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Charles Manson: Coming Down Fast A Chilling Biography (2009)

by Simon Wells(Favorite Author)

3.83 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0340977019 (ISBN13: 9780340977019)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Hodder & Stoughton

review 1: A fascinating account of Charles Manson's strange journey through life, culminating in the murders perpetrated by The Family and an autopsy on the lives of Manson and his former cohorts in (and out) or prison subsequently.What is most intriguing about this book, to me, is its documenting of the Manson story within the wider social and cultural context of the counterculture and the 1960s. Most creepy is the story of his "friendship" with Beach Boys member Wilson. One ultimately comes away strangely with some sort of empathy for Manson, who comes through not innately as a murderer (in the vein of the true "serial killer") but someone who finally resorted to that as a tool of revenge against a society he validly despised. As Charlie himself pointed out, he was a product of a ... moresystem and his crimes confront the world with that system's darker nature.
review 2: I have read all the books on the Manson saga, and this clearly is the best. What I like about it, more than anything, is that Wells takes a truly dispassionate approach in de-constructing the legend of Charles Manson and his so-called "Family". True, what occurred with the Tate-LaBianca murders was nothing short of horrific, but Wells take a less sensational view on what actually produced the spark that led to the murders. Where Vincent Bugliosi successfully argued for the so-called "Helter Skelter" race war theory, here, there is ample documentation in "Coming Down Fast" that Manson's world spectacularly collapsed and splintered-hence the possible grudge attack on the Polanski and LaBiancas properties. Remarkably, Coming Down Fast seems not to be available in the United States. Ummm... seems strange, as a newer, fresher view on the most famous murders of the 20th century is long overdue. "Coming Down Fast" clearly succeeds where a multitude of others have failed. Essential readingTony Phillips less

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