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Bronson #2
Insanity: My Mad Life
harles Bronson is the most feared and the most notorious convict in the prison system. Renowned for serial hostage taking and his rooftop sieges, he is a legend in his own lifetime. Yet behind the crime and the craziness, there is a great deal more to Charlie. He is a man of great warmth and humour; a man of great artistic talent who exhibits his drawings around the country; and a man with an overpowering urge not to let the system get him down. "Insanity" is a look into the mind of a true individual - a wild, inspired, single-minded, fascinating man, oppressed not only by the workings of his singular mind, but also by the system that confines him.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Charles Bronson
43 books85 followersEnglish criminal and former bare knuckle boxer.
Bronson is often referred to in the British press as the "most violent prisoner in Britain".Bronson wasa petty criminal before being sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 1974.
While in prison, he began making a name for himself as a loose cannon, often fighting convicts and prison officers. He also embarked on one-man rooftop protests. He was released on 30 October 1988, but spent merely sixty-nine days as a free man before he was arrested again.
Upon his release, he began a bare-knuckle boxing career in the East End of London. His promoter was unhappy with his name and suggested he change it to Charles Bronson. He was returned to prison for planning another robbery and continued to be a difficult inmate, instigating numerous hostage situations.
While in jail in 2001, he married his second wife, Fatema Saira Rehman, a Bangladeshi-born divorcée who inspired him to convert to Islam and take the name of Charles Ali Ahmed.
This second marriage lasted four years before he divorced Rehman and renounced Islam.
Bronson is often referred to in the British press as the "most violent prisoner in Britain".Bronson wasa petty criminal before being sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 1974.
While in prison, he began making a name for himself as a loose cannon, often fighting convicts and prison officers. He also embarked on one-man rooftop protests. He was released on 30 October 1988, but spent merely sixty-nine days as a free man before he was arrested again.
Upon his release, he began a bare-knuckle boxing career in the East End of London. His promoter was unhappy with his name and suggested he change it to Charles Bronson. He was returned to prison for planning another robbery and continued to be a difficult inmate, instigating numerous hostage situations.
While in jail in 2001, he married his second wife, Fatema Saira Rehman, a Bangladeshi-born divorcée who inspired him to convert to Islam and take the name of Charles Ali Ahmed.
This second marriage lasted four years before he divorced Rehman and renounced Islam.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 27, 2020
I would give it 3.5 stars. A tinge of narcissism and ego but it was a good read, to be honest. Surviving such an environment for 30 years is... I don't know. As he said it, he has a certificate to prove himself sane we don't. So I won't say anything else. An okay saddening read.
December 28, 2010
Another installment of the fascinating life of Bronson.
Never will I truly understand why he is treated so bad. Maybe it's because the system has failed him like it has so many others caught up in life on the inside.
I really do appreciate the fresh air I breath. But then I haven't destroyed any prison property, taken hostages or attacked anyone!
Never will I truly understand why he is treated so bad. Maybe it's because the system has failed him like it has so many others caught up in life on the inside.
I really do appreciate the fresh air I breath. But then I haven't destroyed any prison property, taken hostages or attacked anyone!
January 28, 2018
Insanity at it's best!
This is a corker of a book!
People say, “Would you want Charles Bronson living next door to you?”
I honestly wouldn’t have a problem with it.
Decency, I believe, and virtue to a certain extent, are about character; honour, integrity, compassion, unselfishness and moral courage.
Bronson’s books are quite funny in places, but he comes across as someone whose loyalty is stronger than blood, and whose integrity is hard as nails.
He’s never killed anyone yet he’s been in prison for over 30 years, the majority of that time spent in solitary confinement as prison governors do everything they can to break him. He’s inside that long mainly because he keeps taking people hostage, chinning screws and carrying out rooftop protests, costing the system millions. And it’s the system that this book is really about. How insane it is that murderers come into prison, gain parole after a few short years, go out and kill again, and arrive back in prison. And meanwhile Bronson, fighting against that very same system watches them come and go, and yet he’s still banged up!
As the book draws to a close it becomes very clear that it’s the system itself that drove him insane, but it’s also that insanity that kept him sane.
Read it!
This is a corker of a book!
People say, “Would you want Charles Bronson living next door to you?”
I honestly wouldn’t have a problem with it.
Decency, I believe, and virtue to a certain extent, are about character; honour, integrity, compassion, unselfishness and moral courage.
Bronson’s books are quite funny in places, but he comes across as someone whose loyalty is stronger than blood, and whose integrity is hard as nails.
He’s never killed anyone yet he’s been in prison for over 30 years, the majority of that time spent in solitary confinement as prison governors do everything they can to break him. He’s inside that long mainly because he keeps taking people hostage, chinning screws and carrying out rooftop protests, costing the system millions. And it’s the system that this book is really about. How insane it is that murderers come into prison, gain parole after a few short years, go out and kill again, and arrive back in prison. And meanwhile Bronson, fighting against that very same system watches them come and go, and yet he’s still banged up!
As the book draws to a close it becomes very clear that it’s the system itself that drove him insane, but it’s also that insanity that kept him sane.
Read it!
June 22, 2024
Charles Bronson, serial hostage taker, tells his readers why prison life has made him the way he is. It's a brutally honest book. I have read his other books, and the others were the same as this.
September 7, 2024
Fascinating Intel about Charles life still can't get over why he's still in prison but a interesting read
May 13, 2026
Eh. Found it mid and a bit boring honestly.
August 7, 2026
Such an eye opening book, very graphic at times but overall very good book
May 9, 2014
This is the second book about Bronson I have read and it is amazing that he has survived all that has been thrown at him.
Like he says why should he get life when he has not killed anyone yet Paedophiles walk free after release without us even knowing they are living within a close distance to our families?
At least reading the book shows that he has helped give a fair few what they deserve inside.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime stories he tells it as it is warts and all.
Like he says why should he get life when he has not killed anyone yet Paedophiles walk free after release without us even knowing they are living within a close distance to our families?
At least reading the book shows that he has helped give a fair few what they deserve inside.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime stories he tells it as it is warts and all.
May 2, 2017
This was an... interesting book.
Bronson is a fascinating character and I enjoyed following his thought processes as he shared his opinions about life behind bars.
Do I feel this could have benefited from some additional formatting and editing? Yes I do. However I would also say that this is one of those rare cases where this would have also detracted from the impact the book has on a reader.
If you're interested in the criminal mind, and a detailed albeit repetitive retelling of experiences. This is the book for you.
Bronson is a fascinating character and I enjoyed following his thought processes as he shared his opinions about life behind bars.
Do I feel this could have benefited from some additional formatting and editing? Yes I do. However I would also say that this is one of those rare cases where this would have also detracted from the impact the book has on a reader.
If you're interested in the criminal mind, and a detailed albeit repetitive retelling of experiences. This is the book for you.
January 4, 2020
Good read
A insight into how someone copes with being in prison not only physically, mentally too. Over a long period, years. This the second book I have read about Mr Bronson, who has actually changed his surname. If you think you are stuck in a mental prison of one's mind read this. My next purchase is going to be about the exercises keep fit regime he carries out. To say he is in his mind to late 60's fitter than the majority of people 40 years his junior.
A insight into how someone copes with being in prison not only physically, mentally too. Over a long period, years. This the second book I have read about Mr Bronson, who has actually changed his surname. If you think you are stuck in a mental prison of one's mind read this. My next purchase is going to be about the exercises keep fit regime he carries out. To say he is in his mind to late 60's fitter than the majority of people 40 years his junior.
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July 17, 2009A really good book about the life of a criminal behind bars and prison life in general. If theres anything to know about prison then bronson's the man to tell you. There are some unappeasing parts where a clearly bitter man rambles on but thats what makes charlie charlie :)
November 27, 2013
Gripped me to start reading about Bronsons experiences in asylums and prison but tired a little towards the end reading about his opion of the "system" while I understand where he is coming from it didn't make for very gripping reading and I found the last couple of chapters a struggle.
June 23, 2016
I couldn't finish. This is the kind of writing that is kept pretty much unedited to retain the original flavor, and it reminded me of some of the auto-biographies that I've read where ego is a huge part of the writing. Just too hard to take for me.
December 9, 2013
He dosnt hold back lol
October 21, 2018
Enjoyed this book, I was a little disappointed that it didn't follow on from the first book (Bronson).
August 8, 2019
Great read
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January 24, 2019vbnncvncvbbvcvn
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews