders, it had been put there when her family came over to watch the moon landing.

[@paul-ku9ek]

When Charles Manson's mother was in jail his aunt Joanne and the uncle fed Charles Manson only starchy food.

[@deathlarsen7502]

So you like his farts?

[@honeymonkey6105]

What does this have to do with anything?

[@stiffrichard2816]

@@honeymonkey6105 I get it. He was malnutritioned and grew up short and weak, they weren't very nice to him, treated him like a burden, the uncle tormented him, combined with everything else, he became a ticking time bomb.

[@goranblazeski9725]

How can you write a book for someone how he thinks and feel when you are not inside that man head? Only you can say/feel things for that man from your prospective but that is your true, your reality!

[@robingagan6288]

Patricia was accidentally splashed by an inmate. The inmate was terrified and patricia laughed. She thought it was fun to scare someone

[@Mebuggiefan]

She will never change. She should never get out. Just like Leslie Van Houten. They have been locked up way to long to be let out. That is all they know is prison life. With the way the world is today, what makes anyone think they would be progressive humans in society? They would follow along with the madness going on not try to conform to a normal life.

[@arielbonzai462]

@@Mebuggiefan I'm not sure Bruce got the worst of it his charges are weak He drove the van from Hinman's place and was forced to stab shorty after he was dead the. The press accused him if every unsolved murder including being the Zodiac If Clean is loose they freed the most dangerous besides TEX AND Pat. Bobby deserves parole and should have had it 30 years ago

[@arielbonzai462]

@@Mebuggiefan they've been perfect productive images that are altruistic.

[@bubbaakatommyoso4119]

They took the Audiobook that was 2 or 3 parts 3 hrs each part and it was mind gripping I couldn't wait to get back to it To the point where I even listened to the audiobook on the way home from work in the car 🚗 Does anyone know how I can find this audiobook on KZbin I don't have a way to actually purchase it I don't have money in my bank account I only have cash But I would rather just listen instead of going to Barnes and nobles even tho Jeff guinn deserves the money for the book because it's outstanding and I hope he reads this many he would send me a copy lol I'm a big fan i

[@arielbonzai462]

It's not out there. He has a big publisher I found chaos and Helter skelter Reflection Tex Paul Atkins on KZbin tho

[@arielbonzai462]

I'm in the same boat because I'm sick of Apple and others helping themselves to my money for nothing. I hope we can use a gift card to do these things

[@thehitchrules]

Just bought this book

[@fifteenbyfive]

You announced that you bought it, did you ever read it?

[@TexasMan77]

I’m almost finished with it. It’s terrific. 👍👍

[@presidentlesh6284]

this book is so inaccurate

[@January.]

Hoping Mr. Guinn will be safe.

[@arielbonzai462]

Yeah a 70.yeae old Squeaky may go after him with an unloaded gun

[@uriah768ok]

Guinn's book is excellent. A definite must-read for anyone interested in the Manson and the Manson Family within historical context.

[@nancymarkiewick3557]

Brad D I also like it. Nancy M. StClairShoresMi

[@kateyoung1087]

I do not think the research for this book was thoroughly in depth enough.. some conversations with family members does not always constitute the truth. I would like to know WHY a child of six is acting out so badly and violently because I do not agree with Guinn that Manson was born evil because his family said so. I believe children are born innocent and become the products of their environment! So something unhealthy was happening to him and around him in his home that contributed to his behaviours. I also can’t believe that Guinn thought it was funny and telling that six year old Charlie took a knife to school. I don’t believe that Charlie as a child had a chance to grow up in a healthy and happy environment. Because I believe all of this I think the rest of his book is crap because I don’t find this man to be very insightful ....... just my opinion.

[@Ryan-Kako]

@@kateyoung1087 his entire book is just regurgitated helter skelter, and anyone who has followed this case with an open.mind knows helter skelter was complete fiction

[@rupertbaxter2274]

26:13 -- 5' 9" (Hitler's height) actually makes him slightly above-average for Europeans during his lifetime -- not "small."

[@KSitz77]

+Rupert Baxter Manson is 5'2"

[@DACHBO1]

He was actually 5foot 7inches in his prime.

[@DACHBO1]

@enigma jd no the media lies about him, they try to make him look smaller to demean him.

