The Life and Times of Charles Manson

Often times through fictional characters we are able to capture an entire ethos.  Certainly Jay Gatsby defines a certain era, as does Don Draper, as does Woody Allen’s Zelig.  It’s a rare thing when a real life characters does this. But such is the case with Charles Manson.  

The Tate/LaBianca murders took place 44 years ago this week, and still Charles Manson resonates with us.  The media has often defined him as a product of the 60’s, but in many ways he also defines the 40’s and 50’s.  He was, according to award winning investigative journalist Jeff Guinn, the wrong person in the right place at the right time.

With all that has been written about Manson, Guinn’s book, Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson, is the first full account of who Charles Manson really is.

My conversation with Jeff Guinn: