Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the SixtiesChaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1999, journalist Tom O'Neill was assigned a magazine piece about the thirtieth anniversary of the Manson murders, and worried there was nothing new to say. Weren't the facts indisputable? What he found over the following years challenged the official story.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a gripping investigation.
You'll love it if you liked
Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O.J. Simpson Got Away with Murder
I'll Be Gone in the Dark
In Cold BloodGood to know
It was written with Dan Piepenbring. Some of its theories remain unproven, as O'Neill acknowledges.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller52 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #38 of the 44 politics books we rank
- #1077 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1993 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Dark, Gripping
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Quick answers
Is Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties worth reading?
Yes. It spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,993 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties about?
In 1999, journalist Tom O'Neill was assigned a magazine piece about the thirtieth anniversary of the Manson murders, and worried there was nothing new to say. Weren't the facts indisputable? What he found over the following years challenged the official story.
How long does it take to read Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties?
About 13 hours (528 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties?
If you liked it, try Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O.J. Simpson Got Away with Murder by Vincent Bugliosi, I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara or In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.