[@DACHBO1]

@Conspiracy is the truth and Tropical island Everything over 6 foot is a genetic mutation that came about by having an easy life and would not survive in nature and should therefore be shot as they will not survive the apocalypse loooool

[@motorcyclemark2889]

Manson was 5.5 at his prime

[@BoBo-ti6jh]

Hack writer. He credits Bugliosi!

[@presidentlesh6284]

manson didn't go to cielo to rearrange the bodies. lies in this book

[@Mebuggiefan]

He did not go to the Tate Resident. He went to the LaBiance's and tied up Leno and Rosemary stating he was not going to kill them. Then he told Tex, Leslie and Patricia told them what to do. After the murders of this couple they ate food from the refrigerator and wrote words on the outside of the fridge spelling the words Helter Skelter wrong.

[@deathlarsen7502]

So bizzare and sick that Guinn touts Manson as not crazy but he wrote a good book in that it gives a history of the times and what the 60s culture was like. For example Manson wasnt the only cult leader, in fact a dime a dozen, what San Francisco was like, not all flowers and love, but drugs and crime. But Manson was clearly crazy, sociopaths ARE CRAZY. Guinn has his own definition of crazy. Sure a successful sociopath isn't a moron, doesn't make them a genius either. L Ron Hubbard was a sociopath and crazy, not stupid but crazy.

[@rosesprog1722]

Boring.

[@bubbaakatommyoso4119]

This dudes Talk about his book is almost just as good as the book itself ....Very inpressive research TOP 🎩 NOTCH he should do Aleister Crowley I Kno his life by heart but would like to digg deeper because theirs alot of bS surrounding Crowley's wild 😜 life

[@jerryzundel4645]

This guy is a hack. Uses all old material. Rehashing old stories 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼

[@pamkuhn4124]

Manson never came to the Tate house after the killings.The bodies were not posed

[@Fettman07]

I agree I think the bodies were posed but they were posed by Watson. There is no chance manson would've gone back to that crime scene.

[@michaelnaylor7016]

Fettman07 oh really. How did those glasses get there? How did Sharon Tates blood get on front porch? And how did that towell get on Jay Sebrings head. It was not thrown there by sadie, as it was tucked under the rope. better believe Manson went back

[@josholiveira9450]

I don't agree or disagree with what ur saying but I love how people think they know the story.. where you there?? I love how u said nope he didn't move the bodies or rearrange anything like u we're there or something?? Lol

[@josholiveira9450]

For years now I've been looking at all the details and all interviews but not once did I think I no the story

[@renatawarec]

Pam Kuhn yes,that would make no sense,he didnt have a license.if he went back he might have been caught

[@ronrendina8986]

Bugliosi is just a lier so

[@Youngbloodz33]

Because you're just like manson says you want to cash in on money and tell what you think in your mind. May I quote you can be paid to walk backwards

[@raybarrett7985]

put your fingers in the fire jeff and you did if u dont know right from wrong jeff i aint going jail for shit

[@tonymarinelli7304]

In Quincy Jones book "Q" he speaks of the fact that he, Jay Seabring and Steve McQueen all saw a movie in the moring the day the murders occurred. Jay Seabring after the movie invited Quincy and McQueen to a little gathering at Shron Tates house. Quincy fell asleep on the couch and decided not to go, not sure what happened with Steve McQueen. Fate!!!!

[@matthewschwartz5117]

Steve met a little chippy on his way there. Saved his life.

[@deathlarsen7502]

everyone claims they were supposed to be there that night. Even Rick James

[@josephconsoli4128]

What an eye-opener of Charlie. He might not have been clinically a mental case, but his perception of right and wrong was seriously skewed. I've seen it all my life. Kids born "bad". It happens in the best of family's with no rhyme or reason.

[@fifteenbyfive]

Rubbish. Nobody's "born bad". There's a reason alright. Usually ignorance. Parents will say "I didn't do anything.." Damn right they didn't do anything that's what ignorance is. Ignorance is abuse. The worst abuse of all in the sense that it's so hidden and easy to get away with.

[@josephconsoli4128]

@@fifteenbyfive I saw in first hand in my life. A kid could have everything, but out of simple frustration feels "lost in the shuffle" and starts doing things to get attention. It could be minor at first, but then it turns dangerous. A kid with a bad upbringing may turn bad, but also a spoiled kid that has everything could just as easily. It's actually not "born bad", but a personality trait that desires attention badly. The "big-shot" wanna-be complex.

