Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside His Cult, and the Darkness That Ended the Sixties

If you’re interested in learning about the Manson family at all- I cannot recommend this one enough. I always opt for any firsthand accounts of things like this, so it’s really great to have one from Dianne Lake. Doesn’t get into the murders much if that’s what you’re looking for (she wasn’t present, but she does talk about the parts that she witnessed), but it’s a fantastic perspective when it comes to understanding the “why” and “how”. How they ended up there. How it all went in the direction that it did. A better understanding of what Manson was like during that time and around the girls, and the personal relationships between them. It also paints a vivid image of the hippie scene of the 60s, and the wonderful and horrible elements of it- which is absolutely crucial in understanding the world in which the Family formed. After reading this one, everything else I’ve watched or read about the time at Spahn Ranch (and the other various locations) has felt repetitive… it covers that entire time extensively, but in a way that isn’t a chore to get through. It’s also an interesting memoir about abuse and trauma. It’s very heavy, which should be expected with the subject matter here. It’s really incredible how much she was able to heal from this. I recommend this one to anyone interested in the topic. Or the other topics covered here. This is the one. Finished in less than 24 hours.

She tells it like it is, admits to her stupid mistakes and how life was with Manson and his Family, I highly recommend!

This book was okay..was expecting it to be a bit better with some more memories coming from dianne lake. Regardless, if you collect charles manson type books I do recommend adding this to the collection.