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Dewey Decimal Number: 364.15230979493 EAN: 9780312209704 Edition: 2nd ISBN: 0312209703 Label: St. Martin's Griffin Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 304 Publication Date: July 16, 1999 Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Studio: St. Martin's Griffin Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Amazon.com Review: Edward George, who was Charles Manson's prison counselor for eight years during the late 1970s and early '80s, offers an insider's look at the creepy cult leader's day-to-day life behind bars. Although Charlie is literally a graybeard now, he's lost none of his knack for oddball ranting and dark and compelling personal magnetism. George conveys the riveting persona of the convicted killer--complex and arcane, by turns violent and easygoing, and in some ways even sensitive. In one bizarre incident, Manson, upon discovering a bird's nest outside his cell window, procures an egg from the nest to protect it from the prison's cleaning crews, who routinely swept such nests off the building. George stumbles upon Charlie expectantly warming the egg with his hands, hoping for a hatchling to emerge. "Charles Manson held that egg in his hands for weeks, cherishing it, talking to it, waiting for that bird to emerge," George writes. "It never did." The portrait of Manson that emerges from Taming the Beast is largely one of a defanged, eccentric, and even comical man, a man who goes before parole boards every few years and, like an actor leaping onstage, performs for his captive audience, then chuckles about it afterward. Still, the author is careful to remind readers of the harsher reality of Manson's past, at one point promising to stick a "shank into that bastard's black heart" if Manson ever came after his daughter. Though George struggles mightily to emphasize Charlie's sociopathic nature, it becomes obvious very early on in the book that he has a fairly big soft spot for his former charge. Manson, it seems, despite being confined, still has his infamous powers of persuasion after half a life on ice. --Tjames Madison Product Description: Edward George understand Charles Manson as few others ever will. Former prison counselor to the messianic killer, George enraged Manson as an agent of the state's criminal justice system, listened to him as a trusted confessor, spoke for him as an erstwhile press agent-and-almost-connected with him as a friend. George saw Manson in a way the public never would, witnessing the method to his madness, the charisma that underlies his sickness, the pathetic abandoned boy within the homicidal man. If you read Helter Skelter and think you know the whole story about Charlie Manson, think again. You don't know it all until you've read Taming the Beast: Charles Manson's Life Behind Bars. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - surprisingly boringI don't know what I expected, but I actually found this book pretty boring. I guess life in prison really can't BE very interesting. I gathered that Manson is perfectly sane, very charismatic, unable to control his impulses, admantly against snitching, and afraid other inmates will kill him. I learned that the author is an interfering guy who cannot leave well enough alone, and gave Manson some very nice breaks that he didn't deserve as a guy who helped cause mass murders. But it wasn't worth hundreds ... Read More Rating: - A valuable Insight into the behavior of Charles MansonThis book is an in-your-face reaction to the bizarre behavior exhibited by Charles Manson. After experiencing Charles Manson through the eyes, hears, mind and spirit of Ed George (Manson's "keeper" in prison) and getting insider intel about the Manson phenomena one can only conclude that there is definitely something extrodinary about this incarnation of evil on this earth. There is certainly a lot to think about when you read this book in regards to Manson's influence on so many individuals and so many ... Read More Rating:  - Taming the BeastWritten by a guy who was Charles Mansons prison counselor for eight years. This is of interest because it gives some insite into Mansons life since he has been in prison. Also included are transcripts of Mansons commentary during his various court and parole hearings over the years. This book is not perfect, the author at various times bends over backwards to paint Manson as being "spookier" than he really is, at one point implying that the reason for a near drowning accident and being attacked by an inmate ... Read More Rating: - Almost as fascinating as Helter SkelterThe 'mystique' of Charles Manson that was brough out in Helter Skelter pretty much goes away w/ this book, written by Edward George, a former prison counselor. It gives the reader a glimpse of Manson's life as he was incarceratedfor the Helter Skelter murders. Whereas Helter Skelter was more about the trial, this book reflects a lot more on Manson's life both in and out of prison. It also contains transcripts from several of Manson's parole hearings. Serves as the perfect companion piece to Helter Skelter. Rating: - good vs. evilA well done project.I really liked the author,and liked the way his kind nature contrasted with that of evil man-sin.A must for those curious about this subject,it will be a good addition to your collection.plus the side story about a guy named pincushion is bizzare ,yet hilarious 
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