[@fifteenbyfive]

@@josephconsoli4128 Sure but that is in no way whatsoever "born bad."

[@josephconsoli4128]

Yes. It's frightening how the slightest skewed experiences in a child's life can derail the train so to speak and create a very troubled adult. Unlike pulling a nail out the goes in crooked, in life you have to just keep pounding ahead incorrectly.

[@fifteenbyfive]

@@josephconsoli4128 Ignorance only has the appearance of slight. Impulses of severe abuse otherwise combined with a constancy of love and attention isn't close to as great but those impulses of abuse will get all the focus and attention of our trained professionals. And the ignored blame themselves if they don't have the fantastic stories that the other abuse victims do (sexual et al). Suicide streams in from there.

[@jwm2352]

For some reason I don't particularly like Guinn. He is that guy, like Bugliosi was, that appears on nearly every single Manson/Family related doc out there, and has a series of rehearsed talking points he always makes that are not always entirely accurate or properly nuanced. I will give his book a shot though to see.

[@ahcapella]

Ditto on all points. He sounds a bit too pro-Bugliosi. I haven’t read his book yet, but I’m _guessing_ that he’s the person who discovered Virginia Brautigan, who _knew_ Charlie back in the day-in McMechen, WV-and had some interesting things to say about young “Charles” & his family during the 2nd episode of the 6-part Epix documentary. (It was interesting in SPITE of the fact that she 100% blamed Charlie’s environment & mother for the way he turned out, and was clearly IN LOVE with him! “[He was] VERY attractive, had a dimple, had curly black hair. And he had BEAUTIFUL eyes!” Okay, Lady. lol) I also will give his book a chance.

[@jwm2352]

@@ahcapella I really like that epix series, i've watched it several times. it's kind of interesting though how at the very end the journalist suggests that helter skelter was not the motivation for the murders. while i think that the murders were sort of a confluence of different motivations coming together at once, the helter skelter narrative was definitely true (manson positive a race war was coming, going to the desert, finding the bottomless pit, watiting to re-emerge after the white population was wiped out, getting messages from the beatles record etc). i mean they spent a fair part of the series with family members totally corroborating the story in detail. the interviews of houten et al from 1969 also reveal in more detail all the aspects of helter skelter. so i don't understand why she questions that as a motive, same as O'dell with his recent CHAOS book also questioning the narrative. lol i don't understand why theorists would actually need something deeper or more bizarre. seems as though the real motives were sparking off helter skelter, but also revenge for the music related issues and taking revenge on hollywood elite (pigs) who he felt cheated him out of success and stole from him. plus they were aiming to be as shocking and as high profile as possible to put the fear of god into everyone, which worked.

[@ahcapella]

@@jwm2352 .Yeah, the Epix documentary was very well-produced, and featured a wide array of interviewees, some of whom I’d never heard from/of before, such as the folks from McMechen, West Virginia who remembered young Charles and his biological family members. I somewhat agree with you about the motives: the murders *can’t* be attributed to solely ONE. Helter Skelter (esp. Charlie’s unsettling lectures thereof) at the very least infused the Family with a heightened sense of urgency and paranoia, adversely affecting their behavior and judgement. That said, I’ve long believed that “for the love of brother/get Bobby out of prison/copycat murders” was the MAIN motive-which, oddly, Bugliosi chose to ignore. (Unfortunately, I have to conclude that he realized that if he could get a conviction with the most sensationalistic scenario imaginable, it would capture the public’s interest and seriously boost his career-which it did.) After reading _Chaos,_ I’m trying to remain more open to the possibility that the “drug deal gone bad” angle may have had more bearing on the murders than previously believed by most, and I’m currently seeking out sources on the drug deal motive. Also, I’d love to know why CASS ELLIOT seems to be the hub, whose spokes unite all of these different oddball groups (the Laurel Canyon party crowd, 1969 Cielo house party crowd, and Manson Family) together into a wildly spinning Wheel of Freakiness! And then there’s Tom O’Neill’s mind-boggling post-CHAOS revelation: the night BEFORE the Cielo house murders, SOMEONE went to Jay Sebring’s house-while he was hosting a get-together with Voytek, Abigail and Sharon-AND CUT THE WIRES (coming down from a telephone pole) à la Tex Watson! I mean, I’m a big believer in coincidences, but how many times-on average-is the same quartet of people typically stalked by a wire-snipping maniac in one week? As it turns out, the mystery wire-slicer first cut the cable TV wire (yes, it _sort of_ existed back then) and then a wire which, when cut, caused the floodlights to light up the outside “like a Christmas tree.” This was confirmed by interviews with both Sebring’s live-in butler AND the guy who did the custom wiring of the floodlights, etc. If Tex Watson was responsible, adios “music motive” theory…or Helter Melcher, as I like to call it. After all, if Voytek/Abigail/Jay/Sharon are murdered at *Jay’s* house, how is THAT going to serve as revenge or terror towards Terry Melcher?

[@samsmith7585]

@@ahcapella Yes, it's clear the victims were being stalked, which means one or more of them was deliberately targeted--instead of just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[@ahcapella]

@@samsmith7585 Yep. I really hope that ONE DAY (before we’re all dead) we get to hear those *Tex Watson tapes* -all 20 hours of them, in their full, unedited, un-doctored glory. Perhaps there will be some answers there. But so far, the powers that be (Hollywood elites? Bugliosi minions? Embarrassed law enforcement officials?) _seem_ to be preventing that.

[@SidewaysBurnouts]

cointelpro collaborator

[@SuperStrik9]

Whatever your opinion on Manson's music, it was good enough that the Beach Boys used it on their 20/20 album.

[@ironheadbill]

Yeah, they did.

[@deathlarsen7502]

Yeah a shit track

[@deathlarsen7502]

So all music is good? Moron

[@TexasMan77]

No they used Dennis Wilson’s reworked version that Wilson took credit for.

[@SuperStrik9]

@@TexasMan77 Dennis Wilson ripped Charlie off and never gave him the proper credit.

[@KoRnLPMaggot]

The book is great, way better than Helter Skelter

[@Monkofmagnesia]

I strongly agree with you, having read both books.

[@RigidRecords69]

Now read CHAOS by Tom O'Neill

[@baileymoore7779]

@@RigidRecords69 True. Great book.

[@Ryan-Kako]

@@Monkofmagnesia both are crap and essentially the same. What's the difference in the two

[@PAULAMANN]

Weird he believes its credible that after a mass murder where the murderers have made an escape, go home, get interrogated by charlie who then goes to the murder scene to "rearrange the scene" PLEASE ! LOL the murdererers tell the truth and charlie lies. A book i wont be buying.

[@blairfranklin7320]

Manson did talk to Latinos later on in his life.

[@RigidRecords69]

you saw that video to? haha

[@kimmyhawk5612]

He talked to Geraldo a few times. Even in the 80's..

[@TheJazzper1970]

I see Manson fans are out in force. Im sure many of the details we think we know about Manson and the family are wrong. Some details have been deliberately made-up or exaggerated by authors looking to make money. Im sure the Manson trial was not the fairest of trials. Im sure many of the family (inc possibly Manson) himself are still in prison for political reasons. Im sure a better defence could have got Manson off. Im also sure Manson is currently residing in the institution he deserves to be in.

[@williamkoscielniak820]

I agree with that assessment.

[@MayorMcCheeseStalker]

Yes, a pretty accurate, insightful assessment.

[@Mebuggiefan]

Ok you want to let people that slaughtered 7 innocent people (being in the wrong place) because Manson felt the house stood as a symbol of Authority. Please???!!! They are not still incarcerated for political reasons. They are still there because of the viciousness of their actions. They brutally killed those victims.

[@leduch]

profit

[@edwarddonisi7996]

guinn is a great story teller, love all his books

[@calliopivogiatzis2235]

Manson's stories can only be scary,hardly ever funny

[@defaultusername123]

*G E O R G E* *L O P E Z* *# 1 F A N*

[@louiseasmith1336]

I think manson compares mostly with trump. Two peas in a pod.

[@smokingdarth3702]

Manson should've been placed in a mental hospital, not prison.

[@cindyfarmer1619]

Smoking Darth Agree .

[@zim1966]

They did have him in a mental prison thats where he was when he was set on fire.

