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Taming the Beast: Charles Manson's Life Behind Bars
Edward George understand Charles Manson as few others ever will. Former prison counselor to the messianic killer, George enraged Manson as an agent of the state's criminal justice system, listened to him as a trusted confessor, spoke for him as an erstwhile press agent-and-almost-connected with him as a friend. George saw Manson in a way the public never would, witnessing the method to his madness, the charisma that underlies his sickness, the pathetic abandoned boy within the homicidal man. If you read Helter Skelter and think you know the whole story about Charlie Manson, think again. You don't know it all until you've read Taming the Charles Manson's Life Behind Bars.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 19, 2012
Can a book be important to a genre and still be a so-so book?
This is the tenth book I've read about Charles Manson and the family; I have two more in my to-read pile, and at least one or two more to buy. This book provides a fascinating (for other Manson "experts" like me) look at Charles Manson's behavior behind bars, but Edward George, a seminary student turned prison counselor, who worked with Charlie in two separate facilities, is a problematic storyteller at best here.
Aside from being no Truman Capote/Joe McGinniss/Norman Mailer (insert the name of your favorite true crime author here), George is so conflicted, and so transparent about being conflicted, in his feelings for the subject that his proximity to the main character is wasted. George goes way, way out of his way to call Manson evil, demonic, monstrous, etc., but it falls under the "doth protest too much" banner, as he is obviously (and often admittedly) enthralled with Charlie, and amuses himself by hanging out in Charlie's cell, gives him privileges he probably doesn't deserve, and generally comes across as a guy who is chuckling and shaking his head at that rascal's antics one minute, then furiously reversing and calling him evil the next.
I suppose I can't blame him, since this story has absorbed me since I was a kid, sneaking peeks at the crime scene photos in Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter, with their whited-out bodies. And it's true that in the middle of a LOT of nonsense, Manson does every once in a while hit on a kernel of truth. But I wish a real reporter, a real crime writer, had the impossible access to this story and told it better.
BTW, the title is false: Charles Manson is the same nutball he's always been; he's caged, but not tamed.
This is the tenth book I've read about Charles Manson and the family; I have two more in my to-read pile, and at least one or two more to buy. This book provides a fascinating (for other Manson "experts" like me) look at Charles Manson's behavior behind bars, but Edward George, a seminary student turned prison counselor, who worked with Charlie in two separate facilities, is a problematic storyteller at best here.
Aside from being no Truman Capote/Joe McGinniss/Norman Mailer (insert the name of your favorite true crime author here), George is so conflicted, and so transparent about being conflicted, in his feelings for the subject that his proximity to the main character is wasted. George goes way, way out of his way to call Manson evil, demonic, monstrous, etc., but it falls under the "doth protest too much" banner, as he is obviously (and often admittedly) enthralled with Charlie, and amuses himself by hanging out in Charlie's cell, gives him privileges he probably doesn't deserve, and generally comes across as a guy who is chuckling and shaking his head at that rascal's antics one minute, then furiously reversing and calling him evil the next.
I suppose I can't blame him, since this story has absorbed me since I was a kid, sneaking peeks at the crime scene photos in Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter, with their whited-out bodies. And it's true that in the middle of a LOT of nonsense, Manson does every once in a while hit on a kernel of truth. But I wish a real reporter, a real crime writer, had the impossible access to this story and told it better.
BTW, the title is false: Charles Manson is the same nutball he's always been; he's caged, but not tamed.
April 15, 2020
I have a lot to say about this book.....soon....
May 15, 2013
George gaves the monstrous Manson a humanly face. Reluctant to take a post in the prison where Manson was kept, he develops over the years kind of a good relationship with Family founder. He tries to understand what triggered Manson to live the life he does. That is summarized in the last two pages and is both emotional and convincing. Although not psychological review, George offers valuable evaluation of celebrity murderer, as well as new motive for atrocious murders. And I love the juicy narration language!
August 16, 2012
Yet another boring, poorly written book about Manson, written by someone who considers themselves qualified on the subject by having been peripherally associated with them.
The author seems to have abandoned all logic and reason and simply given himself the goal to pocket as much money as he could based on his limited understanding of the case.
The author seems to have abandoned all logic and reason and simply given himself the goal to pocket as much money as he could based on his limited understanding of the case.
September 12, 2012
The author, a former prison counselor to Manson, seems half enamoured of him, in some perverse way. My experience with psychopaths is, there isn't much to know. They all have similar characteristics that you can count on, as does Manson. A life bird. And so may he rot.
February 28, 2008
this wasnt as cool i hoped
but still insightful
people in prisons really think they change sickos!!
or convert them to born againsim
but still insightful
people in prisons really think they change sickos!!
or convert them to born againsim
October 5, 2020
All the conversations he supposedly had with Manson are easily detectable quotes from other places which have then been mixed up and misquoted. Books, interviews, parole hearings etc. Why make up these conversations? Seems suspish to me.
February 3, 2010
Taming the Beast: Charles Manson's Life Behind Bars is not exactly a cerebral read. In fact, it could arguably be considered a “guilty pleasure” - if it were a pleasure to read, that is.
Author Edward George (billed as a “former prison counselor”) worked as a programs administrator in various correctional facilities throughout the United States (including the infamous San Quentin prison). During his day-to-day rituals, he frequently encountered notorious felon Charles Manson. Actually, George often seeked out Manson, chatting with him for the sole purpose of sating his own curiousity about the man. At some point, George writes that Manson's ethereal charisma began to infect the programs administrator himself, and his home life began to suffer a a result.
George underwent a series of subtle changes at home, at one point lapsing into a Manson-esque violent outburst over a perceived sleight by his teenaged daughter. Other times, George's wife observed changes in his world view, and that he did not seem to enjoy life to the extent to which he once did. Later in years, George was even prepared to blast a shotgun at his own son, coming home late from a date one evening.
George attributes his paranoia and instability to his years spent eye-to-eye with Charles Manson.
The book, however, is not a blow-by-blow account of what life was like for Manson alone. George himself was transferred several times, and for one reason or another found that Charlie was being transferred shortly afterward. During those times when Manson was inaccessible to George, the author regales stories of prison life, about other convicts (including one man who apparently held the record for receiving the most stab wounds in prison), and about some of the apparent abuses within the prison system itself.
Taming the Beast is, in essence, a brief biography of Edward George as filtered through the prison system (specifically, by means of Manson). The book's “narrator” speaks with the personality of George, giving it a personable feel, although the “folksy” feel to it becomes grating to one who may have been expecting some attempt at objectivity within the text.
Early on, George allows close to four pages for the publication of a harangue by Manson. The text is long, rambling, nonsensical... and written, the reader was warned before the book began, either from memory or from notes hastily scribbled after the conversation allegedly took place. For those garbled paragraphs, the reader must either accept that George's recollection of lengthy conversation is all but flawless, or that the passage was at least partially fabricated, included for the sake of illustrating a point.
Edward George did not succeed in “taming the beast,” as he calls Manson (and, in fact, as Manson has called Manson!). But he does depict a few instances in which he did stand up for Manson's rights a a prisoner, which made him somewhat of an outcast amongst his peers, and he does help to eliminate some of the stigma associated with the man. Rather than being completely self-absorbed and thoughtless, George recounts the story of how Manson managed, somehow, to save and protect an egg from the nest of a bird precariously perched outside of his prison cell window:
“Charles Manson held that egg in his hand for weeks, cherishing it, talking to it, willing the baby bird to emerge.
“It never did.”
Author Edward George (billed as a “former prison counselor”) worked as a programs administrator in various correctional facilities throughout the United States (including the infamous San Quentin prison). During his day-to-day rituals, he frequently encountered notorious felon Charles Manson. Actually, George often seeked out Manson, chatting with him for the sole purpose of sating his own curiousity about the man. At some point, George writes that Manson's ethereal charisma began to infect the programs administrator himself, and his home life began to suffer a a result.
George underwent a series of subtle changes at home, at one point lapsing into a Manson-esque violent outburst over a perceived sleight by his teenaged daughter. Other times, George's wife observed changes in his world view, and that he did not seem to enjoy life to the extent to which he once did. Later in years, George was even prepared to blast a shotgun at his own son, coming home late from a date one evening.
George attributes his paranoia and instability to his years spent eye-to-eye with Charles Manson.
