Wilcox Abernathy > Recent Status Updates

Not to suggest that's the only weird anachronism or misstatement. I approached this book first as the most reputable 'underground' tome, and I would suggest others with interest in this account view it the same way.
Just from knowledge I'd gleaned about the subject from Karina Longworth's Manson podcast series, I've spotted several factual inaccuracies (most likely due to publication date.)
Reading Bugliosi next.

I tracked down an early edition that'd include later-censored bits about Scientology and the Process Church. I've now read thousands of words about the Process Church and Manson's links to them, up to and including the summer of 1969. But how am I to believe that Manson, interacting with London processors in mid '69, never spoke the phrase 'helter skelter' and learned it was a fucking slide?