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Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties Paperback – June 23, 2020
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Over two grim nights in Los Angeles, the young followers of Charles Manson murdered seven people, including the actress Sharon Tate, then eight months pregnant. With no mercy and seemingly no motive, the Manson Family followed their leader's every order -- their crimes lit a flame of paranoia across the nation, spelling the end of the sixties. Manson became one of history's most infamous criminals, his name forever attached to an era when charlatans mixed with prodigies, free love was as possible as brainwashing, and utopia -- or dystopia -- was just an acid trip away.
Twenty years ago, when journalist Tom O'Neill was reporting a magazine piece about the murders, he worried there was nothing new to say. Then he unearthed shocking evidence of a cover-up behind the "official" story, including police carelessness, legal misconduct, and potential surveillance by intelligence agents. When a tense interview with Vincent Bugliosi -- prosecutor of the Manson Family and author of Helter Skelter -- turned a friendly source into a nemesis, O'Neill knew he was onto something. But every discovery brought more questions:
- Who were Manson's real friends in Hollywood, and how far would they go to hide their ties?
- Why didn't law enforcement, including Manson's own parole officer, act on their many chances to stop him?
- And how did Manson -- an illiterate ex-con -- turn a group of peaceful hippies into remorseless killers?
O'Neill's quest for the truth led him from reclusive celebrities to seasoned spies, from San Francisco's summer of love to the shadowy sites of the CIA's mind-control experiments, on a trail rife with shady cover-ups and suspicious coincidences. The product of two decades of reporting, hundreds of new interviews, and dozens of never-before-seen documents from the LAPD, the FBI, and the CIA, Chaos mounts an argument that could be, according to Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Steven Kay, strong enough to overturn the verdicts on the Manson murders. This is a book that overturns our understanding of a pivotal time in American history.
- Print length528 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateJune 23, 2020
- Dimensions5.5 x 1.38 x 8.25 inches
- ISBN-100316477540
- ISBN-13978-0316477543
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Chaos is less a definitive account of the murders than a kaleidoscope swirl of weird discoveries and mind-bending hypotheticals that reads like Raymond Chandler after a tab of windowpane."―The New York Times
"What if everything we thought we knew about the Manson murders was wrong? O'Neill spent 20 years wrestling with that question, and Chaos is his final answer. Timed to the 50th anniversary of the Manson murders, it's a sweeping indictment of the Los Angeles justice system, with cover-ups reaching all the way up to the FBI and CIA."―Entertainment Weekly
"O'Neill's discoveries are stunning, especially when he's discussing the inexplicable leniency shown by law enforcement officials and by Manson's parole officer."―The Washington Post
"If Helter Skelter whets your whistle, then O'Neill's blistering account of the conspiracy to cover up the flaws in the Manson prosecution is definitely your cup of tea."―Nerdist
"A page-turner stacked with gobsmacking facts."―The Ringer
"O'Neill's skillful accumulation of facts, untainted by bluffery, is a victory for honest discourse ... The discoveries that O'Neill has shared with the world-about lies, suppressions, and conflicts of interest-should scare the hell out of us."―Sean Howe, Bookforum
"Forget Tarantino's film, journalist O'Neill has been working on this book for 20 years and has found all kind of interesting things, including unreleased documents and new interviews that show legal misconduct... Conspiracy or not, this is what you call beach reading."―Style Weekly (Richmond)
"Whatever you think you know about the Manson murders is wrong. Just flat out wrong. Tom O'Neill's twenty years of meticulous research has unearthed revelations about the murders, the murderers, the prosecutors who tried them and a rogues gallery of cops, drug dealers, bent doctors, famous celebrities, grotesque government research, secret agents and shadowy figures in a conspiracy/cover up so sweeping and bizarre, you'll be as astounded as you are terrified. If your friends call you paranoid, maybe they're just ignorant."―Joe Ide, author of IQ and Wrecked
"Gripping masterful stuff. A dazzling and compellingly obsessed journalistic detective story that invites you down the rabbit-hole to a sex, drugs, and celebrity-serial-killer America. O'Neill's sunk decades into uncovering something far freakier than Helter Skelter ever admitted. Buckle up kids, this is true crime at its truest and most compelling."―Charles Graeber, Executive Producer of The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann and New York Times bestselling author of The Good Nurse
"Fans of conspiracy theories will find this a source of endless fascination."―Kirkus
"Top-notch investigative work ... An excellent work of investigative journalism proving the 'true story' is not always the truth."―Library Journal
"Riveting ... True crime fans will be enthralled."―Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Back Bay Books (June 23, 2020)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 528 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0316477540
- ISBN-13 : 978-0316477543
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.38 x 8.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Political Intelligence
- #2 in Serial Killers True Accounts
- #3 in U.S. State & Local History
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Tom O’Neill is an award-winning investigative journalist and entertainment reporter whose work has appeared in national publications such as Us, Premiere, New York, The Village Voice and Details. His book, Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties was published by Little, Brown in the summer of 2019 (paperback in the summer of 2020).
CHAOS is available in the United Kingdom (paperback title: Chaos: The Truth Behind the Manson Murders) and has been translated into Spanish, Polish and will soon be available in Russian.
To see original documents, video clips of archival material and to listen to selected audio excerpts of author’s interviews with subjects from the book, please go to author's website or social media pages:
Website: tom-oneill.org
Instagram: chaoscharlesmanson
Facebook: ChaosTheBook
Twitter: chaosmansonbook
Email: trmo@aol.com
Dan Piepenbring (email: piepenbring@protonmail.com) is a writer and editor in New York. He collaborated with Prince on the musician’s memoir, "The Beautiful Ones" (Spiegel & Grau, October 2019). A #1 New York Times best-seller, the book was named one of the best of 2019 by The Washington Post and The Guardian. An excerpt of Piepenbring’s introduction appeared in The New Yorker.
With Tom O’Neill, he cowrote "CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties" (Little, Brown; June 2019). An excerpt appeared on The Intercept.
From 2014 to 2017, Piepenbring edited The Paris Review Daily. He is an advisory editor at the magazine. He’s also worked as a staff writer at BonAppetit.com, an assistant editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux, a creative executive at Scott Rudin Productions, and a researcher at the Institute for the Future of the Book.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book fascinating and enlightening. They appreciate the thorough research and documentation. The insights and details are described as intriguing and shocking. However, some readers feel the narrative lacks a conclusion and becomes confusing towards the end. There are mixed opinions on the writing quality, with some finding it well-written and easy to read, while others consider it convoluted.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and enlightening. They say it makes them think about what's going on in the world and is highly recommended. The narrative grips readers with its intriguing content and thought-provoking questions.
"...Very enlightening about what is going on in our world and it explains a lot. I came on here to get another paper copy to give to someone else...." Read more
"...He is amazing and so thorough. Everything he has uncovered is mind-blowing and really makes you question the motives of our government, as well as..." Read more
"...Extremely interesting and totally breaks apart everything people know about Manson...." Read more
"A fascinating read about a tragic event occurring at a time when our nation was in turmoil over the war in Vietnam...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's thorough research, writing, and documentation. They find the information interesting and gripping, with source citations and documents of omitted facts. The book provides an excellent read uncovering the depth of MKultra and government treachery.
"Tom O’Neil should receive a Pulitzer for this incredibly well-documented book. I read Helter Skelter in the mid 80’s...." Read more
"...Very enlightening about what is going on in our world and it explains a lot. I came on here to get another paper copy to give to someone else...." Read more
"...Tom O'Neill puts current journalists to shame. He is amazing and so thorough...." Read more
"...An excellent read uncovering the depth of MKultra & govt treachery/lies/refusal to release documents etc, you know, the usual govt BS." Read more
Customers find the book's insights intriguing and shocking. They appreciate the well-researched details about events and people during a disturbing time. The facts are complicated by history, culture, and the CIA. The chronological account provides an intense and eye-opening look at the behind-the-scenes. Readers also mention that the book offers provocative theories regarding the Manson murders.
"...The revelations in this book are WILD and will send you down approximately 354 rabbit holes (that sometimes intersect)!..." Read more
"...Don't get me wrong, it's engaging and goes pretty well for about 1/2 of the book, but then starts falling apart, fracturing and then ultimately ends..." Read more
"...This book really unveils some crazy truths that we never knew ( or might have only imagined)! The author is amazing...." Read more
"...There is some interesting history about the CIA in the later chapters as well, which IS all verified. Overall great read...." Read more
Customers find the book engaging from start to finish. They describe it as a gripping read with an intriguing storyline.
"Tom O’Neill is a national treasure. The most riveting 442 pages of history I’ve ever read...." Read more
"...This was a very well written book and a page turner driven by the author's vast research and seemingly unquenchable drive to revisit all the..." Read more
"...been an avid reader since childhood and this book is a rare and legitimate page-turner...." Read more
"...Finished it Monday. Got nothing else done. A page-turner of the highest order...." Read more
Customers have different views on the writing quality. Some find it well-written and easy to read, with thorough research and documentation. Others mention that the narrative gets convoluted and lacks clear explanations.
"...I will NOT claim that this book is easy to read, for more than one reason...." Read more
"...The connections are also overwhelming, which made it hard to read and follow at points." Read more
"DETAILED and FACTS - straight forward book every high school student AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER!! should read...." Read more
"perfect condition and ready to be read, thanks" Read more
Customers have different views on the book's difficulty to put down. Some find it impossible to put down, while others say it becomes surprisingly difficult to put down after 44%. The beginning is dense and hard to follow, but once you get into it, the story becomes more engaging.
"...specifically through the trial bits because some of it was extremely tedious, and there are an incredible amount of names to keep straight...I..." Read more
"I like the book. Couldn’t put it down" Read more
"So hard to put down…but then I have to put it down to think about what I just read! Remarkable!" Read more
"...At 44%, this book becomes surprisingly difficult to put down, because the author continues stepping through each detail and layer without editorial..." Read more
Customers have different views on the book's corruption coverage. Some find it insightful and a thorough investigation into layers of deception. Others describe the corruption as insane and disgusting.
"This is a book that exposes corruption at the highest level in our Government. The CIA is not your friend...." Read more
"I couldn’t out it down. Eye opening. So much corruption and so many cover ups." Read more
"Fascinating book and a thorough investigation into layers of deception. Keep a sheet handy and jot down names with a brief description...." Read more
"...what facts were hidden, what lies were told and the degree of corruption on a small scale." Read more
Customers find the narrative unclear and lacking cohesion. They feel the story ends abruptly, leaving them unsatisfied. The plot becomes tedious and confusing at times, leading to a lack of narrative cohesion.
"...Sad and horrific story." Read more
"...research and new factoids, but ultimately it totally lacks narrative cohesion and leaves you slightly annoyed with the author for devoting 20 years..." Read more
"...By the end, with no actual finale, resolution, or well-defined conclusion, you really won't care what happens to the author, or his book, since you..." Read more
"Well written. Eminently readable. Disappointing ending." Read more
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This should be required reading!
Top reviews from the United States
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As I said, the book doesn't exactly have an ending...so you don't know....but you KNOW.
Granted, before reading this book, I only knew the very basics of the Manson Family murders since it was before my time. I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice, and I'm fascinated with true crime, but this isn't one that I ever knew a ton of details about. I never read Helter Skelter (I do believe I still have my mom's old copy), and maybe that's a good thing now? I don't know that I could read it at this point and not be thoroughly confused! Bugliosi was quite the character, to say the least.
Not that I don't think outside the box, but I've never been very susceptible to conspiracy theories. But Tom O'Neill is one hell of an investigative journalist, and he'll get the gears turning. The revelations in this book are WILD and will send you down approximately 354 rabbit holes (that sometimes intersect)! I was so hopeful to get the end of the book and see that the murders are wrapped up in a neat bow...you won't get that gift, lol.
I will NOT claim that this book is easy to read, for more than one reason. I struggled specifically through the trial bits because some of it was extremely tedious, and there are an incredible amount of names to keep straight...I needed Tom's whiteboard! But things got a lot more interesting soon after that, with Manson's San Francisco adventures, Dr. Jolly West, and Tenerelli's death. I would actually rate it 4.5, but I've rounded up due to the sheer amount of research and dedication.
Weird fact: I realized that my grandpa arrived at Lackland AFB for orientation exactly 1 month after Chere Jo Horton's murder. He was only there for a few weeks before being deployed to other bases, so it's possible that he was there at the same time as West. My grandpa wrote an autobiography, and there are a few stories from his 3 years in the Air Force, but nothing wild or weird enough to be associated with West's activities.
Also, I have photocopies of several letters (or possibly one really looooong letter) from Manson. I took a serial killer class (study of, not how to become one) in college, and our professor was a prison pen pal of cuckoo Charlie. I half-heartedly tried to decipher his ramblings back then (the letters were before 2008), but I'm going to dig them out and look again. If I find anything juicy (especially after having read CHAOS), Tom should be expecting a packet in the mail!
I truly hope that the full truth presents itself. I don't expect we will hear it from law enforcement, since it seems like everyone who knew Manson has something to hide (or was purposely kept from the truth). Maybe a vital witness will finally want to break their silence. However, I think Tom and his research will be the key...sorry to put on more pressure! I really didn't know what I was getting into before starting this book, and I DEFINITELY didn't expect these levels of craziness, but I'm glad I read it all the way through.
What's really frustrating is that at some seeming really crucial moments during interviews and where he was about to break through to something really big he appeared to have an uncanny ability at completely just BLOWING the interviews with some rookie journalist mistakes - this was documented over and over and he would plainly admit to his stupidity each time. This was incredibly annoying because it either means he was just too naive and stupid to get what he wanted from the subjects or it's just him trying to cover his butt. In any case it makes you want to throw the book against a wall.
Ultimately I was left with a feeling of having travelled away from the Bugliosi narrative and asking alot of questions right along with O'neill but then just feeling lost in some aborted thread or into CIA/JFK conspiracy territory, which is what he attempted to use to hint at an ultimate narrative cohesion to explain many of his contradictory and new findings in the cases. About the only thing I am convinced of after the read is that there are almost surely more unsolved Manson murders. If O'neill wants me to believe that Manson was turned into a CIA drone/operative in MKULTRA experiments in creating murder zombies, sorry bud but I can't go there. For all Manson's charms we have to realize that sociopathy was his prison education. It is not far fetched at all to think that with a criminally charming personality, seriously damaged and very young influential girls, and drugs at his disposal he was able to create a cult and convince people to kill for him. As for the Helter Skelter theory, every bit of it is absolutely possible especially cosidering that the Family devolved into speed abuse toward the end which would have been the perfect recipe not only for paranoid delusions with a ridiculous basis but as enabling factors for the shocking violence that they engaged in.
I would probably still recommend this read because there is some interesting research and new factoids, but ultimately it totally lacks narrative cohesion and leaves you slightly annoyed with the author for devoting 20 years of his life to a topic and bestowing this as it's ultimate record.
Top reviews from other countries
5.0 out of 5 stars The Official Manson narrative debunked
5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST
Bought it when it came out in hardback then onto the kindle version.
This book blows Helter Skelter out the water by telling the real story.
I 💯 recommend this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Solid book - very captivating
The book is very well written and interesting. I would recomment it to pretty much everyone. Except maybe small children and teenagers. They don't need to know about all this stuff. Yet if you are an adult who already sadly understand how the world works and looking for a good read, I give this book 5/5. Interesting and well written 🙂