The book, however, is not a blow-by-blow account of what life was like for Manson alone. George himself was transferred several times, and for one reason or another found that Charlie was being transferred shortly afterward. During those times when Manson was inaccessible to George, the author regales stories of prison life, about other convicts (including one man who apparently held the record for receiving the most stab wounds in prison), and about some of the apparent abuses within the prison system itself.
Taming the Beast is, in essence, a brief biography of Edward George as filtered through the prison system (specifically, by means of Manson). The book's “narrator” speaks with the personality of George, giving it a personable feel, although the “folksy” feel to it becomes grating to one who may have been expecting some attempt at objectivity within the text.
Early on, George allows close to four pages for the publication of a harangue by Manson. The text is long, rambling, nonsensical... and written, the reader was warned before the book began, either from memory or from notes hastily scribbled after the conversation allegedly took place. For those garbled paragraphs, the reader must either accept that George's recollection of lengthy conversation is all but flawless, or that the passage was at least partially fabricated, included for the sake of illustrating a point.
Edward George did not succeed in “taming the beast,” as he calls Manson (and, in fact, as Manson has called Manson!). But he does depict a few instances in which he did stand up for Manson's rights a a prisoner, which made him somewhat of an outcast amongst his peers, and he does help to eliminate some of the stigma associated with the man. Rather than being completely self-absorbed and thoughtless, George recounts the story of how Manson managed, somehow, to save and protect an egg from the nest of a bird precariously perched outside of his prison cell window:
“Charles Manson held that egg in his hand for weeks, cherishing it, talking to it, willing the baby bird to emerge.
“It never did.”
September 2, 2015
I was 10 years old when Charles Manson and his Family exploded on the American scene. I remember my mom and grandmother being upset, mostly for what was done to the pregnant Sharon Tate. It meant nothing to me; I was a very childish 10.
Lately I have been interested in learning more about Manson--probably because of the recent TV show Aquarius (which I rate 1 star.) I happened to find Taming the Beast by Edward George in a donate box at the library and brought it home. George admits he had a fascination with Manson and often found himself being sucked into Manson's crazy world.
George worked at the prison where Manson was incarcerated. A lot of the book is made up of Manson's rants about the world, about himself as being Jesus and his magical powers. Manson is a liar and a schemer and a sick, sick man who is also crazy like a fox. More than a few times I started to sip the man's Kool-aide, since some of his rants, especially about how we are destroying the planet, jibe with my own opinions. Yeah, Charlie Manson predicted global warming!
Look, if this particular time in American history interests you, it's a very interesting read. But, I will be honest and say I wish the death penalty had not been abolished in California and that Mr. Manson was long gone and rotting below ground.
Lately I have been interested in learning more about Manson--probably because of the recent TV show Aquarius (which I rate 1 star.) I happened to find Taming the Beast by Edward George in a donate box at the library and brought it home. George admits he had a fascination with Manson and often found himself being sucked into Manson's crazy world.
George worked at the prison where Manson was incarcerated. A lot of the book is made up of Manson's rants about the world, about himself as being Jesus and his magical powers. Manson is a liar and a schemer and a sick, sick man who is also crazy like a fox. More than a few times I started to sip the man's Kool-aide, since some of his rants, especially about how we are destroying the planet, jibe with my own opinions. Yeah, Charlie Manson predicted global warming!
Look, if this particular time in American history interests you, it's a very interesting read. But, I will be honest and say I wish the death penalty had not been abolished in California and that Mr. Manson was long gone and rotting below ground.
December 12, 2008
Written by a guy who was Charles Mansons prison counselor for eight years. This is of interest because it gives some insite into Mansons life since he has been in prison. Also included are transcripts of Mansons commentary during his various court and parole hearings over the years. This book is not perfect, the author at various times bends over backwards to paint Manson as being "spookier" than he really is, at one point implying that the reason for a near drowning accident and being attacked by an inmate were the result of a "voodoo doll" curse put on him by Manson! But flaws aside this is a very interesting look at Mansons life in the California prison system and contains the previously mentioned court/parole transcripts so it is a must read if you have an interest in Charles Manson.
August 1, 2009
LOVED this book! Very interesting & informative about prison life and Charles Manson as an individual. Great stories, great writing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews