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1.52k reviews for:
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
Curt Gentry, Vincent Bugliosi
4.05 AVERAGE
1.52k reviews for:
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
Curt Gentry, Vincent Bugliosi
4.05 AVERAGE
One of my favorite books I have read!! There was so much detail and elaboration about the before, during and after the Tate-LaBianca murders. Vincent Bugliosi does a tremendous job at writing unbiased and stating facts rather than opinion.
Credit to author Vincent Bugliosi for condensing all of the data he collected into 670 pages. (The anniversary edition has a 33-page Afterword added by Mr. Bugliosi in 1994.) I was intimidated by the size of the book because I am a slow reader. My interest in true crime took over & I took the plunge. To say I am glad I did may reflect poorly on me given the horrific acts committed by Manson & his "Family".
I did not know much about Manson or the extent of his crimes. I had seen a special on Sharon Tate & that was about it. The personalization of the victims by Bugliosi was well done. The cold blooded actions by the Manson followers was incomprehensible. I sleep better knowing Manson & his "Family" are behind bars.
I did not know much about Manson or the extent of his crimes. I had seen a special on Sharon Tate & that was about it. The personalization of the victims by Bugliosi was well done. The cold blooded actions by the Manson followers was incomprehensible. I sleep better knowing Manson & his "Family" are behind bars.
one of the best written nonfiction books I've read. Couldn't put it down. if I were a lawyer I'd want to be Vincent Bugliosi.
The author/lawyer's bragging slipped in is a bit distracting.
dark
informative
fast-paced
Very interesting but very dense and often long and repetitive. This is not an easy read to just pick up and finish in a short amount of time. Bugliosi pays incredible attention to detail and making sure he tells the full story from start to end. I would not be able to imagine fully comprehending this without all the details. They were necessary but definitely not an easy book to plow through.
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
I don't typically enjoy true crime -- it's hard for me to derive much pleasure out of real-life horrors -- but I approached this book as both a study of a disturbing cult, and a study of an ugly chapter in recent American history. Something about that feels appropriate in 2022.
It's hard to read this, but also impossible to put down. Other than Estação Carandiru, I've never read a book that made me so sad, yet held me so tightly in its grasp.
I'm glad I read it, and I'm glad it's finally over.
It's hard to read this, but also impossible to put down. Other than Estação Carandiru, I've never read a book that made me so sad, yet held me so tightly in its grasp.
I'm glad I read it, and I'm glad it's finally over.
4.5
This is probably one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. I am convinced that Bugliosi is an absolute genius. The story is told with respect for the victims and does not glorify the killers. The telling is both personal and impartial to any bias other than that of the search for justice and truth.
Going into this book I wondered if it would be worth it due to the denseness of the narrative and the immense amount of specific detail (albeit purposeful). The narrative scared me, shocked me, and had all the dramatic elements that make an entertaining read. The most terrifying aspect of the book is that its all true. Photos and overly detailed descriptions serve to hammer home the fact that this is reality. That these things happened, could happen again, and continue to reverberate.
I will concede that I might have never finished this or would have skimmed certain sections had it not been for the audiobook, which I highly reccommend (though be warned, it is 26 hours long).
Consider me scarred, I have not slept easy since I started reading this.
This is probably one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. I am convinced that Bugliosi is an absolute genius. The story is told with respect for the victims and does not glorify the killers. The telling is both personal and impartial to any bias other than that of the search for justice and truth.
Going into this book I wondered if it would be worth it due to the denseness of the narrative and the immense amount of specific detail (albeit purposeful). The narrative scared me, shocked me, and had all the dramatic elements that make an entertaining read. The most terrifying aspect of the book is that its all true. Photos and overly detailed descriptions serve to hammer home the fact that this is reality. That these things happened, could happen again, and continue to reverberate.
I will concede that I might have never finished this or would have skimmed certain sections had it not been for the audiobook, which I highly reccommend (though be warned, it is 26 hours long).
Consider me scarred, I have not slept easy since I started reading this.