The Manson Effect

by Debra Barton

Is Charles Manson Crazy Or Just A Good Actor?

Nine people dead. Charles Manson, as despicable of a figure as he has been portrayed, still draws reaction to his murderous mayhem to this day. Much like the proverbial car wreck, we don’t want to see the ugliness inside, but yet we crane our necks to see some blood and guts anyway. Did someone die? Did someone get maimed?

Mental illness, a failed music career, and the belief that a race war was imminent, may have targeted an unfortunate group of people who were hurled toward a head-on collision with the psychotic hippie through a series of casual events.

Read the actual trial transcripts of Linda Kasabian, star witness for the prosecution. She didn’t actually murder anyone, but she was there. Not on just one night, but she went back a second night, and left her little baby girl in the hands of who knows who? Yet, she received total immunity.

According to Manson, he did not kill anyone or order anyone to be killed.

What do you think?

380 pages, Nook

Published May 28, 2016

About the author

Hello, my name is Debra Barton, author and ex-hippie. Actually, I'm just an average girl who has always felt the need to have some sort of creative outlet. I sketch, paint, cook, decorate, sew, crochet, and have tried every manner of craft out there to keep the creative juices flowing.

Now I write books, even though most people believe it is a form of insanity. Too late. I surpassed that milestone years ago. However, I believe I am in good company.

I am one of those DIY gals who has never been afraid of trying something new or difficult. You can't scare me. I've raised two kids.

I currently live in East Texas after spending 30+ years in Houston. However, if you have a cabin in the mountains or a beach house and need a maid, please feel free to contact me. I can write anywhere and could use the inspiration.

Please feel free to reach out to a fellow conspirator.

All the best,
Debra
Email: author@debrabarton.com
Website: www.debrabarton.com

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Believe me, if I started murdering people there’d be none of you left!” – Charles Manson

I challenge you to do a quick search on Amazon using the words “Charles Manson” do you know how many results pop up in books alone? It's utterly astounding! Currently 1,848….yes, 1,848! That is an average of thirty nine books per year that have been written and published about this man since his infamous Helter Skelter rampage. This is a man who nearly fifty years later still continues to terrify and compel public curiosity, why is that? The Manson Effect in many ways helps explain the fascination people have with this diminutive yet scary man.

So, why out of all those search results should you pick this book above all the others to read? Simple; it’s easy to read and it makes you think.

Too many books on the market today that have taken on this now larger than life character have opted for a complicated psychological approach to Manson, they want to analyze and delve inside his twisted brain in an attempt to understand why he and his “family” did what they did. I understand why they want to do this, I really do; but unless you are a medical doctor this makes for some pretty dull reading.

Then of course you have the books where the author chose to take a more personal approach, those books are often quite slanted towards the authors’ own opinion. For example, the most famous book by Bugliosi, Helter Skelter, is written from his perspective as prosecuting attorney during the trials. Don’t get me wrong, it’s understandable that he would interject his opinion, it is his book about his experiences, but it doesn’t leave the reader much room to form an opinion of their own.

This time the author approaches the material by presenting the reader with the facts surrounding these gruesome events in the form of actual testimony; she wants you to think for yourself. She also provides the reader with background not just on Manson himself but his family, the victims, the investigation, the trial, and subsequent parole hearings. The reader is allowed to immerse themselves in actual unedited testimony in order to place themselves mentally in the room while these events unfold and experience the mind set of Manson and his “family” members in a viscerally disturbing manner.

The testimony I read sent me back to my youth; I was a very young child when Manson and his “family” set into motion events that shocked and terrified a nation but I remembered clearly listening to Walter Cronkite on the CBS evening news during dinner as he introduced a segment showing video of the Manson trial and I watched as Manson and the girls were removed from the court room after he had threatened the judge subsequently disrupting the trial. All of this came back to me easily as I read.

Occasionally, but not too often, the author interjects her thoughts about Manson and his “family” and it's fairly obvious what her opinion in general is, but I believe she does this largely in order to encourage discussion. She keeps these opinions to a minimum and seems to do this in such a way that the reader is challenged to think and form their own conclusions.

Often, after a chapter or a lengthy court testimony she poses questions and invites the reader to interact in a conversation on the books’ Facebook page. Is this simply a marketing tactic for the book? I’m not sure, but if it is I like it and feel that those who participate would probably have some very interesting discussions while also having the opportunity to interact with the author herself.

So, now we get down to…did I actually enjoy this book? Honestly? Yes, in a very morbid way I did. I say morbid because while reading the testimony I found myself actually drawn in by the truly intelligent ravings of a madman. Much of Manson’s testimony is hard to follow as he rambles but even through it you can see how his personality is/was magnetic; it’s all too easy to see how some drug-addled youth could be drawn in by this mad con-man posing as a modern guru. You may not completely understand what it is he is trying to say…but there is something about the obviously scary intelligence behind his words that keeps you riveted, even if you’re thinking this man is a raving lunatic the entire time.

Manson has a talent for twisting words and situations that makes the reader/listener actually begin to wonder if what he is saying makes some sort of twisted logic. Rationally, a well-adjusted person knows what he is doing is verbal manipulation, a type of brain-washing if-you-will, but I can absolutely see how someone on an LSD trip would start hearing him and begin thinking what he said was acceptable. He truly does have that personable magnetism that when misused is truly dangerous.

Within Manson's logic he truly believes he has been incarcerated for something that either he did not do (simply because he wasn't personally present during many murders), or that by basic animal law (not human law) he had the right to do. He still believes the law as written had no right to keep him longer than 17-18 years because that was the maximum penalty for someone committing the crimes he believes he was found guilty of. He doesn't accept responsibility for what he caused others to do. In his view his "family" members committed murders out of their own free will, therefore they should take the rap for it, not him; even though each testified that he gave them specific orders to kill. See, twisted logic.

So, would I recommend this book? This is where I feel guilty…actually, I would. Why you ask would I feel guilty about this? Well, it’s because I hate giving killers/terrorists/criminals publicity; naturally that would cause me a bit of conflict since Manson himself has been the recipient of so much attention throughout the years. Still, yes, I would recommend this book. I found it interesting, compelling, extremely well edited and informative, in short…a really good read even with the sense of dread and disgust that I had as a I read.

If you are someone who wants to learn more about these horrible events or simply wants a glimpse into the mind of a charismatic mad-man download this book, participate in the discussions on Facebook, let the author know what you think. Oh, and don’t forget to write a review of your own as well, I can’t wait to see what other readers think of this too.

[Tabitha Ormiston-Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sound and very complete exposition of all the known facts relating to the Manson murders, this is bound to be of interest to history buffs.

Written in a chatty, informal style, the book relates the events as far as they are known, with sections profiling each of the participants - the perpetrators and the victims. Links are provided to recordings of many of the actual proceedings, transcripts and parole hearings. It's a fascinating read and well worth the price for the paperback. I myself received an ebook from the author for review, but I cannot find as at the date of writing that the ebook has yet been published. No doubt it is coming soon.

For more serious students, the enormous bibliography provided is both an excellent resource for further study and a testament to the author's commitment to accuracy and completeness. Highly recommended.

Trigger warning: this writer uses 'lay' intransitively.

[Tracey Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of true crime stories (mostly on TV), so I was interested in receiving this book, in return for an honest review. The whole story is quite scary really - how someone with no cash or real influence can infiltrate such a high level into a quite well-off community is fascinating. The events that unfolded as a result of Manson's effect on people blow my mind. This is a well-researched book with lots of in-depth information for those who like to understand the reasons behind certain events. I definitely recommend you have a read yourself. This was a very nice change from me being lazy and watching these stories on the television.