{"id":99,"date":"2019-08-27T20:33:25","date_gmt":"2019-08-27T20:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/horrorfatale.com\/?p=99"},"modified":"2019-08-28T18:30:53","modified_gmt":"2019-08-28T18:30:53","slug":"book-report-hippie-cult-leader-the-last-words-of-charles-manson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/horrorfatale.com\/index.php\/2019\/08\/27\/book-report-hippie-cult-leader-the-last-words-of-charles-manson\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Report: Hippie Cult Leader – The Last Words of Charles Manson"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hippie Cult Leader – The Last Words of Charles Manson<\/strong><\/h2>\n

by James Buddy Day
\nOptimum Publishing
\nRelease August 8, 2019<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s truly the sign of good writing when the most evil of real life villains becomes almost, and I stress almost sympathetic. Before you stop reading, yes, I am speaking about Charles Manson. True crime tv producer and documentarian James Buddy Day manages to capture a different side of Manson is his book Hippie Cult Leader – The Last Words of Charles Manson<\/em>. It is honestly a rare look at some alternate versions of the fateful events in 1969 Los Angeles. I must admit I only know of Manson and The Family in a very superficial way. The idea of my existence was nowhere in sight in 1969. Also, when the 1976 miniseries Helter Skelter<\/em> debuted again I didn\u2019t exist, but I remember watching it years later in reruns and seeing Charles Manson giving insane jailhouse interviews with Geraldo Riviera. As a kid I remember thinking good thing he\u2019s in jail \u2013 just wow. Manson always presented himself a ranting lunatic, with a swastika craved into his forehead nonetheless. However, I later found out he didn\u2019t actually kill any of the victims. That part has always puzzled me a bit on how Manson was convicted and how he was first sentenced to death; later that turned into a few life sentences.<\/p>\n

Day does an excellent job of trying to put those puzzle pieces together in this book. He gives fascinating accounts from other players in the \u201869 crimes that include investigators, surviving\/former members of The Family and friends of Manson (believe it or not he has friends – still). Some of the alternative accounts are corroborated by Mason himself, although I\u2019m unsure of how reliable he is. About that sympathetic part, Manson seems lonely even in a prison full of people. He seems to be in my opinion looking for a new friend. Day manages to build a somewhat easy and trusting rapport with Manson. Well as trusting as one could get with him that is. I have to also admit for the first time I can see how he built up \u201cfollowers,\u201d Manson seems charismatic, which if you know the backstory makes his conversations with Day even more insane and disarming. I found myself reminding myself – It\u2019s Charles Manson! He also is still full of bravado, that again I can see if you are a broken person Manson could easily con you into believing in him.<\/p>\n

Day also manages to successfully make me doubt the whole Helter Skelter narrative. I do however agree with the incarceration of all parties involved, even indirectly involved as Mason kind of is. But, you have to wonder if the un-fantastical version of events as told in Hippie Cult Leader<\/em> had been presented the first time, would Mason fit into pop culture and history as he does? Hippie Cult Leader<\/em> is a well-researched and a pretty thorough vetted account of Charles Mason and the murders. Day also explores the origins of The Family and Manson himself. If you are curious and want to know more about a different version of Charles Manson, this is a book for you.<\/p>\n

James Buddy Day is an award winning true crime producer, showrunner, writer and director for numerous television and feature documentaries. Buddy\u2019s work has been showcased in numerous film festivals, and featured in national publications such as The Today Show, Rolling Stone, TMZ, The Daily Mail, Billboard, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Buddy\u2019s widely recognized works include, \u201cThe Disappearance of Susan Cox Powell\u201d (Oxygen\/Texas Crew Productions), \u201cCharles Manson: The Final Words\u201d (REELZ\/Pyramid Productions), \u201cCharles Manson: The Funeral (DRG\/MyEntertainment), \u201cThe Slender Man Stabbing: The Untold Story\u201d (Red Arrow\/Dorsey Pictures), \u201cCasey Anthony: Her Friends Speak\u201d (REELZ\/Kinetic Content\/Pyramid Pro), \u201cSex, Lies & Murder\u201d (Pyramid Productions).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hippie Cult Leader – The Last Words of Charles Manson<\/em> was released on August 8, 2019 and is available where books are sold.<\/p>\n