Vincent Bugliosi: Helter Skelter

I have been wanting to read this book for sometime but was always turned off by the idea that it was a crime book. To me, crime books are usually poorly written, sensational and a waste of time. I liked this one though...a lot.

Part of the reason is because the author, Vincent Bugliosi, was also the lead prosecutor in the Manson trial.

The book begins with an in depth analysis of the crime, the evidence and the murders. Over a span of a few years at least 9 people were killed (and some claim as many as 35 people) with the most famous being the Sharon Tate murders. The details of the murders were gruesome and although necessary for story development , not the most interesting part of the book.

The reason I wanted to read this book and why I ended up enjoying it as much as I did was because of the dynamics between Charles Manson and his "girls". I found Manson, his life, the power he held over so many people and the girls he attracted so fascinating. It gave me an entirely new perspective on the Hippie era and made me realize it wasn't all about peace and harmony. A lot of it was just about being counter-culture and murder is definitely counter-culture.

The title of the book was taken from a theory that Manson had and used to incite violence. Helter Skelter refers to a race war that Manson believed was inevitable. He ordered the murders in part to blames blacks and expedite the war he wanted to see. He also believed that his "family" would escape the Helter Skelter by retreating underground in the dessert. Despite these beliefs, he wasn't what would classically be called insane.

Manson was smart and although he spent nearly his entire life behind bars, he understood people and what they needed. He used these talents to convince people he could read minds and see into their souls. He also used sex, drugs and religious paranoia to control countless members of the family and had many of them eating out of his hand. For the most part he attracted people who had already chosen to abandon society; girls who were wandering America looking for free love and the answer to all their questions. Instead they found Charles Manson.

He formed a community in the Hollywood hills where people lived, had wild orgies and killed for the beloved leader. He fathered many children which, to this day, don't know they are Manson's kids because their files were sealed. He preached love of all things and that death did not exist. And then he asked people to kill for him. It's fascinating in that he used many of the same techniques used by Hitler and other cult leaders. His followers believed he was Christ and would do anything he asked, both of out of love and fear of reprisal. Manson was a follower of Scientology for a long time (not a fact they publicize) as well as Satanism. He learned a lot from those two groups and spun them into his own demented philosophy of violence, hatred and mind control.

The big question I had throughout the book was never really answered, partly I imagine, because there is no definitive answer. Would those girls, had they never met Charlie, have lived normal lives? Could anyone in the right situation have become what they did? Was there something already lurking in them that made them open to his suggestion or were they young and naive and easily manipulated. The author claims the girls were evil before Manson even came along but I have a hard time believing that. The women, (Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel and Susan Atkins) claim that what happened to their minds might have happened to anyone. Statistically speaking, the likelihood of Manson bumping into a half a dozen people already destined to become murderers is slim to none. I believe those girls might have had normal lives had they never met him, but I might be wrong.

The women are still all locked up in prison (those that went to prison that is - there are several family members who were never charged or jailed) despite being eligible for parole over 25 years ago. They may never be let out. Manson will definitely never be let out.

The story was fascinating and well written and although it is not typically a book I would read I'm glad I did. It gave me a lot of insight into a crime, an era and a personality that I knew of but did not really have a full grasp of. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in what makes people tick and why some people have incredible powers of persuasion and can convince others to do things that others can hardly even imagine.