Ed Gein: Psycho

by Paul Anthony Woods

America may have had its fill of psychos for the last forty years, but no serial killer has inspired so many books and films ( Pyscho , The Silence of the Lambs , The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ) as Wisconsin's cannibalistic handyman murderer, Ed Gein. None of them has been used as the ultimate ogre in countless children's stories and off-color jokes, and none of them has been found guilty of as many unspeakable atrocities as Ed Gein.

Ed Gein--Psycho! is his story. This is his legend.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Biography, Crime, Horror, Psychology, Mental Illness

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 1995

Reviews

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Memory remained, but memory was a dream. How do you explain a life that was lived in twilight to people who only knew the day and took shelter from the night?"

If Ed Gein is not a complicated murderer, I'm not sure who is.. I went into this only knowing what was kinda well know about his crimes; supposed cannibalism, collection of body parts, and furniture made from his victims. What he actually accumulated from these poor women was worse, and the fact I keep coming back to is those detectives how awful of a crime scene to sift through, the smell alone would have been scarring enough without the confounding chaos that was hidden amongst all the refuse in this poorly lit hell house.

As far as true crime goes this is a very informative, well written book. I didnt really care for the back half, which covers more of Ed's pop culture influences, but still worth reading.

[Ms BooksAholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read about Ed Gein. I have read a few books regarding Ed and this one I felt like I learned a lot more about him. I enjoyed the photos throughout the book. It's unbelievable what another human will do to another. Its a short book but you get lots of information from it. I would recommend it.

[Crckt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true American legend! Most folks are familiar with the infamous deeds of Mr. Gein through their fictionalization in the movie psycho. This dude was crazy as a shit-house rat. Grave robbing, dismemberment, murder, cannibalism, wearing of the deceased skin. Talk about well-rounded psychosis! My personal favorite is that Eddie used to give his neighbors gifts of "venison" that I like to believe they gleefully ate without the slightest idea that they were dining on the local barmaid.

[Albert Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the Texas Chainsaw Massacre was based on Ed Gein, he was nothing like that!!! He was more like Norman from Psycho who was also inspired by him! He became a cult classic, serial killer, nihilist!!! I really appreciated this read for teaching me about the real person and the psychology of his mind!! His upbringing!!! He wasn’t evil, though the things he did were!

“There are many good men, but few great men. Ed was a great man, but not a good man.”

[Doris Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth is stranger than fiction! Ed Gein was a true sicko, creepy, pervert. There are not enough words to describe his depravity. Think of the worst and he probably did it. He lived in the country with his father, mother and brother. Ed was very attached to his fanatically religious mother. His father died early, and after some years, his mother died. Ed seems to have killed his brother shortly after the mother's death. Ed bashed in his brother's head during a storm, and the investigation assumed that the brother had been killed by a falling tree.

Ed lived alone, very isolated, on the family acreage for many long years. He occasionally did an odd job for a neighbor. He was rarely seen and was considered to be a shy, quiet, harmless, oddball loner. He missed his mother very much. He took a book from the library telling about South Pacific rites to bring the dead back to life. Ed's imagination improved on the rites and took him down shocking unbelievable paths of utter depravity.

Ed wanted body parts for his rituals. He dug up graves of older women and skinned them and made leggings, belts, masks, breast vests and more from their body parts. He dressed in this "clothing" made from the dead women's skins and danced in the moonlight to revive his dead mother back to life. After skinning, he used the bodies of the elderly women dug from their graves as food. He shared his "food" and fed their grave-flesh as "venison" to unknowing neighbors.

My review is just too tame compared to the real Ed Gein. Movies are still being made on separate parts of his life, there was too much to put it all into one place. "Psycho" and "Silence of the Lambs" are examples.

When he was finally found out and arrested after many years, police found a fresh murdered woman's body hanging in his shed dressed out like a deer. Ed also obtained bodies by murder. Police also found a collection of preserved human parts and masks in his house. Ed was able to skin the face and hair together off the skulls for his masks. Police found a shoebox full of vaginas. They found belts made of nipples. There was a soup of human flesh on his stove.

Mr. Gein was a most depraved human. He lived a long life and died an elderly man in prison of a natural death. He was a model prisoner, known for his good behaviour and obedience. At the end of his long life he was visited by a young psychologist who asked him "Why?" and after some meditation, he had only one word for his complete answer: "Geography".

[Jessica White · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review and more can be found at A Reader's Diary!

I must say, I absolutely hated this book. While it was informative, it was also incredibly difficult to read; imagine a narrative research paper that is 160 pages long. Ed Gein was the inspiration for much of our horror pop culture, as well as many cult classics. He's best known for his skin suit, that he made from different women. He was obsessed with women, not because he want them but because he wanted to become them. However, many don't know that this started as a grave robbing hobby after his beloved mother passed away. Gein took to the freshly dug graves to get off and begin his collection of different lady pieces. His crimes were gruesome, yet he was only convicted for two murders, the rest were already dead when he got to them. Ed Gein was absolutely the killer next door, but no one ever suspected him. He was just a little slower, weirder than everyone else. But a murderer?
The second half of this book is entitled "Ed's Children" to show all of the different classics that have been inspired by or include Geinian ways:
Psycho-Robert Bloch
Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Silence of the Lambs
Bates Motel
Countless comic books
Ed Gein Fan Club
As the author mentions, Ed Gein has truly inspired countless works in pop culture and has become folklore. It is hard to decipher what is fact and what is fiction. The Geinian way has weaseled it's way in to so many different aspects of our modern day horror pop culture and has paved the way for excellent slasher films.

[spookybookz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Ed gein, well it all started with Netflix monsters and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t even know about the Ed Gein story prior to watching the show, but boy I know a lot now lol.
As soon as I’d finished the series I was straight on Google, wiki, YouTube etc researching the real case. I was fascinated by this person and his way of thinking. Obviously he’s a dangerous man but I can’t help but feel sorry for him, being born into a toxic religious environment with an abusive father, wanting to constantly please his mum, trapped in a man’s body when he ached to be female, confusing the need of being female with the need to become his mother! He was very much messed up person, but I truly believe with the right help and medication Ed geins life could have been very different along with all the poor victims he did monstrous things too!

Now let’s talk about the book Physco by Paul Anthony Woods, this book was such an informative well researched read with lots of new information and real conversations Ed had with police. It covers his upbringing, his family, his relationships, his characteristics , how his crimes began, what influenced those doings, how he was caught and the aftermath of his crime becoming public.

It was interesting to hear about how all the well known horror films which I suppose you could say where inspired by Ed Gein, especially Texas chainsaw massacre as it has many similarities however the producers denied having based the film on the crime and said they hadn’t even heard of him prior to making the film!

It was eerily interesting to hear how Ed was heavily influenced by Ilse Koch I think he idolised her as much as his mum! and the ideas of his monstrous acts came from her. Go look her up.

And when his crimes became public and word spread of his monstrous doings , it was fascinating to hear how kids of the 50/60s made rhymes and jokes about him, and parents teased them “behave or Ed’s gunna come for ya!”
Horror comics featured him (weird trips) a band was named after him! Other musicians wrote songs about him, one even used a picture of him on an album cover!

There’s even an Ed gein fan club! (Don’t worry I’ve not joined….yet)

Anyways I won’t share more but seriously If the whole Ed Gein crime fascinates you I highly recommend reading this book! 5 stars

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read on Ed Gein. This doesn’t go into an in depth conversation about his crimes. The last part of the book does discuss his role in pop culture.

It was still an interesting read that’s been sitting on my shelves for a while. I finally picked it up in anticipation of the new Monster Netflix series based on his life.

[Savannah Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first half was so good and exciting. i audibly gasped so many times, this man is CRAZYYYYY. i even found myself laughing at some of the things he did and said bc it is just insane! however the second half was so boring. it just focused on movies and things that were inspired by ed gein. very famous movies inspired by him with descriptions and a play by play of the whole movie were far too long, and honestly if i wanted to know what happens in the movies i’d just watch them. also can’t understand why there are random article clips in the middle of paragraphs that really just made my brain hurt

[Bitchin' Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings for this book. A part of me loves the weaving of this grotesque tale and the truth and insight into Gein's actions and mind. Another part of me is disappointed in how this reads more as a recounting of what happened versus more inclusion of forensic science and the psychology behind the mental ill becoming sickening murderers.

I do suggest this for those who want to be creeped out and question humanity--is that person a psycho behind those innocent eyes? I'll let you decide what you think after reading this book. ;)

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A review of the infamous serial killer's life, his murderous habits, and some insights into his behaviors, in the first half of the book. The second half of the book is devoted to the subculture that seems to have evolved around this man, including movies based, in part on his life, as well as several musical references and fan clubs. An interesting, but short read. I would have preferred more about the man himself than the cultural references, but that's just me. :)

[Charlie Benjamin Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick little read on the story of Ed Gein and his looming prescience over media and society. I finished this book in three short sittings not only because it is written and edited so smoothly, easy to read but because it was very intriguing while also being informative and interesting.

I do have a few problems with the book however. I would cringe every time the writer would refer to Gein as “our little guy” or “a bashful little guy”. I got the creeps every time because he wasn’t a good person or even a decent human being even if his evil nature was definitely nurture instead of nature…
Also I really appreciate the photograph clippings throughout the book that give a better understanding of what we’re reading for more context, but they pop up so often that it interrupts the chapter a few times and cut off a sentence way too often.

That being said, I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and interesting!

[N.J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ed Gein is one of my most favorite murderers and I was excited to read more about his life until I came across this book. There were too many points of view and it became very complicated to follow especially when it jumps to the narrator straight into Ed's point of view every other paragraph. Feels like something that was written in a rush. Just to get something out there in a hurry...... could've been way better

[Sasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 / 5 star rating

[Tawshawohlrabe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book Review 4
Tawsha Wohlrabe
10/23/14
Non-Fiction
“Ed Gein Psycho”

By: Paul Anthony Woods
I did not like the book “Ed Gein Psycho” by Paul Anthony Woods, because I had found the information quite disturbing. Even though some of the information was disturbing, it was interesting to learn the history behind what had happened. When I first started reading this book I had nightmares, and these days I am the one who barely gets scared of anything.
Ed`s mother, Augusta, favored Ed and had put all of her eagerness to please, her suffering, her pain, and her misery into Edward. Edward`s father, George, would beat him and he would ask him “When are you going to learn you are a man, not a dickless little girl.” Edward later on believed that he should have been born a girl. Edward believed this because he was afraid of girls due to the fact that the woman that he could only ever think about was his mother, and how much he loved her. After Ed`s father had died from pneumonia, his brother had died from a forest fire, and his mother had died from a stroke, he had started to have more troubled thoughts.
Ed Gein was born on August 27, 1906. He was born 108 years ago. Ed Gein was baptized with the name Edward Theodore. He was born under the sign of the virgin and he told a reporter “That a virgin he will remain until the day he dies.” Ed Gein had blamed his entire troubled mind on his mother, because of how much he hated his mother for leaving him alone on this earth. In all reality, he still loved his mother, but he was just angry at her due to her leaving him.

The story of “Ed Gein Psycho” took place on a farm in Plainfield six miles outside of town in the 1950`s.

I would only recommend this book to juniors and up, because the book talks about many disturbing and horrifying topics. Both teenagers and adults can read this, but they might become very scared if they do.

[Babs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well really this is just a simple chatty book written by someone who evidently had more than a healthy passing interest in the serial killer Ed Gein. However, I also have more than a healthy passing interest in the serial killer Ed Gein so I found it a perfectly pleasant little read.

However, Paul Anthony Woods is yet another writer who has trampled slack-jawed like a great retarded baboon over our loyal and useful friend the hyphen. As such, not only did I become an irritated reader but this is also a fairly reliable pointer that a writer who cannot be bothered to employ Mr Hyphen in his rightful situations is also likely to be slap-dash and of only moderate intelligence in the rest of his writing. And he was. Therefore I would say that this book was really “Ed Gein For Dummies”, and so on a two-hour train ride and not wanting anyone to sit in the spare seat next to me this made for perfect reading.

For any other aficionados of this genre based on distanced and purely academic interest in serial killers, I would suggest the website crimelibrary.com. This book does not really compare well with it, but for a potted history with cool little photos it is perfectly reasonable. From this book I learned several things:

1) Ed’s surname is in fact pronounced ‘Geen’ (NB. important if you don’t want to be laughed at derisively at those biannual Serial Killer Appreciation Society drinks parties)

2) Ed Gein was actually a really nice man by all accounts (although I whole-heartedly acknowledge that his victims are not in a position to comment on this)

3) Ed once made a belt entirely out of women’s nipples.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating. This reads like 2 short novellas in that the styles are so different but by the same author (except for the chapter by Lux Interior). The first half is the history of Ed Gein starting out with who his father was then who his father married and the nightmare that enveloped the Gein family from that point on. It's sad but I don't think the two Gein sons - Henry and Ed really had a chance. The history is told in an easy going manner which makes it a quick read. There are incidents regarding neighbors where whole conversations happen but not sure how many of these are actual true conversations or simply "filling in the blanks" of what a typical conversation would have been like. (I'm guessing the latter.) Even the descriptions of the horrors are listed but are horrific by what they are (the face masks, the drum made of human skin, etc) but not because the author goes out of his way to embellish.
The second half reads more like a scholarly text where the "legend" of Ed Gein flows into/influences books, movies and pop culture. He breaks down some movies and books most notably "Psycho" (book and movie) and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (movie). It reads a little dryer than the first half but he makes great points and gives plenty of examples. Personally, I thought it was a good balance.
And the pictures.... Oh my goodness!
So overall, a fascinating book at around 170 pages.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in the macabre side of life, this is the book for you. Ed Gein is the american psycho that inspired many horror movie stars, including Norman Bates from Bates Motel, Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs, and Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. By the characters that he inspired, you can tell what types of gruesome crimes he committed. The novel delves deep into a psychoanalysis of Mr. Gein, pointing fingers at his childhood environment, mental disabilities, but most importantly his mother for his ghastly adult life. I thought the most interesting aspect of the book was learning the negative effects that Eddie carried around his whole life caused by a beyond strict mother and abusive father. The horrible acts Ed Gein Performed never ceased to make me cringe, and each one was more unspeakable than the next.
I highly suggest this book, but only if you're into horror movies/ books. At times the author over detailed things making them hard to understand, or not even saying the specific thing and implying it into your mind that makes you sit there puzzled and angry for a few seconds before going on. This is why I didn't give it 5 stars. However the concept is mind blowing, and Ed Gein is interesting no matter who writes about him. Go read Ed Gein: Psycho!

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is messed up and not in a “well duh it’s about a serial killer” no that’s not my point.
1. It almost seems the author sympathizes for this guy who is literally a serial killer!!! And I suppose you can argue that it’s to prove a point on ppl who do actually sympathize with Gein, yet it dosnt quite come off like that until he talks about movies and books inspired/ based on the killer. To me I feel as if this book which is documentary and not fiction it still does come off in a sympathetic tone which dosnt sit right with me.
2. The picture of Beatrice Worden’s mutilated body was not a necessary inclusion. Does it show how horrific Gein was yes but where is the remorse and recognition towards the victims family. It’s disgusting to put something like that out of no where, not only is it disrespectful to the victims but also their family even if it happened decades ago.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It worked for me more as a 'what was' instead of a true crime book. Dialogue was sort of thrown in to make it seem more plausible. However, while reading about Ed Gein you can kind of see 'why, how, and he done it for these reasons.' The whole background of the story which told of the crimes he committed was well handled. Kind of scary. Makes you think with the pictures involved. Isolationism was at it's worst. The only thing that sets it apart is the many things that came later. Throwing in how movies and music plays a part in it as well as comic books. That drug it to a crawl. I've seen the movies, heard of the characters, it just wasn't played at all. I'm more interested in the story, not anything that came later. All in all. Well handled.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ed Gein machine was one fucked up individual. I must say though, these new serial killers will never be as creative as the old school ones. Come on, he made all sorts of designer wear out of human skin and body parts and wore it to pranch around in. Evil sick bastard.

This book was very informative until the last few chapters. It went into boring detail of what tv shows and movies were based off of his killings. Then preceded to describe scenes from the movie.
What really saved the book was the chapter written by Lux from The Cramps.
Would definitely recommend for anyone interested on learning new details about Gein.

[Dreadlocksmile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Woods delves deeply into the dark world of everyones favourite sicko, Ed Gein. This book is a sort of split into two, with the first half depicting the life of our anti-hero before and after he was caught. The research into his life is outstanding, bringing forth a chilling atmosphere to the reader. The second half of the book, outlines the various off shoots from the revelation of Ed's crimes. The chapters visit films such as Silence of the Lambs, Deranged, Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and of course Ed Gein (the 2001 movie). A highly recommended read for any fan of true crime.

[Jamie]

This was the most disappointing book I've come across so far. It actually made me mad just reading it. The author gave hardly any real information. Most of it was him making fun of Ed Gein, and then the last half of the book was stories that Ed influenced. If you want to learn anything of Ed Gein do not read this book.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather fantastical account of a fascinating killer's life. A lot of the content is surely pure speculation. However it does fairly eliminate some of the crazier myths about old Ed.
The conversational tone made this an easy read. The writer seems to be a massive fan of our psycho.
Maybe need to read a more scientific examination of the case as a follow up.

[Audrey Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well written. I feel like they did a good job with having us see what it was like in the life of Ed Gein what may have had some responsibility in what he became. We get a good look into Ed’s world and his madness. I enjoyed being able to learn more about this man and see how his life related to all the movies made about him.

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only made it through the first chapter, I thought the writing was fairly poor and it distracted me from the content. Plus, I find it hard to believe that the author had transcripts of dialog between the Gein family members. Is this a biography or historical fiction?

[Robin Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was an absolute joke. The book meanders through different pronouns and pet names that the author had for Gein. It isn't endearing. The only positive aspect of this review is the amount of detail given to Gein's demeanor and also the crime scene.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

What an AWFUL book. The cornpone writing style is just dumbfounding. It's chockfull of (bad) imagined dialogue, there are no citations given for anything, and Gein's victims are given zero respect. I've read a lot of true crime books and this is a slap in the face to the entire genre.

[Nicholas E. Roberson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to really like or Love a tale about this guy but walked away with more information in my brain than prior to reading. I even got a little spooked out while reading it. If your interested in the subject matter than pick it. It's a romp that's for sure

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the guy who inspired the story of Norman Bates (among others). Really, really, REALLY creepy.