[@benkemp5786]

hes not mentally ill so how can they.. he was a good actor

[@greenmonko99]

Manson did not return to the crime scene to poise the bodies. He purposely had his ghoul followers do his dirty work so he wouldn't be anywhere near the scene and risk being captured or implicated, so obviously he didn't risk returning to the scene. And yes, Charles Manson is "crazy". It is crazy to believe there is going to be a Helter Skelter race war and that only his followers will survive in a special place in the desert and rise up and world the rule. It is "crazy" to then actually act on that vision by trying to get things started by killing innocent people.

[@jasonpan247]

I know forensic science wasn't the same back then, but I doubt Manson would risk going back to the crime scene (hours later) and possibly leaving physical evidence.

[@j.e.a.n]

Charlie never believed this. The theory of Helter skleter, race war and brainwashed followers has been denied, over and over, by countless testimonies and interviews of people involved. A good example is that Gary Fleischmann, Linda Kasabian’s attorney, admitted she had to lie and testify to Stovits and Bugliosi Helter Skelter narrative in able to get complete immunity.

[@babyirene3188]

This book is inauthentic. Nothing about it is credible. I wasted my time reading it so you don’t have to.

[@TexasMan77]

What are you talking about? It is credible.

[@babyirene3188]

@@TexasMan77 If you want the real story. Or as close as we're going to get- read 'Chaos' by Tom O'Neill. And strap on your seatbelt.

[@SidewaysBurnouts]

tom oniell and nicolas shrek !!!

[@USArmy91222]

manson may have been the greatest con man of all time

[@deathlarsen7502]

Hardly you wierdo fanboy. Bernie Madoff takes the cake.

[@adammitchell2425]

And he did that by making us pay so much attention to him !!He took our minds and we didn't even see him do it !!!Even YOU MR AUTHOR !!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jordanwillrog]

The only place you can get the truth and bundles of it , is in Paul Watkins’ book ‘my life with Charles Manson’ Shame it’s over 200£ online :/

[@johnnynobuddy1]

You can read it online for free

[@jordanwillrog]

That’s right! Lol it’s good too

[@johnnynobuddy1]

There's several good books. Will you die for me....watson.

[@johnnynobuddy1]

The Family....sanders

[@johnnynobuddy1]

Manson his words ...Emmons

[@jackiemac9842]

U r full of bull 😡

[@adammitchell2425]

We are ALL IN THE MANSON FAMILY !EVEN YOU !!EVEN STRVEN KAY JUDGE OLDER VINCENT BUGLIOSI AND THE PEOPLE ON HIS PAROLE BOARD THE COPS EVERYBODY !!THATS WHAT HES BEEN TRYIN TO US BUT WE DID NOT UNDERSTAND !!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@EldoradoTexas]

Five minutes into it and I just can't believe this guy... kinda like vincent Bugliosi

[@paullogan4857]

what a shame angloamerican,german and european protestanism did to our kids.At a time when after the wars we should have had a peaceful respite,american youth rebelled so badly against the mystery"system".They looked for "love" in all wrong places as the war machine rolled on.Pot.Lsd.gurus.alternative spirituality.Laughable.The light of Christ eucharistic was shunned and mocked.Same situation as today.You can't solve a social dilemma when the problem is spiritual.

[@renatawarec]

his uncle put a dress on him.ive read dressing boys in girls clothes could turn you into a killer.i dont excuse that he did what he did,but it may help explain,first ive heard of the dress.the uncle did not help him be a better child.must particularly blame uncle.

[@adammitchell2425]

I got news for ya ...we are all members of his family !And we are all following him THE WHOLE NATION AS WELL!!THATS WHY WE PAY SO MUCH ATTENTION TO HIM!!THATS HOW HE SUBVERTED AND CONQUERED THE WHOLE NATION !!JUST LIKE HITLER !!

[@gnozza8683]

I enjoyed the talk but I don't believe Manson went back to the Tate house to rearrange the murder scene. At 2:00 a.m?. No way. However, I agree with Mr. Guinn that Manson was not crazy. He played crazy just like he did (and the girls did) during the trial. It was an act.

[@Mebuggiefan]

He was only at the LaBiance residence.

[@goosebumps2555]

He did go there

[@shanesmith6078]

Charles is a phenomenal singer especially amazing in guitar.

[@7550375503]

The book is filled with falsehood.